How to Upscale Video with AI

AI video upscaling increases resolution and improves quality of low-resolution videos using machine learning algorithms. This process can transform 480p footage into sharp 4K video while preserving and enhancing details that traditional scaling methods would blur.

1. Choose your AI upscaling tool. Download Topaz Video AI for professional results, or use the free Real-ESRGAN for basic upscaling. Topaz Video AI offers the highest quality but requires a paid license. Real-ESRGAN runs locally and works well for most content.
2. Install and configure the software. Install your chosen tool and ensure your graphics card drivers are updated. For Topaz Video AI, activate your license. For Real-ESRGAN, extract the files to a folder and verify CUDA support is enabled if you have an NVIDIA GPU.
3. Import your source video. Launch the application and import your video file. In Topaz Video AI, drag the file into the interface or click File > Import. For Real-ESRGAN, place your video in the input folder or specify the file path in the command line.
4. Select the AI model and output settings. Choose an AI model based on your content type. Select Artemis for general video, Proteus for older footage, or Gaia for CGI content in Topaz Video AI. Set your target resolution — typically 2x or 4x the original size. Configure output format and quality settings.
5. Configure processing parameters. Adjust enhancement settings based on your source material. Enable noise reduction for grainy footage, sharpen details for soft video, and adjust frame interpolation if needed. Set output codec to H.264 for compatibility or H.265 for smaller file sizes.
6. Start the upscaling process. Click Process or Start to begin upscaling. The process will take several minutes to hours depending on video length, resolution increase, and hardware capabilities. Monitor progress and temperature if processing on older hardware.
7. Review and export the final result. Preview the upscaled video to check quality and compare with the original. Look for artifacts, over-sharpening, or unnatural smoothing. Export the final video in your desired format and resolution once satisfied with the results.