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

Wade McMaster - Creator Impact
11 Jul 202313:56

TLDRThe video script discusses four methods to upscale images in Photoshop, comparing their effectiveness on various types of images. The methods include using the Image Size filter, Free Transform, Super Resolution, Super Zoom, and Topaz Gigapixel AI upscaling plugin. The comparison focuses on the quality of upscaling for different image elements like line work, faces, and general texture, concluding that Topaz Gigapixel offers the most detail enhancement and quality, followed by Super Zoom for line work, while Image Size and Super Resolution are suitable for basic upscaling needs.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 The video discusses four different methods to upscale images in Photoshop.
  • 🖼️ Three images of varying types (Batman drawing, AI art, and a photo) are used for comparison.
  • 📏 The images start at a similar size of approximately 900x900 to 1200x1200 pixels.
  • 🔍 Upscaling is tested to see which method provides the best quality for printing purposes.
  • 🌟 The 'Image Size' filter with 'Preserve Details' option stands out as the best for enhancing photo details.
  • 🔎 'Super Resolution' in the Camera Raw interface works well for doubling the resolution with minimal artifacts.
  • 🌐 'Super Zoom' offers decent results but can introduce noise in the upscaled images.
  • 🎭 Topaz Gigapixel AI plug-in integrates with Photoshop and offers advanced upscaling with up to six times the resolution.
  • 🏆 Gigapixel is ranked as the top choice for upscaling images due to its detail enhancement and noise reduction capabilities.
  • 🖌️ For line work and black and white drawings, 'Super Zoom' performs well, but Gigapixel provides a cleaner look.
  • 🔄 Combining different upscaling methods can yield better results for specific types 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, Super Intelligent Upscale (Super Zoom), and Topaz Gigapixel AI upscaling plugin.

  • How does the 'Image Size' method work in Photoshop?

    -The 'Image Size' method allows users to adjust the percentage of the image size and choose different interpolation methods such as Nearest Neighbor, Bilinear, Bicubic, and Cubic Sharper to upscale the image.

  • What is the 'Preserve Details' option in the Image Size filter, and how does it affect the image?

    -The 'Preserve Details' option in the Image Size filter enhances the image by bringing out finer details and reducing pixelation. It has two settings: 'Preserve Details' and 'Preserve Details 2.0', with the latter being the highest rated enlargement setting.

  • How does the 'Super Resolution' method in Photoshop's Camera Raw interface enhance images?

    -The 'Super Resolution' method in Photoshop's Camera Raw interface doubles the resolution of the image, enhancing details like the eye, and works best with JPEGs.

  • What is 'Super Zoom' and how does it perform in comparison to other upscaling methods?

    -Super Zoom is a neural filter in Photoshop that upscales images while attempting to reduce noise and enhance details. It performs decently but can introduce some artifacts and is considered less advanced than Topaz Gigapixel.

  • What is Topaz Gigapixel and how does it compare to the native Photoshop upscaling methods?

    -Topaz Gigapixel is a premium AI upscaling plugin that integrates with Photoshop. It adds details and enhances images more effectively than the native Photoshop methods, offering up to six times the resolution and providing cleaner and more detailed results.

  • What types of images were used in the comparison, and how did they fare with each upscaling method?

    -The comparison used a Batman drawing, a piece of AI art, and a photo from paxils.com. The results varied, with black and white images and drawings generally being easier to upscale than photographs.

  • What are some of the settings in Topaz Gigapixel that can be adjusted to improve the upscaling results?

    -In Topaz Gigapixel, users can adjust settings such as the upscaling factor (up to six times), face recovery, and noise reduction to refine and improve the upscaling results.

  • How does the 'Free Transform' method in Photoshop compare to using the 'Image Size' filter for upscaling?

    -The 'Free Transform' method provides similar interpolation options as the 'Image Size' filter but does not offer the 'Preserve Details' option, making it less effective for enhancing image quality during upscaling.

  • What is the conclusion of the video regarding the best upscaling method in Photoshop?

    -The video concludes that Topaz Gigapixel is the best premium option for upscaling images in Photoshop, followed by the 'Super Zoom' for line work, and the 'Image Size' method for general use.

  • What additional advice does the video provide for users looking to upscale images?

    -The video suggests that users can combine different upscaling methods for better results and also mentions that there are other AI upscales available which will be compared in future content.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Exploring Image Upscaling Techniques in Photoshop

This paragraph introduces the viewer to various methods of upscaling images in Photoshop. The author presents three distinct images, including a Batman drawing, a piece of AI art, and a photo, all of which are of similar size and resolution. The goal is to determine which upscaling method works best for enhancing image quality without losing significant detail. The techniques discussed include using the Image Size filter, Free Transform, and different interpolation methods such as Nearest Neighbor, Bilinear, Bicubic, and Preserve Details. The author compares these methods by enlarging the images and closely examining the results, particularly focusing on the sharpness and smoothness achieved by each technique.

05:01

🔍 Analyzing the Results of Different Upscaling Methods

In this paragraph, the author continues the exploration of image upscaling by testing various methods on the provided images. The focus is on evaluating the effectiveness of Super Resolution, Super Zoom, and Topaz Gigapixel AI upscaling plug-in. The author discusses the outcomes of each method, noting the artifacts, noise, and detail preservation in the upscaled images. The comparison includes examining the results on different types of images, such as faces, line work, and general art, to understand how each method handles high contrast and texture. The author also touches on the limitations and advantages of each technique, providing insights into which method is best suited for specific types of images.

10:02

🏆 Ranking the Best Image Upscaling Techniques

The final paragraph concludes the video by ranking the image upscaling techniques based on the tests conducted. The author compares the results of Image Size with Preserve Details, Super Resolution, Super Zoom, and Topaz Gigapixel on the original images. The evaluation criteria include sharpness, noise reduction, and detail enhancement. The author finds that Topaz Gigapixel stands out as the premium plug-in for upscaling images, offering the best detail enhancement and noise reduction. Super Zoom is noted for its effectiveness in handling line work, while the native Photoshop tools like Image Size and Super Resolution provide decent results but may not match the quality of third-party plug-ins. The author suggests that combining different methods could yield even better results and encourages viewers to experiment with the techniques to find the best solution for their images.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Upscale images

The process of increasing the resolution of images, which is the focus of the video. It involves using various methods in Photoshop to enhance the quality and detail of images, particularly when they are to be printed or viewed at larger sizes. The video compares different techniques to determine which is most effective for this purpose.

💡Image size filter

A tool in Photoshop that allows users to adjust the dimensions of an image. In the context of the video, the image size filter is used with different interpolation methods such as 'nearest neighbor', 'bilinear', 'cubic', and 'preserve details' to upscale images and compare the results in terms of quality and detail preservation.

💡Interpolation

A mathematical method used to estimate values between known values. In image editing, interpolation is crucial for resizing images, as it determines how new pixel values are calculated when an image's size is changed. The video discusses various interpolation methods and their impact on image quality during upscaling.

💡Preserve Details

A specific setting within Photoshop's image resizing tools that aims to maintain the sharpness and clarity of an image when it is enlarged. The video highlights 'Preserve Details' as an effective option for upscaling images, particularly for photographs, as it helps to retain important visual information and prevent excessive blurriness.

💡Super Resolution

A feature within Photoshop's Camera Raw interface that attempts to increase image resolution beyond its original size. The video demonstrates how Super Resolution can be used to enhance images, although it is noted that it may introduce some artifacts and is limited to doubling the resolution.

💡Super Zoom

A neural filter in Photoshop that uses artificial intelligence to upscale images. The video presents Super Zoom as a method that can produce decent results, especially when it comes to line work and black and white images, although it may introduce some noise and artifacts.

💡Topaz Gigapixel

A third-party AI upscaling plugin for Photoshop developed by Topaz Labs. The video compares Gigapixel with Photoshop's native upscaling tools and concludes that it provides superior results due to its ability to add detailed enhancements and maintain a more natural look in the upscaled images.

💡Noise Reduction

A process in image editing aimed at reducing the visual noise or random variations in brightness and color that can be seen in digital images. In the context of the video, noise reduction is one of the adjustable settings within the Super Zoom filter, which can be tweaked to improve the overall appearance of the upscaled images.

💡Line Work

Refers to the outlines and strokes used in drawings and illustrations. The video discusses the effectiveness of different upscaling methods on line work, emphasizing that some techniques, like Super Zoom, are particularly well-suited for enhancing the clarity and smoothness of lines in digital art.

💡Artifacts

In the context of image editing, artifacts are unintended visual elements that appear as a result of image processing, such as upscaling. The video mentions artifacts as a potential downside of certain upscaling methods, with the goal of minimizing their presence for a more natural and clean final image.

💡AI Upscaling

The use of artificial intelligence algorithms to increase the resolution of images. AI upscaling is highlighted in the video as a powerful tool for enhancing image quality, especially when compared to traditional upscaling methods. The AI is capable of predicting and filling in missing details, resulting in more realistic and detailed upscaled images.

Highlights

The video compares four different methods to upscale images in Photoshop.

Three images of varying types are used for the comparison: a Batman drawing, a piece of AI art, and a photo from paxils.com.

The images are of similar size but not high enough resolution for printing.

The first method discussed is using the image size filter, which allows for resizing and different interpolation options.

The 'Preserve Details' filter provides a sharper and smoother enlargement, especially useful for reducing image sizes.

The 'Super Intelligent Bird' image demonstrates the effectiveness of the 'Preserve Details 2.0' setting.

The 'Cubic' filter is found to be the best for general image enlargement, offering a balance between sharpness and smoothness.

The 'Camera Raw' interface is used to enhance the Batman image, showing its capability to improve line work and black and white drawings.

The 'Super Zoom' feature is introduced as a native Photoshop tool for upscaling images.

The 'Topaz Gigapixel' AI upscaling plugin is highlighted for its advanced detail enhancement capabilities.

Gigapixel is noted as the premium choice for upscaling, offering better results than native Photoshop tools.

The video concludes that for the face image, Gigapixel provides the best result, closely followed by Super Zoom.

For the bird image, Gigapixel again outperforms other methods, especially in maintaining texture.

The Batman drawing benefits most from Super Zoom for line work, with Gigapixel offering a cleaner look.

The video provides insights into different image types and the most effective upscaling methods in Photoshop.

A link to Topaz Gigapixel is provided for those interested in exploring the plugin further.