# photo resolution-help me solve a crime. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 15, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496 "2009-08-15T05:03:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/61 "2009-08-17T16:00:24Z")
> [@keturah](#): > > I also posted it to flickr if anyone wants to give it a go. I don’t know if this one is any higher resolution or not. > > [keturah11 | Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/41536213@N07/?saved=1) Whoa… that really made a difference, thanks. Running it back and forth through a host of filters and tools (Mrs. Dvl runs the graphics shop here, I just do what I’m told), and using **Chronos’** piecemeal approach, I think I have most of the letters: **14 k of g in a f p d** Mean anything to anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/62 "2009-08-17T17:02:29Z")
Not funny. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/63 "2009-08-17T17:18:44Z")
If you can’t find another place to post the image, you can email the full size one directly to me. (look in my profile) ---
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/64 "2009-08-17T18:57:49Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Whoa… that really made a difference, thanks. > > Running it back and forth through a host of filters and tools (Mrs. Dvl runs the graphics shop here, I just do what I’m told), and using **Chronos’** piecemeal approach, I think I have most of the letters: **14 k of g in a f p d** > > Mean anything to anyone? horrible ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/65 "2009-08-17T19:44:28Z")
I thought it was acceptably funny… ---
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/66 "2009-08-17T19:51:24Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > I thought it was acceptably funny… I agree, it’s no less funny than most of the jokes made around here still a horrible joke ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/67 "2009-08-17T20:13:10Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Whoa… that really made a difference, thanks. > > Running it back and forth through a host of filters and tools (Mrs. Dvl runs the graphics shop here, I just do what I’m told), and using **Chronos’** piecemeal approach, I think I have most of the letters: **14 k of g in a f p d** > > Mean anything to anyone? So the man pictured is actually **mittu** , which explains the reason for his previous distractions. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/68 "2009-08-17T20:19:23Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > I don’t think you’ll be getting much out of trying to enhance the resolution – what the camera didn’t capture just isn’t there. However, it’s always worth a try. > > I looked whether there might be some other identifying features, and I think that maybe there’s some damage to the rear bumper, either in form of the dangly bit to the left, or, if that’s supposed to be there, in its absence on the right; also, if the white reflection in the car’s left side is from some straight line/object, its crookedness would seem to indicate a dent in that spot. [Here’s](http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/StephenDaedalus/Car.jpg) a picture where I’ve highlighted what I mean. Of course, I might just be seeing things, so take that with a grain of salt. Well the hanging rubber trim from the bumper on the drivers side is a real clue. It’s not supposed to be that way. I think that the white mark on the drivers door may be a reflection of something accross the street, like a fence. And obviously this is a black man, you can see the back of his calves. And the police have probably noticed all that. I also agree that it is an Oldsmobile. Going back to the original picture from the camera before downloading it going to be the best bet for trying to get a better resolution. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/69 "2009-08-17T20:25:51Z")
Unfortunately the plate is very overexposed, so there is not much detail there. I’ve tried adjusting the histogram to pull as much detail out of the highlights as much as possible. [Here](http://messyshare.com/show.php/15132_plate.png.html). I wish US plates had a standard format, like UK ones. I’m seeing a strong diagonal in the final figure, which suggests either 2, 7 or 4 if a figure, maybe a Z if a letter. There’s a heavy vertical in the fourth (?) position, assuming a 6-character plate. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/70 "2009-08-17T21:10:15Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > I think her most valuable contribution is capturing the dude outside the car. The way he dresses should make him pretty easy to find. :eek: I am not allowed to that site at work, but if you have a human in the picture, get it to the cops. Last week a good friend who works at Crimestoppers said that he’s seen the most God awful pictures get emailed out to the police…and in a short while they’ll get back 5 responses and often it’ll be the SAME NAME. Each cop would see something that reminded him/her of a particular crook they’ve delt with. When you get 5 to agree (without realizing they all agree) on one suspect, you’re off and rolling. Edit: Since I cannot go to that site, if the “dude outside the car” isn’t really a dude, sorry. Just trying to help. d ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/71 "2009-08-17T21:11:45Z")
> [@Doug\_Bowe](#): > > I am not allowed to that site at work, but if you have a human in the picture, get it to the cops. > Last week a good friend who works at Crimestoppers said that he’s seen the most God awful pictures get emailed out to the police…and in a short while they’ll get back 5 responses and often it’ll be the SAME NAME. Each cop would see something that reminded him/her of a particular crook they’ve delt with. When you get 5 to agree (without realizing they all agree) on one suspect, you’re off and rolling. Unfortunately it’s a back view so not much to go on. I guess they’d be able to estimate height and weight, based on the size of the car he is stood next to. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/72 "2009-08-17T21:13:41Z")
Wow, thats not a good photo. I dont see how you can ever get a plate from that image as presented. Id like to see the full resolution image if possible. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/73 "2009-08-17T22:29:08Z")
The higher-resolution original you sent me did have more pixels for the licence plate, but I’ve tried a few different techniques (including gaussian deconvolution - which can sometimes have surprisingly good results for out of focus images). But I’m unable to recover anything even really worth showing. Sorry - I don’t think I can do anything with it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/74 "2009-08-17T22:41:16Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The higher-resolution original you sent me did have more pixels for the licence plate, but I’ve tried a few different techniques (including gaussian deconvolution - which can sometimes have surprisingly good results for out of focus images). > > But I’m unable to recover anything even really worth showing. Sorry - I don’t think I can do anything with it. Can we get someone to post the higher resolution version and give others a crack at it? I assume it won’t be fine enough, but I’d be curious to see what can be pulled out of the file. ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/75 "2009-08-17T22:45:22Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Can we get someone to post the higher resolution version and give others a crack at it? I assume it won’t be fine enough, but I’d be curious to see what can be pulled out of the file. Seconded. The version uploaded to Flickr was also scaled down to 1024x768. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/76 "2009-08-17T22:49:14Z")
> [@Henrichek](#): > > Seconded. The version uploaded to Flickr was also scaled down to 1024x768. I’ve never uploaded to Flickr before, but I know sometimes there’s an “Original” option included in “All Sizes.” The link given before did not have this option, topping out at “large” (1024x768). ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/77 "2009-08-17T22:52:54Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’ve never uploaded to Flickr before, but I know sometimes there’s an “Original” option included in “All Sizes.” The link given before did not have this option, topping out at “large” (1024x768). Yep. I haven’t used it either, but I assume there is an option where the uploader can decide whether or not the original should be available, and which sizes should be listed. Anyway, due to the “digital zoom” cropping, there won’t be much extra data to work with, but it’s still interesting to give it a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/78 "2009-08-17T22:58:27Z")
> [@Henrichek](#): > > Seconded. The version uploaded to Flickr was also scaled down to 1024x768. Thirded. To avoid the downscaling, can somebody who has the original file just crop it to show the car only, then save it as a PNG to avoid further compression and stick it on the web? Please? ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/79 "2009-08-17T22:59:55Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Thirded. To avoid the downscaling, can somebody who has the original file just crop it to show the car only, then save it as a PNG to avoid further compression and stick it on the web? Please? Or just stick it on the web as it is. ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496/80 "2009-08-17T23:57:33Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > If you can’t find another place to post the image, you can email the full size one directly to me. > (look in my profile) I have sent a copy of the picture to you. Thanks for giving it a shot. To the others asking for the original to be posted–if you can tell me how/where to do it without the cropping I will try. I wish I were slightly more tech savvy. As far as the police, they have both a stack of hard copies and I have emailed it to several different officers. Hopefully something will come of that, but again it is a matter of their priorities. I am trying to be somewhat proactive about this, if possible. Thanks again to all of you willing to give it a look. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photo-resolution-help-me-solve-a-crime/506496.md?page=5)