HD background images project

As the use of high definition displays increases the need for a better resolution background stands out.
Thinking about it I decided to create a high definition version of all DDR song's background images. My initial idea was to create a 1920X1080 version of each using the new content-aware scale function of Photoshop CS4, but after some tryouts, protecting the image of several ways, I find out that the results wouldn't be nice.
This is one example of how would it be like using this new function. Download the image to see it in its original form if you get problems to see it:
Download or visualize it here.

I used this background as a test due to its complex pattern.
As you can see it didn't work out pretty well.

After that I decided to keep the proportion of the images (1440X1080) focusing on scale the images with quality.

I had already tried to scale some DDR background a long time ago simply using the image scale function on Photoshop, but the results weren't very nice: the images went out blurry in the end of the process. With this new project I went in search for better options and I found out: instead of using the Photoshop standard bi-cubic smoother interpolation I found out some programs that use other technique (like Fractals and so) that gives a far better image after a scale; even if the image is very small.
Next pictures shows the difference between a normal background (Afronova Primeval) and a scale one using the Fractals interpolation technique (left) and the Bi-cubic smoother technique (right):





The image on the left feels much more sharp, with details and texture standing out.
But the quality came with a cost: some of the images are bigger then 2MB (sometimes bigger then the music file ).

Finally I came to my question: do you think it would it be of interest for anyone? I really would like to know the opinion of you guys about this matter and I would gladly be open for suggestions of any kind.

My initial idea was to upload the images separated in packs (1st Mix, SuperNOVA2, etc), but I don't know the better way to do this. I also thought that if the responsible for the portal finds it suitable and viable the images could be put in each music simfile section as an alternative for the original background. For what I've seen so far all the images from the Arcade releases uses about 900 MB.


My first post here got bigger then I expected, but I hope my intention is clear.

By the way; sorry for the bad english, its not my default language .

Thanks.

Wow... nice

but why don't you recreate the background image using your own creativity?
I'm sure it'll be more fun

or you could try by vector way
you can use programs such as Adobe Illustrator

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Yes, I could really use this!

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hmm, many of us will experience lag when we used that size for our stepmania since not everyone has an HD monitor. If you're not creating wallpapers, I think 640*480 is enough, or even 800*600 if some of us can handle it.


I'm such a derp derp for posting the words above.

But your first post was very enlightening, show us more.

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It seems like an interesting project to work on. I'm unable to contribute as I don't work with graphics but I am very interested in this project.

Your initial idea to upload the images in packs is also a good start.

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That's one idea I was considering, but vetorize each of them would demand a far more amount of time: it's more then 580 backgrounds and raising. I have tried an automatic vetorize tool on some HD backgrounds but I still prefer the fractals to scale the images to a bigger resolution in this case. I don't now how to use the advanced mechanics of the Illustrator so I don't know if I can get better results using that vectorized background as a base for work.

My idea now is to standard the creation of the the background to become a quite simple task to transform each. By my actual standard I can batch the creation of them all; task this, by the way, I already did: I have them all in HD by now. If you guys think an individual customization of each is needed I was thinking in create an extra point in my standard allowing the customization of the texts in the background, which is much more simple than vetorize the entire image. Even so I can't do it by myself; I really don't have time needed to that task. =(

Oh, yes sure the recreation of them all would be nice too, but I think you can find plenty of recreated versions of background on the net for any music you need; that's good so far, I guess.



Oh, I believe Stepmania would not lag with them: by my tests the program do a treatment on the background before the music stars: it enlarges the image if its smaller then your current resolution or shrinks it if it's bigger (non HD monitor cases). So in the end you will always get an image of the size of your game resolution. I think, after running some tests with it, that Stepmania uses an algorithm similar to the bi-cubic to transform the images. That's algorithm is enough to scale an HD background to an SD definition and for some other cases, so you will always have the best background you are capable of dealing with.


It's nice to see it's an interesting idea; thanks for the answers so far. I hope more opinions sprout here.


See ya.

Hi doughts,

Just wondering what program did you use for the enlarging?...

Thanks for the info doughts, it's just that my pc's pretty ancient.

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Sorry for the late: I got really sick last week and I stayed out of reach for a while.
I'm using now the Genuine Fractals plugin for Photoshop; I find it easier to batch with. But there's a lot of others tools that do the same job: search for "resize fractals" or "resize tool" and you'll find one for your taste.



I've been there, hehe. Until last january I was with my rock age PC with 512Mb of RAM.


See ya