The Gigapixel Project

[Hill]

This technology has been developing since 2000 - but I have found no mention of it here and think it may be of interest to those of us who also love photography. The simplest explanation is that a large format camera using very fine grained film produces an image. That image is the scanned, producing images of up to 4 gigapixels.

From Project Overview :

 

In defining the term "ultra-high-resolution," we have analyzed each factor that bears upon the image forming process; especially taking into account the effects of atmospheric blurring, lens aberrations and film granularity. When it became apparent that the sought-for resolution could not be preserved via conventional photographic enlargement, the scope of our analysis was widened to include film scanners and digital printers. We concluded that, consistent with the largest practicable roll film format (9"×18"), we could expect to achieve a resolution equivalent to 1000 megapixels. Hence, came the name Gigapxl™. With recent developments, this figure approaches 4000 megapixels, but the name remains unchanged.

 

Subject to the limitations of human vision, a minimum of 8 square inches of print area is needed to convey the information contained in a 1-megapixel image. When scaled to 1000 megapixels, the minimum print area becomes 50 square feet. For prints made from our 9"×18" format, this equates to a print which has a height of 5 feet and a width of 10 feet. Likewise, a 4000-megapixel print has dimensions of 10 feet by 20 feet. Meanwhile, close-up sharpness matches that of a 4"×6" print from a 3-megapixel digital camera. The information content of a Gigapxl™ print can be compared to that available in a real-world scene which is viewed through a pair of binoculars. In the case of 1000-megapixel images, one would require 6X binoculars; twice this power at 4000 megapixels.

 

Click on some of the gallery images to get an idea of what is possible. I want one of those. Unfortunately they are not for sale and if they were I sure couldn't afford one. B)

 

Here's a different technology that involves stitching, but that gives the idea of what a gigapixel count photo can provide. http://triton.tpd.tno.nl/gigazoom/Delft2.htm Can you find out what time of day the picture was taken?

[Tormod]

And here I thought my 10,2 megapixel Nikon D80 was braggable... B)

[Hill]

Take a look at the link I added at the bottom of the post just about the time you were replying. B):cool:

[Tormod]

Take a look at the link I added at the bottom of the post just about the time you were replying. B):cool:

 

Hill, that's amazing!!!

 

I figured it's shot at 3:10pm.

[Pyrotex]

...Can you find out what time of day the picture was taken?

3:05 in the afternoon.

 

In Enschede, Netherlands B)

 

[edit: correct the spelling of the city]

[Hill]

There are four clocks visible. Since this is stitched images, I wonder if the difference in time shown is due to the fact that the clocks just didn't match, or are an indication of how long it took to capture all of the images used to make the big image? There's one that's an hour off though.B)B)

[freeztar]

What happened to this guy?! B)

 

[DougF]

This is amazing you can zoom soooo far.

[Monomer]

Take a look at the link I added at the bottom of the post just about the time you were replying. B):cool:

 

:eek: Wow!!!

 

 

There are four clocks visible. Since this is stitched images, I wonder if the difference in time shown is due to the fact that the clocks just didn't match, or are an indication of how long it took to capture all of the images used to make the big image? There's one that's an hour off though.;):)

 

You could certainly bet on the clocks not matching up. But an hour off... perhaps they forgot about daylight savings...:)

 

 

And here I thought my 10,2 megapixel Nikon D80 was braggable... B)

 

It's braggable to me; I'm still using a 3 megapixel Nikon Coolpix 885 :)

[Hill]

What happened to this guy?!

 

Dunno ;) But what about this poor unfortunate who seems to have got a discount head transplant.:)

 

[Tormod]

Dunno ;) But what about this poor unfortunate who seems to have got a discount head transplant.:eek:

 

I guess they have to make some sacrifices in the poor city of Delft in order to fit everything into the gigapixel concept. I am sure the citizens line up to have body parts removed. Delft is an advanced city though, maybe they offer a free reattachment procedure post-photo? :) B)

 

Edit: Is it Entscheide? Not so advanced then. Poor citizens. B)

[Pyrotex]

Entschede or Delft? :eek:

 

I found a building in the lower right corner with an awning that had two Dutch words on them. I Googled those words, and it was a department of the main university in Entschede. Of course, those two words might also mean something else. Now, I'll have to go find them again. rats.

[freeztar]

Here's a good article on Graham Flint and his mission to capture America.

Portrait of America -- Physicist Shoots with Custom-Built Camera, Composes Images of Unprecedented Definition