Blow Up 3 is the new version of an interesting solution for printing large format printing of web design and creation of photo galleries from digital snapshots. Special algorithms allow you to keep the bold lines and colors of the original. The plugin can enlarge image up to six times its original size amd its compatible with Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, its supports images in 8, 16, and 32-bit RGB, CMYK, LAB, grayscale.

The ways in which images can be represented are two: vector and bitmap (the latter also known as "raster"). Vector images are nothing more than files containing the mathematical description (curves, lines, points and so on) of an object and can be easily resized and resampled to the desired resolution by applying simple algorithms.

Most graphics programs resample images by running a Tween bitmap, starting from the pixels that make up the initial image and creating fictitious points as a whole that will make the final image. The best attribute applications to the new pixel color value created in a curve that interpolates the brightness and color of the original points.

Over the years, various algorithms have been developed more or less valid interpolation. The best known are bilinear and bicubic algorithms. The first makes the transitions between the points creating shades in between (the color of a pixel is obtained by calculating the average of the four-color pixels that the flank), the second (certainly better than a method) calculates the color of a point with the average of the eight surrounding pixels; that is, in addition to those found above, below, left and right, takes into consideration those that are at its corners with this system the contrast between pixels increases and decreases the blurred effect that usually you get with all interpolation algorithms.

Independent developers have created the most comprehensive and complex algorithms bicubic interpolation, and among the various software available, one of the most interesting is Blow Up made by Alien Skin software house, which produces various plug-ins for Photoshop.

The software is compatible with Photoshop (CS4), Photoshop Elements, Lightroom and supports images in 8, 16, and 32-bit RGB, CMYK, LAB, grayscale. In version 3 that we've got to try, the developers have managed to improve the algorithms allowing to achieve effects even more soft and rounded. The difference is especially noticeable in files for printing on large formats: improvements with respect to algorithms with Photoshop are obvious, especially when you start from low resolution images.

Installation is simple, just start the installer and indicate the destination application plugin and confirm. In a few seconds the software will install and ready to use (the first time will require the serial number and validity of the validated serial via Internet). Started as Photoshop the plugin can be called from the "Filter" is a window with various options and from there you can resize the photo on the fly in most popular formats.

Minimum Requirements: host software (eg. Photoshop) an Intel Core 2 CPUS and Mac OS X 10.6 x or higher.

Pros: algorithms actually more effective than Photoshop or similar

Cons: High cost, the pro

Manufacturer has lowered the price but in our opinion continues to be overly expensive. If you work in printing, prepress or and you often need to print large format, the quality can be obtained in any case to pay back the costs in a short time.