Unblurring Images Using Free SmartDeblur App

Sasquatch

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Often digital image evidence obtained, is not 100 percent clear. There can be motion blur, intentional blur (Google Maps Faces & License Plates) or just plain out of focus blur. Sometimes screen captures from a surveillance cam or Google Maps might be out of focus and you can not obtain the information that you need. Your option on Google Maps, is to usually to take a screen capture and pull it into Photoshop or another editing program, and try to isolate the details. Not everyone has access to higher end photo editing software to try to unblur the images. Now a programmer and image processing expert, named Vladimir Yuzhikov, has developed a Freeware program called SmartDeblur. Yes it is Free, under the GNU GPLv3 license, to use and share with your friends at no cost(it is not a trial version). Its main design is to unblur images based on an algorithm. Adobe has created similar software, but of course that does cost money. SmartDeblur is Free and downloadable now!

Either click the file name or Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page under Download and choose either Windows(SmartDeblur-1.27-win.zip) or Mac (SmartDeblur-1.27-mac.dmg) . Here is some info and the download link:
https://github.com/gibbonweb/SmartDeblur

Another Petapixel link explaining what Smartdeblur can do:
http://www.petapixel.com/2012/10/21/smartdeblur-does-science-fiction-esque-enhancing-on-blurry-photos/

Here is a sample image from Petapixel on what Smartdeblur can do.

enhance0.jpg


Here is a screenshot from Petapixel showing what the program looks like:
687474703a2f2f686162726173746f726167652e6f72672f73746f72616765322f6662372f3663652f6565392f66623736636565653932646539636636363439393166656439613534623062632e706e67


I have personally downloaded the Mac version, Smartdeblur 1.27, of this program. Although it might still be in the developing stage (I did get a few crashes on large images) it seems like a real promising tool to clean up Google Map image captures as well as other sleuthing evidence that might be too blurry. I feel that as a sleuthing tool, it can be helpful in unblurring numbers on a house, license plates, logos and possibly even a face. I don't expect it to create miracles, because on the lower resolution images, you have only so much information to work with. But with higher resolution images, this tool might be a little bit more promising. I am going back to some of the blurry images that I captured on Google Maps and try to clear up some more details. Hopefully I can pull some more clues out of the photos.

Sometimes LE has the ability to request images from Google that do not have a blurred face or license plate. This request does not happen instantaneously. For example, in the UK, an 11 year old boy found a thief stealing the family caravan on the Google Maps Street View, but LE could not get the unblurred license plate data for almost a year. It took a total of three years to finally get the suspect, because he had sold his tow truck by then.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2192959/Picture-spotted-11-year-old-boy-Google-street-view-leads-suspect-arrested-THREE-YEARS-caravan-theft.html

I hope this program can help everyone find more details on their Google Maps screen captures, security video and on various other images, to help find clues and solve cases.
 
Downloading this now for a check.

I'm keen to see how well it does as I have a background in satellite imaging.

Will report back :)
 
I downloaded it but checked it with Webroot first before installing. Webroot found spyware in the download. I downloaded via CNet so I was surprised at the spyware.
 
I downloaded it but checked it with Webroot first before installing. Webroot found spyware in the download. I downloaded via CNet so I was surprised at the spyware.

I downloaded from the OP's website and no spyware. I'm a member of a computer help message board and they've been cautioning for months now about CNet putting spyware/adware into the downloads. Try again using this link.

https://github.com/gibbonweb/SmartDeblur
 
I downloaded from the OP's website and no spyware. I'm a member of a computer help message board and they've been cautioning for months now about CNet putting spyware/adware into the downloads. Try again using this link.

https://github.com/gibbonweb/SmartDeblur

Thank you! I've used CNet for years and I'm disappointed to hear they are adding spyware/adware to their downloads. Appreciate your help!
 
Thanks for the tip. Looks like it could be useful in many situations.
 
Thanks so much for this! This is exactly something I've been looking around on the web for for quite awhile (now that Photoshop is no longer an option for me). Many thanks!
 
I downloaded from the OP's website and no spyware. I'm a member of a computer help message board and they've been cautioning for months now about CNet putting spyware/adware into the downloads. Try again using this link.

https://github.com/gibbonweb/SmartDeblur

Is this just a Mac download? It has a -Mac.dmg ext. and I don't see anything for Windows...TIA
 
Is this just a Mac download? It has a -Mac.dmg ext. and I don't see anything for Windows...TIA

Here is the link to the Windows 7 / Vista / XP version of SmartDeblur
Download from one of the three mirror sites on the middle of the screen, once you click the download link below!

http://smartdeblur.en.lo4d.com/download

The site mentions that it has been tested to be virus free!

http://smartdeblur.en.lo4d.com/virus-malware-tests

Link to the review site for Windows SmartDeblur

http://smartdeblur.en.lo4d.com/
 
hi hello :) New to this forum and hoping I'm posting in an ok place. I have an image I need to unblur in order to make out a license plate number (backstory is suspicious couple taking photos of children at 2 local towns in my area). Is that allowed to ask? I've downloaded the software mentioned above but for some reason it won't let me upload my file. Could be a file size issue but I can't figure it out. Can I find help for that on WS somewhere? thanks so much, appreciate any reply
 
hi hello :) New to this forum and hoping I'm posting in an ok place. I have an image I need to unblur in order to make out a license plate number (backstory is suspicious couple taking photos of children at 2 local towns in my area). Is that allowed to ask? I've downloaded the software mentioned above but for some reason it won't let me upload my file. Could be a file size issue but I can't figure it out. Can I find help for that on WS somewhere? thanks so much, appreciate any reply

How did you go? Depending on what sort of blur your image has, sometimes photo editing software like Photoshop can be helpful, but serious blur needs better software.

My research shows that SmartDeblur isn't a free program (maybe it was originally). Home version is $49 and Pro version is $98. It can be bought here SmartDeblur - Buy

I also found Amped FIVE, but products are restricted to law enforcement, military, government agencies, or certified professionals only. Amped Software | Image and Video Forensics
 

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