New algorithm for depixing graphics

Microsoft Research Officer Johannes Kopf (Johannes Kopf), together with Professor Dani Liscinski, published a scientific paper ( dropbox , narod.ru , depositfiles.com ) describing the new depixelization algorithm, which far exceeds all existing methods. The difference in quality is really enormous.

In the illustration above, you can roughly estimate how much better the new method works (the average image) as compared to the best of the competitors (the right image in each trinity). A more thorough comparison on dozens of different images is here .

Apparently, the algorithm is best suited for depixing the drawn graphics of old computer games. At least, all examples belong to this class. In this case, it can be used to “reanimate” these cult games, that is, to create emulators with much better graphics quality, up to HD. For example, here is a video emulator of an old Mario game , translated into high resolution using this algorithm. Looks very modern. Probably, old games could be hits on iPad and Android devices again.
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Now the authors are working on optimizing the code so that the algorithm can be used in emulators in real time.

Researchers are going to present their work at the SIGGRAPH conference in August 2011.