Ultra High Resolution Zoomable Macro Images

[abem]

DWF'ers,

I've been tinkering with some techniques for taking and displaying ultra high resolution (20-100 megapixel) macro images online.

I thought you might like to see some initial results:
http://www.timetrafficker.com/test/zoom/

I think this sort of technique would allow a museum quality experience where you could really see and explore the fine details of watches and modules.

Just imagine if you could see your eBay images with this much clarity. The whole system might collapse!

-abe.

[rewolf]

Nice, VERY nice

[LEDluvr]

Most impressive Abe.

[bucko170]

Fantastic photo

[xevious]

Fantastic! Thanks for doing this, Abe.

Is there a special image format used? How does the file size compare to other file formats? Is there a special display engine that you're using for this, something that you've programmed?

[abem]

Hi.

Thanks, I plan to put up a little "module gallery" using this technology (coming soon, well sorta soon).

I wish I could take credit for having created this technology from scratch (which I initially thought I might have to do). However, after trying out a bunch of tools, I found some fantastic free Microsoft tools that do the job far better than I could have done. I know, that sounds odd - great, free Microsoft tools, but these tools have worked great - better than any of the handful of assorted odds and ends that I've tried from the web, so hat's off to Microsoft on this one.

The tools that I'm using are each a part of Microsoft's "Photosynth" project, which has achieved some impressive results.

1) Creating the images
To create the images, I'm taking a mosaic (grid) of images using my 12 megapixel camera and assembling them into a single large image (~50 to 100 megapixels) using a tool called Image Compositing Editor (ICE):
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/ ... s/ivm/ICE/

2) Formatting the images for web display
Next, to format the images into a form where they can be displayed on the web, I'm using a tool called "Zeep Zoom Compositor" that breaks the single large image down into a set of 256x256 tiles (well, in some cases padded by a pixel or two) that are selectively loaded as you scroll around the image. The tree of images and the XML that describes them is collectively called "Deep Zoom" format:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library ... 77(v=vs.95).aspx

3) Displaying the images:
Lastly, to displayed using a technology called "Seadragon Ajax" which runs in your web browser and selectively loads and displays the tiles as you pan around or zoom in and out:
http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/SeadragonAjax

That's probably more than you wanted to know, but there it is. The tools are quite easy to use and exhibit a level of polish and refinement that is unusual for Microsoft products. If you are at all interested in these sorts of things, I recommend giving them a try.

-abe.