Help needed to reverse engineer a mug photo..... Please !

[anonymous-user]

[redacted]

[singlecoil]

Relatively easy for someone who knows how to do it. My approach would be to take a large number of shots, turning the mug a few degrees between each shot, then cropping to the centre strip on each one, then stitching the strips together in Photoshop.

[Simpo Two]

Interesting probelm. I wonder if you could use a normal flatbed scanner, lid off, and roll the mug exactly in sync with the scanner bar?

[Fordo]

Simpo Two said:

Interesting probelm. I wonder if you could use a normal flatbed scanner, lid off, and roll the mug exactly in sync with the scanner bar?

Clever solution!

I remember when I was at school, when they got their first scanner, making bizarre art by doing exactly that - id get anything round, deodorant cans, coke cans etc, and would roll them along as the scanner scanned, to 'unwrap them'. Took a few goes, but the results were quite decent.



Another idea - might be a long shot, but would you know the company that printed the mug? Perhaps they might still have the image? (I used to use photo box to print photos online, and when I sign in with my account, all my old photos are there, kept on their server.)

[singlecoil]

Simpo Two said:

Interesting probelm. I wonder if you could use a normal flatbed scanner, lid off, and roll the mug exactly in sync with the scanner bar?

Probably have to break the handle off though.

[Simpo Two]

singlecoil said:

Probably have to break the handle off though.

Fair point. It depends what's most important, the photo or the mug. In this context I'd guess the photo.

[HappyMidget]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FLAGPOWER-Solutions-Porta...

[silobass]

Simpo Two said:

Fair point. It depends what's most important, the photo or the mug. In this context I'd guess the photo.

What if it doesn't work?

[furtive]

Have you tried the website that the mug was ordered from? There might be a digital copy of the original image hosted there

[singlecoil]

silobass said:

Simpo Two said:

Fair point. It depends what's most important, the photo or the mug. In this context I'd guess the photo.

What if it doesn't work?

Exactly.

[Simpo Two]

silobass said:

Simpo Two said:

Fair point. It depends what's most important, the photo or the mug. In this context I'd guess the photo.

What if it doesn't work?

He has lost the handle on a coffee mug. He still has the photo.

[HappyMidget]

Simpo Two said:

silobass said:

Simpo Two said:

Fair point. It depends what's most important, the photo or the mug. In this context I'd guess the photo.

What if it doesn't work?

He has lost only a coffee mug. He still has the photo.

Just use a handheld scanner like I linked above, no need to remove handle then

[mr_fibuli]

Google Photoscan on Android might work - it takes multiple pictures of the photo you want to scan from different angles, then automatically processes them to square up the photo and remove any reflections.

Edit - Looks like you can get it for iPhone too.

Edited by mr_fibuli on Friday 17th March 12:25

[Pixel Pusher]

singlecoil said:

My approach would be to take a large number of shots, turning the mug a few degrees between each shot, then cropping to the centre strip on each one, then stitching the strips together in Photoshop.

This would be my suggestion too.

Only downside is that the printing process may well have a screen on it so will look like it's made of dots.

Once reassembled, it could need some overall enhancement.

Failing that, (as has been said) if the company that printed the mug have helpfully printed their contact details on the base and it's legible, maybe they have the image on file still?

Long shot granted.

[DibblyDobbler]

Our very own RobbieKB (Rob Baggs) does photo restoration - I'm sure he would sort it for you if you get stuck