Need Software that can Zoom in

[xxxThiefxxx]

Hello guys, I need a program that can zoom a video without losing too much quality... My problem is that I want to see in the video the numbers of one car and on the video I can't see clear the numbers..

[Baldrick]

You can't do what they do in CSI...

[xxxThiefxxx]

I know that, :P but I want any program that can do something like this.

[Cornucopia]

That's not physically possible.

An (high quality) optical zoom can take a real life scene and enlarge it while maintaining good resolution, WITHIN ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS, based on the focus and the design ($$$) of the optics, but in your case you're talking about something that's already been shot. Its resolution was fixed in stone when you shot it.
Enlarging that now, whether optically or digitally, doesn't add new information, it just guesses at the intermediate info by using the existing info. This makes the quality go DOWN with any enlargement.

Now, some sharpening or guessing algorithms are better than others and so you might find a combination that might be acceptable to you, but I doubt it. Try a Lanczos resize...

Real life doesn't work like it does on CSI (unless you're in the CIA or something). Unless you have access to some AI pattern-matching software, and lots of free time, your best bet is to adjust the contrast and SQUINT.

Scott

[NoBuddy]

Try this: take a screenshot out of your video and amplify it with your foto-software. You´ll soon find out, what´s posible - and what´s Hollywood...

[jagabo]

You can try VideoEnhancer's Super Resolution filter. Don't expect a lot.

When sites show what their super resolution filters can do they always show the worst possible upscaling algorithm (usually nearlest neighbor) next to their super resolution algorithm. There are other free upscaling algorithms that look much better than that worst possible alrogithm. Try VirtualDub's Precise Bicubic or Lanczos3. Or AviSynth's equivalents or Spline36Resize() or Spline64Resize(). Even just using a media player to enlarge your video to full screen will usually use a Bilinear or Bicubic resize.

[Nelson37]

Isn't there something that can be done if there are several identical images of the vehicle? Not sure the OP has that, but I thought this was possible.

[lordsmurf]

You can't do what they do in CSI...

In case this was not clear enough -- it's because CSI is fake.
CSI is based on actual cases and tech, but it's highly fictionalized versions.

Isn't there something that can be done if there are several identical images of the vehicle? Not sure the OP has that, but I thought this was possible.

Manual overlay + recreation is possible, but the main limit is still the source resolution.

Unless you have access to some AI pattern-matching software, and lots of free time, your best bet is to adjust the contrast and SQUINT.

That still doesn't exist and isn't possible. Let's not perpetuate the CSI myth. Real a/v forensic work takes lots of time, experiments, special software (anybody interested will need to PM me for names, as I don't have the list on me right now -- I'll reply and fix this thread when I do), and custom-made filters. Even then, you'll never get that BS CSI magic.