Problem: How to enlarge (100 times) image of multiple intersecting low resolution contour lines wile avoiding pixelation?
Simple answer: It can't be done.
Second thoughts: Well, under some circumstances it can be done... sort of. For example if lines are orthogonal to begin with then simple re-sample to nearest neighbor algorithm will do fine. If lines are simple enough, then tracing them with pen tool and recreating the original lines at higher resolution by stroking the paths with a brush will do also. Also if original lines are smooth and thick enough then some re-sampling, blurring and leveling can work (anisotropic diffusion filter may help) but will produce smoothing artifacts at corners.
From what I can see the problem boils down to creatively converting the original lines to vectors (paths / shapes) and avoiding the whole messiness of raster anti-aliasing. But here we face additional problems: Adobe trace engine is not smart enough to recognize geometric shapes, intersecting lines, straight edges, orthogonal lines and mathematical curves - just try to trace a font and you will end up with a baggy monster. Additionally, it appears that in Photoshop center-line trace is not possible and you are limited to outlines. Here is where I get stuck.
In the past true gurus of this forum gave some insights into possible solutions on various problems and I hope you can again share your ideas on this never-dying subject.
Simple answer: It can't be done.
Second thoughts: Well, under some circumstances it can be done... sort of. For example if lines are orthogonal to begin with then simple re-sample to nearest neighbor algorithm will do fine. If lines are simple enough, then tracing them with pen tool and recreating the original lines at higher resolution by stroking the paths with a brush will do also. Also if original lines are smooth and thick enough then some re-sampling, blurring and leveling can work (anisotropic diffusion filter may help) but will produce smoothing artifacts at corners.
From what I can see the problem boils down to creatively converting the original lines to vectors (paths / shapes) and avoiding the whole messiness of raster anti-aliasing. But here we face additional problems: Adobe trace engine is not smart enough to recognize geometric shapes, intersecting lines, straight edges, orthogonal lines and mathematical curves - just try to trace a font and you will end up with a baggy monster. Additionally, it appears that in Photoshop center-line trace is not possible and you are limited to outlines. Here is where I get stuck.
In the past true gurus of this forum gave some insights into possible solutions on various problems and I hope you can again share your ideas on this never-dying subject.
