Processing images does take about 25-50% longer than Adobe's own upsampling or even GF Print Pro 5 when using a comparable dual 1GHz processing computer. This is due to a more advanced algorithm being used. When being processed on dual 3.6GHz system, the differences are minimal. So, Alien Skin's processor-dependent architecture is working.

Alien Skin uses a smarter processing scheme by including small grains to the upsampled image. The user can add more grain if necessary, but I found Adobe's own noise filter was preferred for the sample images I used. However, this is not to say Blow Up's grain selector is not needed, because I am sure there are images where a much more fine detail of grain is better handled by it than the Photoshop noise filter.

The addition of "film-like" grains to the upsampled images makes the images more realistic. In fact, they resemble my film images. I can certainly tell Blow Up is a close relative of Alien Skin's Exposure application, as the grain quality is very familiar and welcomed.

As noted in the comparison pages, Genuine Fractals Print Pro 5 has a more digital geometric shape to their upsampled images which makes the images look unreal. Now, here's the funny thing about these types of applications. You don't know what "better" is until you've seen something better come along. After all, how do you know an upsampled image is of excellent quality if the application you're using doesn't have anything to compare it to. Suffice it to say GF Print Pro 5 is a good application, but Alien Skin demonstrates there is something better.

After upsampling an image 1000%, it was even more clear which application was more true to its orginal. Blow Up still maintained the overall shape of the original without deviating. Even after printing out the upsampled versions of the three images, I found Blow Up's image more realistic. GF Print Pro 5 was still "unreal", and interestingly enough, Photoshop's version was a tad better. Thus, I can affirmatively say I highly recommend Alien Skin's Blow Up. This is yet another stellar program from a company who knows digital imaging.