user10675: It is believed that anime is made at resolutions below 1080p.


most anime are [made in 720p].

Very few anime series are produced in native 1080p.



Yet if anime is sold on Blu-Ray, it is (usually) in a 1080p format. One can assume that it is upscaled from its original mastering resolution, or perhaps even a lower resolution than the master. (Ex. mastered at 900p, resized to 720p for distribution to TV networks, then those 720p versions are upscaled to 1080p for the Blu-Ray.)
How can one tell that the video has been upscaled? Is it something only a human can do, or could a computer be made to follow an algorithm and determine whether or not an image has been upscaled?
This problem comes up in video games as well, with groups like Eurogamer's Digital Foundry explaining the original resolution of certain material.
Does the process vary depending on the source?

Film that was scanned into a digital format
Digital-only live-action
Digital-only animation
Video games


user35214: Here is an interesting article that goes into detail on how to recognize an upscale, specifically for anime: https://ultimatemegax.wordpress.com/2015/04/24/photography-and-resolution-of-anime/

10675: <p>It is believed that anime is made at resolutions below 1080p.</p>
<blockquote>
<ol>
<li><p>most anime are [made in 720p].</p>
</li>
<li><p><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/2jbe6s/just_a_quick_question_is_1080p_always_better_than/cla3oqq" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Very few anime series are produced in native 1080p.</a></p>
</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<p>Yet if anime is sold on Blu-Ray, it is (usually) in a 1080p format. One can assume that it is upscaled from its original mastering resolution, or perhaps even a lower resolution than the master. (Ex. mastered at 900p, resized to 720p for distribution to TV networks, then those 720p versions are upscaled to 1080p for the Blu-Ray.)</p>
<p>How can one tell that the video has been upscaled? Is it something only a human can do, or could a computer be made to follow an algorithm and determine whether or not an image has been upscaled?</p>
<p>This problem comes up in video games as well, with groups like Eurogamer's <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2015-battlefield-hardline-face-off" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Digital Foundry</a> explaining the original resolution of certain material.</p>
<p>Does the process vary depending on the source?</p>
<ul>
<li>Film that was scanned into a digital format</li>
<li>Digital-only live-action</li>
<li>Digital-only animation</li>
<li>Video games</li>
</ul>
 35214: <p>Here is an interesting article that goes into detail on how to recognize an upscale, specifically for anime: <a href="https://ultimatemegax.wordpress.com/2015/04/24/photography-and-resolution-of-anime/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://ultimatemegax.wordpress.com/2015/04/24/photography-and-resolution-of-anime/</a></p>
