Magic 2012

[vesuvanduquesne]

Even though the HQ team is working on getting the M12 images processed (and probably will be done soon) I decided to work on processing my own version of the rare / mystic images of the set. This isn't really out of impatients, its more of a different approach that the HQ team takes. I generally create proxies to play in my local play group to either test or to simply allow me the ability to not have to deconstruct a deck that contains cards I wish to keep together for local tournament sake. Since I have scanned in the card images for the HQ team over the last few sets the original scans are the same base that the HQ team starts with but from there ALOT of things that differ. Being the first set of images I ever did there probably is a good number of things that I could work on but the main differences are as follows:

-Larger border frame (to replicate real cards)
-Larger image size (for better print clarity)
-Higher contrast adjustments (for better print quality)
-Higher saturation adjustments (for better print quality)

I have 2 forms of the images, the first in a larger pixel format making for better print clarity and a smaller pixel format to save space and give good print quality.

I was just curious if anyone would be interested in taking a look and letting me know what they thought and possibly make any recommendations on what else I might be able to do to improve the images (if any improvement can be made).

Let me know.

I'd like to see these. Filesize is no issue for me.

[woogerboy21]

Large: http://www.mediafire.com/?8mayejukmethi1e
Small: http://www.mediafire.com/?m26emjub3606nii

edit:
just an fyi, i noticed a couple card (such as jace, memory adept) look good on the screen but when printed appear somewhat blocky. i will need to work on smoothing. i should have something worked up by morning. let me know what you think other than that.

[Philature]

Woah ! Love the new scan !

[woogerboy21]

Woah ! Love the new scan !

Which scan would that be? (just curious)

[doxaios]

I downloaded only the small version. The first thing I can say is that they are a little blurry and if you press next-next to the images you can see that they are offset one to another. The one is a little up, the second a little down etc. Now I am downloading the large version.
*edit Both problems I mentioned before remain and in large version.

[woogerboy21]

I downloaded only the small version. The first thing I can say is that they are a little blurry and if you press next-next to the images you can see that they are offset one to another. The one is a little up, the second a little down etc. Now I am downloading the large version.

I'm noticing alot of things that I can work on. Blurryness is a problem. Glancing over some of the white cards it was pointed out to me that the contrast ration I applied faded out alot. I'm finding each color has its own differences and since I was focused on just a few cards while tinkering I may have to relook at adjusting the settings on a per color basis.

[kunf]

i print proxies 480x680 in 300 dpi. it looks like very small cards (18 cards per A4 page), but it's very easy to laminate this small cards witch wide scotch. they survived swimming in the bathroom - it's enough quality, as i think =)

[woogerboy21]

yea im gonna try re-editing the images and work on the clarity. I like the color saturation being richer but Im not happy with the blurry factor. Im also amazed at how clean the end images look after the release from the HQ team.

[woogerboy21]

Alright check these out. Started completly over and used a different approach (and newer tools). I've learned ALOT.

Here is only the planeswalkers:
Large: http://www.mediafire.com/?4jlsr66s9cdxl2c

Let me know what you guys think.

[kunf]

Sorin Markov in comparsion with zendikar version downloaded from this forum:
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1150/sorinmarkov.jpg large picture reduced to 34% with standart photoshop reducer.

so, your picture is too warm, and more iportant thing - more contrasted picture with less contrasted text. looks like some kind of blur...

[woogerboy21]

Sorin Markov in comparsion with zendikar version downloaded from this forum:
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1150/sorinmarkov.jpg large picture reduced to 34% with standart photoshop reducer.

so, your picture is too warm, and more iportant thing - more contrasted picture with less contrasted text. looks like some kind of blur...

I know what happened with Sorin. I am finding out why black is such a pain to work with. And I did increase the saturation to give it a warmer tone (on all the images). I also applied a blur to certain area's of the card (such as card text box) in order to resolve an issue I am seeing when the card is in print on paper. I didn't touch other area's (such as border or loyalty counter box numbers) to keep the clarity with them.

Did you by chance take and compare any other of the images? Working with a few other black cards tonight made me realize how I bunked his picture frame up. I could post some pictures of the cleaned up images less saturation or blur affects to give you a comparison of a before and after.

edit: I'm not a big fan of the dullness that the zen background has to it in Sorin's card (personal pref i guess)

[woogerboy21]

Here is the link to Sorin with just the cropping and border work (maybe some slight clone cleanup). But before any saturation or contrast settings were applied.

Sorin: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/80 ... arkov.jpg/

edit:
edited and put sorin's picture up

[kunf]

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/9592 ... eveled.jpg
only one fix - i changed levels. not so vivid, as your edit, but no small details lost. the only thing is the strange patterned color noise, i dont know what is it - printing quality, or scanning. anyway it's better w/o blur as i think.

i'll compare other planewalkers soon.

[woogerboy21]

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/9592/sorinleveled.jpg
only one fix - i changed levels. not so vivid, as your edit, but no small details lost. the only thing is the strange patterned color noise, i dont know what is it - printing quality, or scanning. anyway it's better w/o blur as i think.

i'll compare other planewalkers soon.

The other PW should have a high saturation level compared to the unedited Sorin I posted. They shouldn't have an awkward picture frame like the saturated Sorin though. Just curious how aggressive (or changes) you went with to make it look the way you did? Also the patterned color noise I believe is the issue I m running into as well. When printed it creates almost a block pattern for the background of the picture and word sections of the card. Only way I have resolved it is to apply a blur affect. I'm not to happy about doing a blur affect but would prefer a smoother print than square block back-grounded look.

[kunf]

there is a tool window in right bottom corner - it's the only operation that i make to change marqued area at your picture. and right picture downloaded from this forum, i'ts not my scan)

btw, can you post this same Sorin in highest resolution but w/o editing, i'll try to find a cure for this color noise.