Hello All,

Gimp Beginner here.

Ive used gimp for very simple image edits, resizing and such for awhile.

however today ive seem to meet my match. Ive tried to follow some tutorials and gotten close but not all the way.

Today we had this Van park and take pictures of the building. An employee saw it an reported it. However, our "4k" cameras dont seem to capture the license plate very well in this lighting. Cops wont do much with the footage unless something has happened such as a break in. (something has in the past and want to see if this guy is related)

Can anyone guide me on the best way to enhance the license plate on this? Is it possible?

This was similar to another 'white van' post here last year when that van damaged other cars.
Unfortunately the ability to read license plates from cctv or phone snaps is quite limited.



Zoomed-in and color curved reveals little detail. I've photographed license plates from much closer in rain and could not read them.

Where's the picture of the guy taking pictures?
I have 200€ hunting camera with a motion detector and it would have done better job.
Another thing I'm always wondering with license plates, is why they use so thin and high fonts in some countries/states.

Best I can do
I think I can make out the first 4 characters. 0312

The guy taking the pictures was inside the van, the employee saw the flashes from his cell phone. This picture is a still from the CCTV.

Unfortunately, the employee wasn't thinking to write down the plate and instead thought that the camera system was sufficient.

During the day we can see the plates fine, but with limited lighting and the "color night vision" we cant see back where he is parked.

Thanks for your help guys, for the most part, I thought I was following a few tutorials wrong.


Funny thing is, one of you mentioned about a white van post where it damaged another car. The other CCTV camera captured very visible damaged on the side of this one.

eh,eh, the other van didn't have side windows.

Probably a cut-rate private investigator spying on somebody's cheating partner.

If the guy was taking this kind of picture with a cellphone and the flash, nothing to fear, it looks like the most incompetent PI/thief in the galaxy.