Whats the BEST way? How to upscale images in Photoshop (Photos, Ai Art & Lineart)

This video explores four different methods for upscaling images in Photoshop, comparing their effectiveness on three types of images: a Batman drawing, a piece of AI art, and a photo. The methods include using the Image Size filter, Camera Raw's Super Resolution, Super Zoom from the Neural Filters, and Topaz Gigapixel as an AI upscaling plugin. The Image Size filter with Preserve Details and Preserve Details 2.0 settings is found to be suitable for general images and artwork, while Super Zoom is recommended for line work. However, Topaz Gigapixel stands out as the most advanced and effective method, adding significant detail and improving the quality of upscaled images, making it the top choice for enhancing low-resolution photos and artwork.

Takeaways

• 🖼️ The video discusses four methods for upscaling images in Photoshop, comparing their effectiveness on different types of images.
• 🔍 The first method involves using the 'Image Size' filter, which allows for different interpolation options like Nearest Neighbor, Bilinear, and Bicubic.
• 🔧 The 'Preserve Details' and 'Preserve Details 2.0' settings within the 'Image Size' filter enhance image quality, particularly for enlargements.
• 📈 Upscaling to 300 percent using 'Preserve Details' yields good results, though 'Preserve Details 2.0' may lose some detail.
• 📷 The second method, 'Super Resolution' in Camera Raw, works well with JPEG images and can double the resolution with minimal artifacts.
• 🔍🔧 The 'Super Zoom' filter in the Neural Filters provides an option to upscale images up to two times while reducing noise and enhancing face details.
• 🎨 For artwork and drawings, 'Preserve Details 2.0' is excellent, while 'Super Zoom' works well for line work and black and white images.
• 📚 The third method, using an AI upscaling plug-in like Topaz Gigapixel, offers advanced upscaling capabilities, adding more detail and cleaner results.
• 🔗 Topaz Gigapixel can upscale images up to six times and includes features like face recovery and noise reduction.
• 🏆 In comparison, Topaz Gigapixel outperforms native Photoshop upscaling methods, providing more detail and a cleaner look.
• 🔄 It's possible to combine different upscaling methods for better results, especially for continued upscaling of images.

Q & A

What are the four different methods discussed for upscaling images in Photoshop?

The four methods discussed are using the Image Size filter, free transform, Photoshop's Camera Raw interface with super resolution, super zoom with neural filters, and using an AI upscaling plug-in by Topaz Gigapixel.

How does the Image Size filter in Photoshop work for upscaling images?

The Image Size filter allows you to increase the pixel dimensions of an image. It offers different interpolation methods like Nearest Neighbor, Bilinear, Bicubic, and Preserve Details, which can affect the quality of the upscaled image.

What is the role of 'Preserve Details' in the Image Size filter?

The 'Preserve Details' option in the Image Size filter enhances the image by making some of the darker outlines more distinct, which can bring details to life more effectively than simple blurring.

How does the Camera Raw interface's super resolution feature affect image upscaling?

The super resolution feature in the Camera Raw interface enhances the image by doubling its resolution. It attempts to improve the clarity of details like the eye in a face, but it's limited to a two times enlargement.

What are the advantages of using the Super Zoom feature in Photoshop?

Super Zoom is a filter that can upscale images up to two times their original size. It includes options to enhance face detail and reduce noise, which can improve the overall quality of the upscaled image, especially for line work and drawings.

How does the Topaz Gigapixel plug-in compare to native Photoshop upscaling methods?

Topaz Gigapixel is a premium plug-in that adds a significant amount of detail to upscaled images, even at higher magnifications up to six times. It often provides cleaner and more detailed results compared to native Photoshop upscaling methods.

What are the potential drawbacks of using the Super Zoom feature for upscaling?

While Super Zoom can smooth out line work effectively, it may introduce noise and artifacts into the image, particularly when used at higher magnifications or on more complex images.

How does the Bicubic interpolation method compare to Bilinear in terms of image smoothing?

Bicubic interpolation provides a smoother result than Bilinear. It does a better job at reducing the pixelation effect when enlarging an image, making it a preferable choice for upscaling.

What is the recommended upscaling method for black and white line work according to the video?

For black and white line work, using the Image Size filter with the Preserve Details 2.0 option is recommended as it provides a sharp and clean upscaled image with reduced noise and artifacts.

How does the 'Preserve Details 2.0' setting affect the quality of upscaled images?

The 'Preserve Details 2.0' setting is the highest rated enlargement setting in the Image Size filter. It tends to make the image smoother but can sometimes lose too much detail, making the image less photorealistic.

What is the general outcome when using the Topaz Gigapixel plug-in for upscaling images?

The Topaz Gigapixel plug-in provides a cleaner and more detailed upscaled image compared to other methods. It is particularly effective at adding detail and refining areas of the image, making it the top choice for upscaling in the video.

What are some additional settings available in Topaz Gigapixel that can enhance the upscaling process?

Topaz Gigapixel offers additional settings such as face recovery, which can help refine and add detail to faces in images. Users can also adjust the level of detail and noise reduction to achieve the desired outcome.

Outlines

00:00

🖼️ Upscaling Techniques in Photoshop

The video begins by introducing four different methods for upscaling images in Photoshop. The host uses three images—a personal Batman drawing, an AI art piece, and a photo—to test these methods. The first method involves using the Image Size filter and Free Transform with various interpolation options like Nearest Neighbor, Bilinear, and Bicubic. The second method, Preserve Details, enhances the image quality, especially for enlargements. The host also explores the use of Camera Raw's Super Resolution feature, which doubles the resolution of JPEG images. The results vary depending on the image type, with Preserve Details being the most effective for the face image, while Bicubic Sharper and Bicubic provided good results for the AI art and Batman images, respectively.

05:01

📈 Comparing Upscaling Results

The video continues with a comparison of the upscaling results for the three images using different methods. Super Resolution, despite its limitations, performs well with line work. The third method, Super Zoom, introduced through Neural Filters, provides a decent upscale but with some noise. The host also discusses the use of Topaz Gigapixel, an AI upscaling plugin that offers superior detail enhancement and noise reduction, even outperforming native Photoshop methods. A direct comparison of the upscaling methods on the face image reveals that Topaz Gigapixel adds significant detail and smoothness, making it the best performer among the tested methods.

10:02

🎨 Evaluating Upscaling for Different Image Types

The host evaluates the effectiveness of upscaling methods on different types of images. For the bird image, Image Size provides a smoothed-out result, Super Resolution introduces some noise, and Super Zoom, while noisy, performs adequately. Topaz Gigapixel stands out for its detail enhancement and noise reduction. When applied to the Batman drawing, Image Size yields good results with some noise and artifacts, Super Resolution struggles with black and white edges, and Super Zoom excels at smoothing out the line work. Topaz Gigapixel again provides a cleaner upscale, making it the preferred choice for line work. The video concludes with a recommendation for Topaz Gigapixel and a teaser for future comparisons with other AI upscalers.

Keywords

Upscale images

The process of increasing the size of an image without losing quality or adding pixelation. In the video, the term is central to the discussion as the host explores different methods to upscale images in Photoshop for various types of visuals, including drawings, AI art, and photographs.

Image Size filter

A feature in Photoshop that allows users to change the dimensions of an image. The host uses this filter to increase the size of the images to a specified percentage, comparing the results with different interpolation methods like Nearest Neighbor, Bilinear, and Bicubic.

Interpolation methods

Techniques used to estimate the colors of new pixels when an image is resized. The video discusses three types: Nearest Neighbor, Bilinear, and Bicubic, each producing different results in image quality and smoothness during the upscaling process.

Preserve Details

A setting within the Image Size filter that attempts to maintain the sharpness and details of an image when it is enlarged. The host compares the standard upscaling with the 'Preserve Details' option turned on and notes how it brings out more clarity in certain features like the eyes.

Super Resolution

A technique used to enhance the resolution of an image. The video demonstrates the use of Super Resolution within the Camera Raw interface in Photoshop, which doubles the resolution of an image and attempts to improve its clarity.

Super Zoom

A feature within Photoshop's Neural Filters that allows for the enlargement of images with reduced noise and enhanced details. The host uses Super Zoom to upscale images and discusses its effectiveness, especially in smoothing out details.

Topaz Gigapixel

A third-party AI upscaling plugin for Photoshop that adds details and enhances the quality of upscaled images. The video compares Topaz Gigapixel with native Photoshop upscaling methods, noting its superior performance in adding details and refining images.

Line Art

A type of two-dimensional artwork that consists of lines, often used in illustrations and comics. The video examines how different upscaling methods affect line art, specifically a Batman drawing, and how they handle the sharpness and clarity of lines.

AI Art

Artwork generated using artificial intelligence, often with a unique or experimental style. The host includes a piece of AI art in the upscaling tests to see how the methods cope with the distinct characteristics of AI-generated images.

Noise Reduction

A process used to reduce the visual noise or graininess that can appear in images, especially when they are enlarged. The video discusses the effectiveness of noise reduction when using the Super Zoom feature and its impact on the final image quality.

Resolution

The number of pixels in an image, which determines its clarity and detail. The entire video is focused on improving the resolution of images through various upscaling methods in Photoshop, aiming to achieve higher quality prints or digital displays.

Highlights

Four different methods for upscaling images in Photoshop are explored and compared.

The use of the Image Size filter and Free Transform tool with different interpolation settings is demonstrated.

Nearest Neighbor, Bilinear, and Bicubic interpolation methods are compared for their effects on image quality.

Preserve Details and Preserve Details 2.0 are introduced as settings that can enhance image quality upon enlargement.

The effectiveness of Preserve Details for maintaining image sharpness is shown, especially for faces and artwork.

Super Resolution in Photoshop's Camera Raw interface is used to double the resolution of images.

Super Zoom, a filter under Neural Filters, is shown to effectively upscale images with noise reduction and detail enhancement.

AI Upscaling plug-in Topaz Gigapixel is compared with native Photoshop methods, showcasing its advanced detail enhancement capabilities.

Topaz Gigapixel is found to be superior for adding details and refining images, especially for faces and hair textures.

The importance of choosing the right upscaling method depending on the type of image content is emphasized.

Image Size method is noted to be effective for general upscaling, despite being a bit blurry.

Super Zoom is highlighted as particularly good for line work and black and white images.

Combining different upscaling methods is suggested for further improving image quality.

A link to Topaz Gigapixel is provided for those interested in the plug-in.

The video concludes with a ranking of the upscaling methods from most to least effective based on the tests conducted.

Gigapixel is ranked as the top choice for upscaling, followed by Image Size and Super Zoom.

The video provides insights into how to upscale different image types effectively in Photoshop.