Image Upscaling
Increase image resolution using AI upscaling models. Enhance low-resolution images, upscale generated images, or prepare images for print.
What This Tool Is For
Use Image Upscaling when you want to:
Increase the resolution of a generated image.
Make a final thumbnail background or subject cutout larger.
Prepare an image for client review, web use, print, or a higher-resolution edit.
Improve a low-resolution image that is otherwise useful.
Create a cleaner final still after Image-to-Image, Canvas Editor, or Background Removal.
Enhance a source frame before using it in a video workflow.
Use a different workflow when:
Upscale video
Studio Upscale
Fix composition, style, or content
Image-to-Image or Canvas Editor
Create a new image
Text-to-Image
Create a cinematic video-ready still
Studio Cinematic Lab
Remove a background before upscaling
Background Removal
How To Use It
Start with a generated or uploaded image.
Click Transform on the image thumbnail.
Choose an image upscaling model.
Choose the scale factor or model-specific settings.
Generate the upscale.
Review the result before using it in your final project.
You can also ask in natural language:
Chat Video Pro can detect the upscaling intent and route the image to an upscaling model.
Image Upscaling vs. Studio Upscale
Image Upscaling and Studio Upscale solve the same kind of problem for different media.
Higher-resolution still image
Image Upscaling
Higher-resolution transparent PNG cutout
Image Upscaling
Higher-resolution thumbnail, product image, or key art
Image Upscaling
Higher-resolution generated or imported video
Studio Upscale
Higher-resolution clip after Add Effects, Reshoot, or Rotoscope
Studio Upscale
The practical rule: Image Upscaling is for stills. Studio Upscale is for video.
Choosing An Image Upscaler
Start with the source image and the problem you are solving.
Best general quality and control
Topaz Image Upscaler
Fast, crisp, simple enhancement
Recraft Crisp Upscale
Restoration for compressed or real-world images
Swin2SR Restore
Topaz Image Upscaler
Topaz is the most flexible image upscaler.
Use it when:
You want a reliable professional upscale.
You need 1.5x, 2x, 3x, or 4x scaling.
You are working with portraits, faces, product shots, or final stills.
You want JPEG or PNG output.
You want face enhancement.
Useful Topaz modes include:
Standard V2
You want the safest general-purpose upscale.
High Fidelity V2
The image is already good and you want to preserve detail.
Low Resolution V2
The source image is small or soft.
Text Refine
The image contains text or signage.
Recovery / Recovery V2
The image is compressed, damaged, or low quality.
CGI
The image is synthetic, graphic, or computer-generated.
Recraft Crisp Upscale
Recraft Crisp Upscale is a simple detail-focused option.
Use it when:
You want a fast, clean upscale.
You do not need many settings.
The image is already good and just needs more crispness.
You want a straightforward finishing pass after generation.
Swin2SR Restore
Swin2SR is useful for restoration-style tasks.
Use it when:
The image is compressed.
The source is a real-world photo that needs repair.
You want to compare a restoration pass against Topaz.
The image needs super-resolution rather than a purely crisp upscale.
Swin2SR exposes task modes like Classical SR, Compressed SR, and Real-World SR.
Scale Factor Guide
Choose the smallest scale that solves the delivery problem.
1.5x
You need a small boost and want to avoid over-processing.
2x
You want the safest default upscale.
3x
You need a larger output but the source is already clean.
4x
You need maximum size or are preparing a very small image for larger use.
More scale is not always better. A 4x upscale can make artifacts, bad text, strange hands, or noisy edges more obvious. If the source image has problems, fix those before upscaling.
Common Workflows
Final Generated Image Upscale
Generate or edit the image until the composition is approved.
Click Transform.
Choose Topaz or Recraft.
Use 2x for a normal finish, or 4x when you need a larger output.
Review the result at full size.
Best for final stills, social graphics, and image assets.
Thumbnail Finishing Pass
Create the thumbnail image or background.
Make sure faces, text areas, subject cutouts, and composition are right.
Upscale after the design direction is approved.
Add final title text manually if exact typography matters.
Best for YouTube thumbnails and social cover images.
Product Or Portrait Cutout Upscale
Use Background Removal to create the cutout.
Check the edges.
Upscale the approved cutout.
Place it into the final design or Premiere project.
Best for ads, product graphics, creator thumbnails, and overlays.
Restoration Pass
Upload the low-resolution or compressed image.
Try Topaz Recovery V2 or Swin2SR.
Compare outputs.
Use the cleaner result as the new source.
Best for old images, screenshots, compressed web images, and rough client-provided assets.
Best Practices
Do Creative Work First
Upscaling should not be used to rescue a bad image. If the subject, lighting, text, product shape, or composition is wrong, fix those first.
Inspect The Result At Full Size
Zoom in and check faces, hands, text, logos, product edges, hair, and transparent cutout edges. Upscaling can improve detail, but it can also reveal problems.
Use PNG When Transparency Or Quality Matters
Use PNG for transparent cutouts, design assets, and files you plan to composite further. Use JPEG when file size and compatibility matter more.
Avoid Repeated Upscaling
Do not upscale the same image again and again unless you are intentionally testing. Repeated upscales can create artificial texture and artifacts.
Keep A Copy Of The Pre-Upscale Image
Save the approved source before upscaling. If the upscaled version introduces artifacts, you can rerun with a different model or scale.
Troubleshooting
The Image Looks Sharper But Not Better
Upscaling adds resolution, but it does not automatically fix weak composition, bad anatomy, poor text, or an unclear subject. Return to Image-to-Image, Canvas Editor, or Text-to-Image first.
Faces Look Strange
Try Topaz with face enhancement, use a lower scale factor, or improve the source portrait before upscaling.
Text Still Looks Wrong
Use GPT Image 2 or Canvas Editor before upscaling if the text is part of the image. For final thumbnails or graphics, add exact text manually after the image is upscaled.
Edges Look Rough On A Transparent Cutout
Check the cutout before upscaling. If the alpha edge is bad, rerun Background Removal or clean the cutout before increasing resolution.
Upscaling Takes Too Long
Use a smaller scale, try Recraft Crisp Upscale, or upscale only the final selected image instead of every draft.
I Need To Upscale A Video
Use Studio Upscale. Image Upscaling only works on still images.
Related Pages
Image Generation - Create and edit still images.
Supported Image Models - Choose an image model before upscaling.
Text-to-Image - Generate a new still.
Image-to-Image - Fix or edit an image before upscaling.
Background Removal - Create transparent image cutouts.
Thumbnail Mode - Build thumbnail-focused images.
Studio Upscale - Upscale video clips.
Next: Use Thumbnail Mode for thumbnail-focused images, or Studio Upscale when the source is video.
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