I saw this camera that said it was 12mp when interpolated, how do you interpolate a digital camera?

Answer 1

Interpolation is an electronic process in which new pixels are created, based on surrounding pixels, then inserted into the picture. This can be done in the camera's processor or in photoediting software on a computer.

If this is done well, the way the picture looks is improved. If not done well, the pic gets blurred or the colors smudged.

Some low priced cameras advertise interpolated megapixel counts to make the camera seem better than it is. Since they are using "made up (interpolated)" pixels, the higher count usually doesn't help.

Some better cameras, some Fugi's for example, use some well done interpolation.

Good Luck

Answer 2

When a camera takes a picture, it divides the picture into tiny squares, which are called pixels. Obviously, the more pixels, the tinier they are and the less you can tell that they are little square dots. Also, the more pixels, the more expensive to make the camera's picture capturing chip. So, if you have a little red square right next to a little green square that the chip has captured, the camera uses software to average out, or interpolate, the difference and insert another pixel of appropriate color between them when it stores the picture in memory. If your chip only captured 6 megapixels or mp, the picture stored would become 12 mp. It is actually a bit more complicated than that, as the software can be quite intelligent and do several enhancements that also alter the original pixels. This technology was developed to enhance traditional photography in astronomy and high altitude or satellite surveillance.