How to resize pixel art in Photoshop (video). How to do and what is smoothing edges in Photoshop Resizing the preview window
Scientists from Cornell University and the University of Texas at Austin achieved 71% accuracy in recognizing blurry and pixelated images. If the algorithm makes five attempts in a row, then the recognition accuracy reaches 83%. At the same time, the chance that an ordinary person will recognize a face hidden behind pixels is 0.19%, reports Quartz.
To peer behind the pixels, the scientists used relatively simple tools: the open-source deep learning library Torch, as well as its neural network templates and standard datasets, which are also publicly available. It is this simplicity and availability of instruments that distinguishes the scientists’ method from other similar experiments. Previously, scientists from the Max Planck Society developed recognition of people in blurry photographs on Facebook. They used a more complex program, but it is inferior in accuracy to the development of American scientists.
Researchers emphasize that relying on old methods of protecting privacy is no longer worth it. Computer vision and machine learning can see what is hidden from our eyes.
The algorithm does not recreate the face or image pixel by pixel, it only tells what or who is in the photo using previously known data. The system works both with regular images with blur and pixels, and with P3 - the JPEG encryption format.
For the experiment, the researchers took regular images available on the Internet and then ran them through YouTube's pixelation tool. The algorithm was then given two sets of images - the originals and the processed versions. This approach allowed us to train the algorithm. Later, he was shown other photographs of the same people, but the program still recognized them in blurry photographs from a different angle. The accuracy of personal identification was 57%, and after five attempts - 85%.
“We take this poor man's approach. It’s enough to take some training data, add neural networks, a few basic image recognition algorithms - and even with this approach you can get very good results,” noted Vitaly Shmatikov, one of the authors of the study.
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Almost anyone can achieve such results; all you need to do is find the required set of training data on the Internet. But according to scientists, it's not difficult - some of the data is publicly available on the Internet, for example, a database of handwritten numbers. At the same time, the researchers note that there are already methods that exceed their results several times, which means that you can no longer rely on pixelation.
Facial recognition may be the technology that will most impact our future. Just imagine that the entire city is equipped with cameras, all citizens are monitored, and their identity is established almost instantly.
A Sichuan University professor uses hidden cameras to identify students and track their attendance. The same technology helps determine the mood of students during lectures.
There are several reasons why a dead pixel appears on the monitor. This includes leaving the LCD monitor outside the typical rooms for such devices for a long time, for example, in the kitchen, where in addition to constant temperature fluctuations, there is high humidity.
We are no longer talking about the content of fatty vapors in the air, which penetrate into the devices and negatively affect their operation.
Mechanical impact on the monitor is a common occurrence when a finger is pressed on the matrix with excessive force. And many other reasons.
But you need to understand that a dead pixel may be present on a new monitor or laptop matrix, and for many models of such devices this is considered normal.
What are dead pixels?
You can see various types of dead pixels on the monitor, this is:
- On a black background, white dots are the first type;
- On a white background, black dots are the second type;
- Multi-colored pixels, green, red, purple and blue are the third type.
In simple terms, a dead pixel is constantly glowing white or colored or black dots that do not react in any way to changes in the color rendition of the monitor screen.
All of the above types are legalized by the international standard ISO-13406, which also regulates the permissible number of dead pixels in different classes of monitors.
Here, a lot depends on the model of the matrix used, so when buying an LCD monitor or laptop, be sure to turn it on and check for such problems.
This is easy to do by inspecting the matrix visually or using a special utility and taking it with you on a flash drive to the store. We will talk about such programs below.
- First-class monitors are considered the best and a priori should not have dead pixels on them.
- The second class allows the presence of no more than 5 problem pixels of type III, no more than two failed pixels of the first and second types.
- The third class assumes the presence of no more than 50 defective squeaks of the third type, up to 15 of the second type and up to 5 of the first type.
- The fourth class allows the presence of 500 defective pixels of type III, 150 of the second and, accordingly, 50 of the third type.
Each pixel is based on a thin-film transistor, which controls the entire color rendering process at a specific point on the screen.
If this transistor fails, then we can observe a black dot on the screen and we will no longer be able to change anything at the software level.
You can notice such a pixel only on light screens or where the picture is transmitted in white.
Therefore, as a rule, despite the fact that the black pixel cannot be repaired at home, it is rarely paid attention to, since it is the least noticeable and does not irritate the eyes.
Other types of dead pixels are called “stuck pixels”. They glow in different colors and are very annoying to the PC user, as they are clearly visible on the screen.
As a rule, it is these dead pixels that users of laptops, LCD monitors and other devices that use similar screen technology struggle with.
How to remove dead pixels?
Remove a dead pixel on the monitor, meaning “ stuck pixels", at home, there are three main methods:
- Software;
- Mechanical;
- Software-mechanical.
There are situations when defective pixels disappear on their own during long-term use of the monitor, but this is a very rare phenomenon and you should not count on it. Moreover, if the problem has arisen in the most visible place and interferes with work.
Software method
The method that is the most popular in solving our problem, as it helps in 80% of cases.
The principle of its use is that during the operation of a special program at a fast frequency, the colors of the pixels located next to the broken one change.
As a result, more current is supplied to the problem area, and as a result, the defective pixel is gradually reanimated.
In each case, the recovery time for a dead pixel may be different, it all depends on the complexity of the situation and the program settings.
In the utility settings you can change the frequency of color changes and the period of its operation. In some cases, it will take from 20 minutes to 5 – 6 hours to solve the problem.
Programs for searching for dead pixels.
If you want to test your monitor for dead pixels, you can use the simple free utility IsMyLcdOK.
There are versions for both 32 and 64 bit systems.
No program installation required.
When you launch the utility, the following window will appear.
By following the instructions, you can quickly check any monitor, including the one you want to buy, for broken squeaks. The program size is about 200 KB.
Multifunctional utility for checking and testing monitors. It has many features, including checking for dead pixels.
It is very easy to use, so there is no point in describing its operation.
Programs for restoring dead pixels.
The most famous and one of the most effective programs is Bad Crystal. It is developed in three versions: Ultimate, Mobile and Primary, and accordingly has different functionality. It is considered one of the best software in this category.
At the moment, version 6.1.9 of BUILD 4061 is current, the official website of the program is z-drex.com. Here you can also read how to use the program.
You can also use previously released working versions, which are easy to download from torrents if you don't mind paying $14.99 for the rarely used Bad Crystal program.
Let's look at how the program works using version 3.0 Ultimate as an example.
After installing and launching the program, a window will appear with the ability to select operating modes.
If you have a trial version, then in this case only the CCM mode will be available. The efficiency of this mode will not exceed 55%.
The more efficient SMF and CFV modes work only in the paid version and ensure pixel recovery in 80% of cases.
The PPM mode is used for preventive work, which should be carried out after restoration procedures, at least once a month.
Having selected the desired mode, click “Launch”.
A window will appear that needs to be placed on the dead pixel.
By default, the program will run for 10 minutes. If the dead pixel does not disappear after this period of time, click Speed Up and change the settings. It is necessary to increase the speed and running time of the program.
It is essentially a free Java application. To use it, you need to go to the official website jscreenfix.com and click on the “Launch JScreenFix” button.
You will be taken to a page like this with a square with moving pixels.
Move this square to the problem area of the screen. By default the program will run for 10 minutes.
If the problem is not resolved, you can increase the running time of the Java application.
The program is free and quite functional. After installing and launching it, the following window will appear.
For example, 5 dead pixels were detected. Set the appropriate settings and click start.
Five flashing dots will appear in the upper left part of the screen, each of which must be placed under a dead pixel.
After 10 minutes, check the result. If necessary, increase the operating time and repeat again.
The UDPixel program also has other useful functionality.
Mechanical method
The mechanical method of restoring dead pixels can be used either separately or together with the programs described above.
The essence of this method is as follows:
- The location of the dead pixel on the screen is marked in any safe way, the monitor or laptop is turned off;
- Take a toothpick and wrap cotton wool around it. Or you can use an ear stick or other object;
- Use this device to gently press the pressed pixel, scrolling it slightly. Don't overdo it with force.
After a while, turn on the device and check the result, repeat these steps several times if necessary. Please be patient, this may take up to 30 minutes.
If everything works, run one of the programs described above and enhance the effect.
Some people use the same method, but with the monitor on and in parallel they also use the program. But this method cannot be called safe, so we do not recommend it.
There is another way, using a stylus from a PDA.
To do this, you will need to very accurately position the stylus opposite the dead pixel, fix it in this position and turn off the monitor.
Do not press the stylus too hard against the screen and, without reducing the pressure, turn on the monitor again. When the screen completely switches to operating mode, remove the stylus, thereby removing the force on the dead pixel.
If the first time does not give an effect, repeat everything again by manipulating the force per pixel and the positioning of the stylus.
In this way we are trying to move the “stuck” pixel from its place and make it work correctly. In 80% of cases this can be done.
Another way.
This method can help in 20% of cases and this is a good chance to correct the situation in our favor.
Disconnect the monitor from all power sources - network, video card, etc. Remove the battery from the laptop, completely disconnecting it from power. Don't forget about the Internet cable.
Leave the device in this state for several days, for example, you went to the country for the weekend.
During this time, all monitor capacitors will be discharged 100%, and the residual current will leave the thin-film transistors.
When you turn on the device, there is a chance that the stuck pixel will work.
This also applies to objects with a large contact area.
Bottom line
As we see, a dead pixel in a monitor in most cases, with the exception of black, can be repaired at home.
The actions do not require much knowledge, the main thing is to learn how to use the necessary software correctly and not to overdo it with effort during the mechanical procedure for fixing the problem.
But do not forget that the presence of dead pixels is also possible in new devices, so carefully check them for such a malfunction when purchasing.
Pixelation occurs when you have a low resolution image and you can recognize each pixel with the naked eye. While we can't completely eradicate image pixelation, we can reduce the problem. If you learn how to use the various features of Photoshop software, you can reduce the pixelation of all your images.
You can reduce Pixelation in Photoshop using the "Ctrl" key on your computer.
Step 1
Open your image using Photoshop.
Step 2
Click on “View”. Click Actual Pixels to determine the pixelation level of your image.
Step 3
Go to your "Main Menu". Click "Filter", "Noise" and finally "Despeckle". This allows you to align the pixels that your image contains.
Step 4
Hold down the "Ctrl" and "f" buttons at the same time. Repeat this process a series of four times.
Step 5
Click "Smart Blur" in the Filter menu. Set your radius to about a pixel and a half and your threshold to 14 pixels. Click "Login".
Summer has begun, heat and new jokes. I have a one-room apartment and, guess what, I decided to put a second computer in the kitchen with a 19-inch TFT monitor! What does summer and dead pixels have to do with it? And here's what it has to do with it. 36 degrees outside, the stove, oven and high humidity did their dirty work - a couple of dead pixels appeared on the monitor.
Dead pixels are constantly glowing or, on the contrary, dots or parts of a dot (subpixels) on the monitor that are not working. If a pixel does not work at all, then it always looks black and is noticeable only in white and light colors. This is the most harmless type of dead pixels, but it is practically impossible to treat.
The most common dead subpixels are when a bright red, blue, green, yellow, turquoise or purple dot is constantly glowing. They are also called “stuck pixels”. If such a pixel pops up in a visible place, it’s very annoying, especially the red one :) If all three subpixels are faulty at once, then a white dot will glow on the screen.
By the way, defective pixels can either appear or disappear on their own. On my main monitor from the moment I purchased it, there were three multi-colored dots in the middle of the screen. I either didn’t notice them when I bought them, or they already appeared at home, I don’t know. But I didn’t bother about this, because... they were absolutely invisible to the eye unless you looked closely. In 4 years of working with this monitor, I have never noticed them, although they were in the middle of the screen.
I think this is due to the fact that my monitor is on an MVA matrix, and not on the common TN. Probably, the specificity of the matrix is such that small defects are not noticeable. So, I recently decided to check whether these pixels can be removed in a new way. I started checking - but they weren’t there! They all went somewhere in formation :)
Programs for restoring dead pixels
There is no need to talk about high-tech methods used only in laboratories. Is it possible in principle to get rid of multi-colored dots at home? YES, it's possible! And I was convinced of this myself. There are two ways to eliminate dead pixels - software and mechanical.
Restoration occurs due to the rapid change of colors of adjacent pixels. Thanks to this process, a large amount of energy is supplied to the subpixels and they come to life. This technology promises to restore from 55% to 90% of “stuck pixels”. True, each case may require a different amount of time; you will have to experiment if you can’t quickly remove damaged pixels. Experiments mean changing the speed of color changes and the running time of the program.
The restored pixel may become stuck again after some time, especially in hot weather. Then the treatment process will need to be repeated. In some cases, such a pixel cannot be completely cured.
UndeadPixel will suit most
Go to the official website and download the program installer. I recommend the installation version, not the portable version.
In the main window of the program, you are prompted to first find dead pixels by filling the screen with solid colors: red, lime, blue, white, black and yellow. Different dead pixels will be visible on different backgrounds. If you already know where your pixels are, then go straight to recovery.
UDPixel works like this: a square appears in which the colors quickly change, i.e. there is a pixel restoration algorithm working there, and we need to move this square to the problem area of the screen. In the “Undead pixel” section you need to set the following parameters:
- Flash windows - the number of squares, i.e. how many problem areas are you going to treat at the same time?
- Flash size - the size of one square in 1x1 or 5x5 pixels. Since it is very difficult to set a 1x1 square to exactly 1 pixel, a 5x5 area is suitable for restoring even one pixel
- Flash interval — pixel update speed according to the algorithm. The shorter the time, the faster the speed. Maximum speed at 3 ms.
Click Start and move the flickering square(s) to the defective areas, watch the video below. When the pixel starts blinking, then this is already a bid for victory, just leave it for a longer time. If everything remains unchanged, then select the maximum speed and wait until the pixel disappears. In worst cases it can take 10 hours, there is no point in waiting any longer.
The peculiarity of UDPixel is that during pixel restoration you can continue to work if the squares are not large and do not interfere.
JScreenFix for browser
This is not a program, but just a website, a free service on the Internet. Thanks to this, JScreenFix can be run on any device with the Internet: computer, laptop, tablet, MacBook or LCD panel.
Scroll down the page and click the “Launch JScreenFix” button. The JScreenFix script restores dead pixels in the same way as UDPixel, only without the ability to change parameters, and you won’t be able to work on the computer at this time.
You need to move the iridescent square to the problem pixels, and if they are outside the browser window, then switch to full screen mode using the green button. Look at the video how Undead Pixel and JScreenFix work:
The manufacturers of these programs recommend doing preventative maintenance on your monitor, occasionally starting the “recovery process.” I don’t know how justified it is to spend your attention on this, but for plasma panels it can be really useful.
Bad Crystal - all-in-one combine
On the website you can both download the program and buy it. The free version runs for 30 days in limited functionality mode, which does not support more advanced technologies. You can find a version without restrictions on the Internet 😉
The program begins by selecting a device: computer screen, mobile phone, game console or plasma panel.
For mobile phones and game consoles, a video file is generated at the selected resolution. You will need to play it in repeat mode on your smartphone. For your TV, you can burn a DVD or flash drive with the finished video, or run it in “Full Screen” mode.
If you have a regular monitor or laptop, select “Computer Monitor”. To display an additional menu, move the mouse to the top of the window. There are four modes available here: Common Clearing (CCM), System Modified (SMF), Complex Force (CFV), Personal Protection (PPM). The free version only works with CCM and PPM. The remaining two modes should provide a higher percentage of restored pixels. By default, CCM is selected.
Click “Launch” and move the window to the area of dead pixels. We wait 5-10 minutes and check. If the point remains, then increase the speed using the “Speed Up” button, which appears if you move the mouse to it, and wait another 10-15 minutes.
The developers claim that their algorithms allow not only to treat pixels, but also to eliminate spots on the screen and. But this is the case when these are simply accumulations of pixels that are not working correctly. Watch the video:
Next, to prevent the pixels from getting “stuck” again, it is recommended to enable the automatic prevention mode – PPM. In this mode, the colors on the monitor change over time. The process starts 2-3 times a month when no one is working at the computer.
Mechanical method
I have not tried this method, but I have seen many reviews in its favor. If the programs couldn’t cope, then it’s time to massage the monitor :) Exactly. Take an ear stick and begin to massage the area of the broken pixel. You just don’t press very hard, but so that streaks appear, and massage the affected area. The case requires perseverance, as it may take from 10 to 30 minutes of work.
If it works - hooray! I congratulate you, you can “polish” this matter with Bad Crystal. And if the pixel stubbornly refuses to recover, then you can try running the program and simultaneously massaging the area for 15 minutes, then leave the program running for 10 hours.
I hope that the article was very useful to you. Your friends will be very grateful if you share this information using the social media buttons below the article.
Smoother and more even by removing/adding additional pixels or making them translucent.
As a result of this, the edges of such a selection will blend better and more naturally with other pixels that extend beyond the boundaries of the selection.
This setting is activated in the options bar of the following tools:
- , including Rectangular and Magnetic;
Why these particular tools?
This group of tools creates a selected area, that is, a kind of closed border, when editing which you often need to keep the edges smooth, that is, smoothed.
But questions arise: why are there no tools in this list and - after all, they also create a selected area!?
I think the following. Regarding the Rectilinear selection, remember - they are square. When creating a rectangular selection, the borders are always vertical and horizontal, the corners clearly follow the shape of the pixel, thus we do not have the defect when the edges of the rectangle can be sharp and torn - they are always straight and even. This means they don’t need smoothing at all.
As for Quick selection, there is an alternative option - Brush hardness, it is she who regulates what the edges will ultimately be. Moreover, this setting is more flexible, allowing you to adjust the effect on a 100% scale.
Wait a minute - what does that have to do with it? This is quite far from the selected area! Right. Have you noticed that the Magic Eraser is almost the same thing? Simply, the eraser immediately removes pixels, and the wand adds them to the selection. And if this is the same principle of operation, then smoothing should be in both places.
How to smooth edges
Step 1 Select the tool you will use to create the selection.
Step 2 Check the box Anti-aliasing in the tool options bar
The checkbox is placed only before the selected area is created!
Step 3
All! Now create a selected area and perform all the necessary actions with it. Photoshop will automatically monitor the edges and correct them in accordance with its algorithm. Nothing else depends on you, and it is impossible to influence this process.
To better understand the issue, a living example is needed.
Let's say there is an image where you need to remove the background color.
I will choose a tool for this purpose Magic eraser. This is what the edges of the image will look like if you don’t check the anti-aliasing box:
Now the same example, but the edges will be smoothed:
If you notice an error in the text, select it and press Ctrl + Enter. Thank you!