Is this best AI upscaler ever?

The video review discusses the effectiveness of a new AI-powered image upscaling tool called 'Magnific.' The reviewer, initially skeptical, compares it to Topaz Gigapixels, noting that while Magnific is more expensive, it offers a standalone online service without the need for powerful hardware. The tool is tested on various images, including portraits, landscapes, and vector graphics. The reviewer finds that with the right settings, Magnific outperforms Gigapixels, especially in restoring details and upscaling poor-quality images. However, they caution that high creativity settings can sometimes lead to unwanted artistic liberties, particularly with faces. The tool is praised for its potential in professional settings, such as enhancing movie poster screenshots, but is deemed too costly for everyday or hobbyist use. The reviewer suggests improvements, including the option to save images in a non-JPEG format and the addition of batch processing.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The AI upscaler tool, Magnific, is tested against Gigapixel and other tools for its performance in image upscaling.
• 💲 Magnific is more expensive than Gigapixel, with a monthly subscription cost, which raises the question of its value.
• 🌐 Magnific is a standalone online service, not requiring powerful local hardware for processing.
• 🖼️ The tool is tested with various types of images including portraits, landscapes, and vector graphics to evaluate its effectiveness.
• 🔍 The reviewer found that Magnific performed well in upscaling and detail restoration, sometimes outperforming Gigapixel.
• 👁️‍🗨️ The tool's AI sometimes altered facial features in a way that was not preferred, affecting the original emotion of the portraits.
• 🎭 The level of 'creativity' in the AI settings significantly impacts the output, with higher settings leading to more AI-generated alterations.
• 🛠️ The interface of Magnific allows for various settings adjustments, including style transfer and different engines for optimizing specific image types.
• ⚙️ Batch processing is not supported in Magnific, which could be a limitation for users dealing with multiple images.
• 💰 The cost of using Magnific can add up quickly, especially for higher resolution upscales, making it less suitable for casual users.
• 🎯 Magnific is positioned as a professional tool suitable for specific use cases like movie poster creation, where the cost can be passed on to the client.

Q & A

What is the name of the new AI upscaling tool mentioned in the transcript?

The new AI upscaling tool mentioned is called 'Magnific'.

How does the cost of using Magnific compare to Topaz Gigapixels?

Magnific is more expensive than Topaz Gigapixels, with the cheapest version costing $40 per month, whereas Topaz Gigapixels is a one-time purchase of about $99.

What are the advantages of using an online service like Magnific for image upscaling?

Using an online service like Magnific means you don't need a powerful graphics card on your computer, as the processing is done online. This also allows for easier accessibility and use across different devices without installation.

What are some of the issues the reviewer faced when using Magnific for upscaling portraits?

The reviewer noticed that Magnific sometimes altered facial features, such as eyes, which could change the emotional expression of the subjects in the portraits. There were also instances where the AI introduced artifacts or noise.

How does the reviewer suggest using Magnific for professional work?

The reviewer suggests that Magnific is a powerful tool for professionals who can charge the cost of using the service back to their clients. It's particularly useful for tasks like creating movie posters from low-resolution images.

What are some of the limitations the reviewer found with Magnific?

Some limitations include the inability to save images in formats other than JPEG, which can introduce artifacts. Additionally, the cost can add up quickly, especially for high-resolution upscaling, making it less suitable for everyday use or hobbyists.

How does the reviewer describe the learning curve for using Magnific effectively?

The reviewer mentions that it took some time to get used to Magnific and understand which settings to use for optimal results. Once familiar with the settings, the reviewer found the tool to be very effective and even enjoyable to use.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the importance of understanding the application's workings before judging its performance?

The reviewer emphasizes the importance of understanding how the application works before making judgments about its performance. They suggest that misjudging the application due to a lack of understanding is unfair.

What are the different settings available in Magnific that the reviewer experimented with?

The reviewer experimented with settings such as creativity level, HDR, resemblance to the original image, and different engines like 'Illusio' for landscapes and nature. They also used prompts to guide the AI in certain directions.

How did the reviewer find the results of using Magnific for vector graphics?

The reviewer found that Magnific worked perfectly for vector graphics, providing a very good job of cleaning up the images.

What is the reviewer's final verdict on whether Magnific is a better tool than Gigapixels for upscaling?

The reviewer concludes that Magnific is probably a superior product for upscaling compared to Gigapixels, especially when the right settings are used. However, they note that it is more expensive and better suited for professional use rather than everyday use.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Introduction to AI Image Upscaling Tools

The speaker begins by discussing the need for image upscaling in various fields like photography and AI-generated art. They mention their fondness for Gigapixel as a reliable upscaling tool but express skepticism about a new AI technology-based tool called 'Magnific.' The comparison includes cost analysis, with Gigapixel being a one-time purchase and Magnific requiring a subscription. The speaker also highlights that Magnific is an online service, not a plugin, and doesn't require powerful hardware for processing.

05:02

📈 Testing Magnific's Upscaling Capabilities

The speaker shares their testing methodology for Magnific, which includes assessing its performance on portraits, landscapes, and challenging images with poor quality. They discuss the rendering credits required for using the application and the importance of understanding the application's workings to fairly evaluate it. The comparison between original images, mid-journey upscales, and the final AI render by Magnific is presented, noting the tool's ability to maintain some original details while enhancing clarity.

10:02

🖼️ Gigapixel vs. Magnific: A Closer Look

The speaker compares Gigapixel and Magnific, noting Gigapixel's minimal alteration of the original image and its effectiveness in maintaining details and reducing noise. They also discuss Magnific's more creative approach, which includes adding sharpness and details but sometimes altering the original scene too much. The speaker emphasizes the importance of adjusting settings in Magnific to achieve better results.

15:03

🛠️ Interface and Processing Capabilities

The speaker describes the user interfaces of Gigapixel and Magnific, highlighting Gigapixel's straightforward process and ability to process multiple images simultaneously. They also detail Magnific's interface, which allows for single-image processing with various settings for optimization, style transfer, and AI-based image enhancements. The speaker discusses the cost implications of different scaling factors and the types of engines available in Magnific.

20:05

🧩 Experimenting with Magnific's Settings

The speaker shares their experiments with Magnific's settings, focusing on the impact of creativity levels and HDR on image outcomes. They note that higher creativity settings can lead to significant alterations, sometimes resulting in unrealistic or undesirable effects. The speaker emphasizes the need for careful adjustment of settings to achieve the desired results without compromising the original image's integrity.

25:07

🎨 Exploring Magnific's AI Render for Different Image Types

The speaker explores the use of Magnific's AI render for various types of images, including 2D illustrations and AI-generated images. They discuss the effectiveness of different settings in enhancing image quality and detail. The speaker also shares their findings on the best settings for portraits and how to avoid artifacts and maintain facial features.

30:08

🌄 Magnific's Superior Upscaling for Landscapes

The speaker praises Magnific's ability to upscale and add details to landscape images, noting its superiority over Gigapixel in this regard. They discuss the potential of AI to enhance textures and details in buildings and how careful adjustment of HDR and creativity settings can lead to stunning results. The speaker also shares their experiments with anime-style images and the importance of cautious creativity adjustments.

35:09

💸 Magnific's Target Market and Limitations

The speaker concludes by identifying Magnific's target market as professionals due to its cost and capabilities. They suggest that it is not suitable for everyday use or hobbyists but is excellent for professional projects like movie posters. The speaker also mentions limitations, such as the inability to save images in formats other than JPEG and the lack of batch processing. They acknowledge the tool's power but caution about its expense and recommend it for specific professional applications.

40:11

📝 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

The speaker summarizes their overall positive experience with Magnific, calling it a surprisingly good tool for upscaling, despite not being suitable for everyday use. They encourage viewers to check out their other reviews and videos for comparisons with other tools. The speaker ends by asking for support in the form of subscriptions, likes, and other engagement to help their content perform well on YouTube.

Keywords

💡AI upscaler

An AI upscaler is a software tool that uses artificial intelligence to increase the resolution of images without the loss of quality, often enhancing the details in the process. In the video, the AI upscaler is tested against other tools like Gigapixel to determine its effectiveness in improving image quality.

💡Gigapixel

Gigapixel is a standalone software that specializes in image upscaling. It is mentioned in the video as a comparison point for the new AI upscaler being reviewed. The reviewer discusses the cost, performance, and results of using Gigapixel in contrast with the new tool.

💡Mid Journey upscale

This term refers to a specific setting or level within the AI upscaler tool that the reviewer tested. It is used to upscale images to a certain degree, and the results are compared to the original and other upscaling methods to evaluate the tool's performance.

💡Creativity level

The creativity level is a setting within the AI upscaler that determines how much liberty the AI has in modifying the original image. A higher creativity level allows the AI to make more significant changes, which can lead to more detailed but also more distorted results, as discussed in the video.

💡HDR (High Dynamic Range)

HDR is a setting that simulates high dynamic range, enhancing the color and contrast of the upscaled images. The reviewer experiments with different HDR levels to see how they affect the final output, noting that too much HDR can lead to unwanted effects.

💡Resemblance

Resemblance refers to how closely the upscaled image maintains the characteristics of the original. The reviewer adjusts the resemblance setting to test how well the AI upscaler can retain the original image's details and appearance.

💡Fractality

Fractality, in the context of the video, refers to a feature of the AI upscaler that adds tiny details to the image. It is one of the many parameters the reviewer manipulates to observe its impact on the upscaling process.

💡AI render

AI render is a process where the AI upscaler generates an image based on the input and settings chosen. The reviewer uses this feature to upscale and enhance images, comparing the AI-rendered results to the originals and other upscaling methods.

💡Film photography

Film photography is a type of photography that uses photographic film to capture images. In the video, the reviewer mentions using the AI upscaler to enhance film photography screenshots, noting its potential for professional use in movie poster creation.

💡Batch processing

Batch processing is the ability to process multiple images at once, which is a feature that the reviewer would like to see added to the AI upscaler. It is mentioned in the context of processing multiple images for professional work, such as movie posters.

💡JPEG artifacts

JPEG artifacts are distortions or artifacts that can appear in images when they are saved in JPEG format due to lossy compression. The reviewer expresses a desire for the AI upscaler to save images in a format that preserves quality, such as PNG or TIFF, to avoid these artifacts.

Highlights

The new AI upscaling tool 'Magnific' is introduced, which is claimed to be better than any existing upscale tool.

The reviewer expresses skepticism towards the claims and decides to test the tool thoroughly.

Gigapixel is mentioned as a solid tool for upscaling, but it's not free and costs about $99.

Magnific is more expensive than Gigapixel, with the cheapest version costing $40 per month.

Magnific is a standalone online service, not requiring powerful local processing power.

The reviewer compares the upscaling results of Magnific with Gigapixel and finds differences in detail and noise.

Magnific's upscaling results in sharper images but introduces some creative alterations.

The reviewer discusses the importance of understanding the application's settings to fairly evaluate its performance.

Different settings in Magnific, such as creativity level and HDR, significantly affect the upscaling outcome.

The reviewer finds that Magnific can sometimes change facial characteristics, which may not be desirable.

Batch processing is not available in Magnific, which is a limitation compared to Gigapixel.

The cost of using Magnific can add up quickly, especially with higher resolution upscaling.

Magnific is concluded to be superior for upscaling compared to Gigapixel and Photoshop, but it's more suitable for professional use due to its cost.

The reviewer suggests Magnific is excellent for professional tasks like movie poster creation where costs can be passed on to the client.

The tool's ability to provide settings for replication is seen as a positive feature for professional work.

The reviewer recommends Magnific for professionals but advises against it for everyday or hobbyist use due to its expense.

The video concludes with a recommendation to subscribe and support the channel for more useful reviews.