Author Topic: Adobe working on "unblur" feature for next PS  (Read 2013 times)

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Offline Robin Rowland

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Adobe working on "unblur" feature for next PS
« on: October 11, 2011, 04:10 PM »
It's not April 1. But at its MAX conference today Adobe "sneaked" what is calls a unblur feature possibly (probably) for the next PhotoShop

http://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/10/11/adobe-demos-incredible-unblur-feature-for-photoshop/

Quote
The new feature was demoed at the company’s MAX 2011 event, drawing gasps of amazement from a crowd that witnessed a blurred photo, retouched and perfected in seconds. Advanced algorithms calculate the movements of the camera at the time the image was taken, enabling the user to ‘fix’ the image by unblurring it – saving what would ordinarily be a disappointing, dud image.

As the video – which is unfortunately slightly shakey itself – demonstrates, the process can be used on a photo captured on a mobile device to sharpen the quality and, in the case of text-based images, reveal more data

From the cheers on the video the geek crowd loved it. I am not sure what my comments would be.


Robin Rowland
Independent visual journalist, photographer and author
Kitimat BC

http://robinrowland.com

Offline Warren Toda

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Re: Adobe working on "unblur" feature for next PS
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2011, 01:16 AM »
Apple has a patent on something similar - technology (for a cell phone camera) to correct for subject motion blur and/or camera shake.

Let's recap:
• you no longer have to focus correctly;
• don't have to expose properly;
• don't have to compose nicely;
• don't have to edit. Nikon has technology that will automatically pick the best image from a series of similar photos;
• don't have worry about people blinking. Software will auto-switch heads or other body parts;
• up to 60 fps means you don't have to worry about peak action;
• with a few thousand pictures per card, you don't have to worry about getting it right the first time or even getting it right at all;
• ISO up to 102,000 means you don't have to worry about light;
• in-camera cropping, red-eye correction, perspective straightening, HDR, tilt-shift, B+W conversion, duotones;
• over 20 in-camera scene modes (sports mode, child portrait mode, pet mode, snow mode, beach mode, sunset mode, floral mode, ....). You don't have to think about photography;
• auto white balance, auto exposure, auto ISO, auto flash, auto focus, auto bracketing;

What's left?

The weak link in photography is, of course, the human idiot who has to carry the camera from location to location. As soon as cameras grow legs, the human can be left at home.

Sure, an out-of focus or otherwise mangled picture can be a killer. How often do you get a good picture but it's too soft to use? When this happens, what do you do, other than swear loudly? Hopefully, you learn something for next time and move on. Or you switch to the other brand.  :D

This obsession with making everything idiot-proof and pixel-perfect is a bit wrong headed. Although, it does help sell more product.

Why do people complain when a picture is Photoshopped to perfection (e.g. an advertising picture) but they have no problem altering their own reality?

Why turn photography into a kids' paint-by-numbers toy?  An 8-year old gets satisfaction from completing a paint-by-numbers (or colour-by-numbers) picture. But if an adult is doing a paint-by-numbers then a visit to a psychologist might be time better spent.


Instead of trying to fix something that isn't broken, (photography isn't broken), why not concentrate on fixing the loose screw behind the viewfinder?

Rather than adding more idiot-proofing features to its software, with each copy of Photoshop sold, Adobe should include, say, a book of Karsh portraits or a subscription to National Geographic. This will create more inspired camera users who will produce better pictures that will give more satisfaction. And isn't that why people buy cameras in the first place?

Is there an algorithm for inspiration?



(Or I could be wrong about all this.)


Photographer in Toronto
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Offline Warren Toda

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Re: Adobe working on "unblur" feature for next PS
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2017, 07:05 PM »
(Very, very late to post this but...)  Adobe admitted a few days after its presentation that its unblur demonstration was, uh, somewhat fake. It started with three in-focus images and then blurred them. Adobe then claimed in its demonstration that the blurred images were the "before" pictures and the original sharp images were the "after" pictures.

Adobe applied a specific type of blur - the exact type of the blur its software could undo -  and then let its software undo it. Adobe said this was a common practice in deblurring research. Adobe said it wanted its presentation "to be entertaining" to the audience.


Photographer in Toronto
info@warrentoda.com