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

Wade McMaster - Creator Impact
11 Jul 202313:56

TLDRThis video explores four methods for upscaling images in Photoshop, comparing their effectiveness on a Batman drawing, AI art, and a photo. The methods include using the Image Size filter with different interpolation options, the Camera Raw interface with Super Resolution, the Super Zoom feature from Neural Filters, and an AI upscaling plug-in, Topaz Gigapixel. The comparison shows that while the Image Size filter with Preserve Details is good for general upscaling, Topaz Gigapixel stands out for its ability to add details and smooth textures, making it the top choice for enhancing image quality. Super Zoom performs well with line work, but Gigapixel offers a cleaner and more detailed upscaled result overall.

Takeaways

  • 🖼️ **Image Size Filter**: The Image Size filter in Photoshop can be used to upscale images, offering different interpolation methods like Nearest Neighbor, Bilinear, Bicubic, and Preserve Details for better quality.
  • 🔍 **Free Transform**: Similar to Image Size, Free Transform (Control + T) can also be used for resizing with the same interpolation options.
  • 📈 **Preserve Details**: The Preserve Details option enhances the image, making it appear sharper and more detailed, especially useful for reducing image sizes.
  • 🔧 **Enhance Button**: In Photoshop's Camera Raw interface, the Enhance button can double the resolution of an image, improving its quality.
  • 🎨 **Super Zoom**: The Super Zoom filter under Neural Filters can upscale images up to three times their original size with noise reduction and face detail enhancements.
  • 📘 **AI Upscaling**: Topaz Gigapixel is a powerful AI upscaling plug-in for Photoshop that can significantly improve image quality, adding details and refining edges.
  • 📊 **Comparison**: Comparing different methods, Gigapixel stands out for its ability to add details and smooth textures, making it the top choice for upscaling.
  • 📉 **Artifacts**: Upscaling can introduce artifacts, but tools like Gigapixel can minimize these, providing cleaner results.
  • 🖌️ **Line Art**: For line work and black and white drawings, Super Zoom performs well, smoothing out lines and maintaining the integrity of the artwork.
  • 🔄 **Combining Methods**: It's possible to combine different upscaling methods for better results, tailoring the process to the specific image type.
  • 🔗 **Topaz Gigapixel Link**: A link to Topaz Gigapixel is provided in the video description for those interested in further exploring this tool.
  • ✅ **Final Verdict**: For general upscaling in Photoshop, Image Size with Preserve Details is a good starting point, with Gigapixel offering advanced enhancement for a premium result.

Q & A

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

    -The four methods discussed are using the Image Size filter, the Free Transform tool, the Camera Raw interface with Super Resolution, and the Super Zoom feature from the Neural Filters.

  • What is the main difference between using Bicubic and Preserve Details when upscaling images?

    -Bicubic is a smoothing algorithm that can make images appear smoother but may result in a loss of detail. Preserve Details, on the other hand, attempts to maintain the sharpness and clarity of the image while reducing the appearance of pixelation.

  • What is the recommended setting for enlarging images in Photoshop according to the video?

    -The video suggests that the Preserve Details setting is the best for enlarging images, as it maintains more detail compared to other methods. Preserve Details 2.0 is also mentioned as a good option for smoother results, especially for computer-generated art.

  • How does the Super Zoom feature in Photoshop's Neural Filters work?

    -Super Zoom is a feature that allows users to zoom in on an image up to two times its original size without significant loss of quality. It also includes options to enhance face detail and reduce noise.

  • What is the advantage of using Topaz Gigapixel over native Photoshop upscaling methods?

    -Topaz Gigapixel is a premium plug-in that adds more detail to the upscaled image compared to native Photoshop methods. It can upscale images up to six times their original size and is particularly effective at enhancing details and textures.

  • How does the Camera Raw interface's Super Resolution feature differ from other upscaling methods?

    -The Super Resolution feature in the Camera Raw interface can only work with JPEGs and doubles the resolution of the image. It attempts to enhance details like the eye in a face, but it's limited in comparison to other methods that can upscale to higher percentages.

  • What is the recommended approach for upscaling line art or black and white drawings in Photoshop?

    -For line art or black and white drawings, the video suggests using the Image Size with Preserve Details 2.0 for a cleaner look. Super Zoom is also recommended for its effectiveness in smoothing out line work.

  • How can artifacts be reduced when upscaling images in Photoshop?

    -Artifacts can be reduced by using the Noise slider in the Image Size dialog box or by using the Topaz Gigapixel plug-in, which includes a face recovery feature that can help refine details and reduce artifacts.

  • What is the general outcome when using the Free Transform tool with different interpolation methods?

    -The Free Transform tool allows users to adjust the image size with different interpolation methods. Nearest Neighbor will enhance pixels without smoothing, Bilinear will smooth things out, and Bicubic will provide a smoother result with less detail loss.

  • How does the video rank the upscaling methods for a face image in Photoshop?

    -The video ranks Topaz Gigapixel as the best method for upscaling a face image in Photoshop, followed by the Image Size with Preserve Details, Super Resolution, and then Super Zoom.

  • What is the general recommendation for upscaling images in Photoshop without using additional plug-ins?

    -Without using additional plug-ins, the video recommends using the Image Size with Preserve Details for general upscaling in Photoshop, as it provides a balance between detail preservation and image quality.

Outlines

00:00

🖼️ Upscaling Image Techniques in Photoshop

This paragraph discusses four different methods for upscaling images in Photoshop. The author uses three different images—a personal Batman drawing, AI art, and a photo—to compare the effectiveness of each method. The methods include using the Image Size filter with various interpolation options (Nearest Neighbor, Bilinear, Bicubic), Preserve Details, and a 300% enlargement. The results are evaluated for each image type, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each method.

05:01

📈 Comparing Upscaling Results and Techniques

The second paragraph continues the discussion on image upscaling, focusing on the results from using the Camera Raw interface with Super Resolution, Super Zoom from the Neural Filters, and an AI upscaling plug-in by Topaz Gigapixel. The author evaluates each method's performance on the same set of images, noting the artifacts, noise reduction, and detail enhancement. The paragraph concludes with a comparison and ranking of the methods based on their effectiveness, with Topaz Gigapixel standing out as the most advanced and detailed option.

10:02

🔍 Detailed Analysis of Upscaling Outcomes

In the final paragraph, the author provides a detailed analysis of the upscaling outcomes for each image type. The focus is on the texture preservation, noise reduction, and detail enhancement provided by each method. The author concludes that while Gigapixel offers the best results, especially for enhancing details and textures, other methods like Super Zoom are also effective for line work. The paragraph ends with a mention of a link to Topaz Gigapixel for interested viewers and a hopeful note for future comparisons with other AI upscales.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Upscale images

Upscaling images refers to the process of increasing the resolution of an image while maintaining or enhancing its quality. In the video, this is done using various methods in Photoshop to improve the resolution of the provided images, such as a Batman drawing, AI art, and a photo, for better print quality.

💡Image Size filter

The Image Size filter in Photoshop is used to change the dimensions of an image. The video demonstrates how to use this filter to upscale images by adjusting the width and height percentage, and how different interpolation methods like Nearest Neighbor, Bilinear, and Bicubic affect the image quality.

💡Interpolation

Interpolation is a mathematical algorithm used to estimate a value between known sampling points. In the context of image upscaling, it determines how new pixels are calculated to increase the image size. The video compares different interpolation methods and their impact on image clarity and smoothness.

💡Preserve Details

Preserve Details is an option within the Image Size filter that attempts to maintain the sharpness and clarity of details when an image is enlarged. The video discusses how using 'Preserve Details' can bring out more detail in the image, making it a suitable choice for certain types of images.

💡Super Resolution

Super Resolution is a method that enhances the resolution of an image beyond its original size. In the video, it is used through the Camera Raw interface to double the resolution of the images, which helps in improving the overall quality of the upscaled image.

💡Super Zoom

Super Zoom is a feature within Photoshop's Neural Filters that allows users to increase the size of an image with minimal loss of quality. The video shows how Super Zoom can be used to upscale images and offers options to enhance face detail and reduce noise for better results.

💡AI Upscaling

AI Upscaling utilizes artificial intelligence to upscale images, often resulting in better detail preservation and noise reduction. The video compares the native Photoshop upscaling methods with an AI upscaling plugin called Topaz Gigapixel, noting the advanced detail enhancement capabilities of the latter.

💡Topaz Gigapixel

Topaz Gigapixel is a standalone application and Photoshop plugin designed for advanced image upscaling using AI. The video demonstrates that it can add significant detail to upscaled images, making it a top choice for improving image quality beyond the native capabilities of Photoshop.

💡Line Work

Line work refers to the outlines and lines used in drawings and illustrations. The video discusses how different upscaling methods affect line work, particularly in the context of the Batman drawing, and which methods are best suited for preserving the sharpness and clarity of lines.

💡Noise Reduction

Noise Reduction is the process of reducing random variations of brightness or color in images, known as noise. In the video, it is shown that certain upscaling methods can introduce noise into the image, and tools within Photoshop and Topaz Gigapixel are used to mitigate this issue.

💡CG and Art

CG stands for Computer Graphics, and in the context of the video, it refers to digital artwork created using computer software. The video compares the effectiveness of different upscaling methods for both computer-generated art and traditional drawings, noting that some methods are better suited for certain types of artwork.

Highlights

Four different methods for image upscaling in Photoshop are explored.

Image resizing using the Image Size filter with various interpolation options.

Free Transform tool as an alternative to Image Size for resizing.

Comparison of Nearest Neighbor, Bilinear, and Bicubic interpolation methods.

Use of Preserve Details and Preserve Details 2.0 for image enhancement.

Super Resolution feature in Camera Raw for doubling the resolution of JPEGs.

Super Zoom filter in Neural Filters for upscaling images with noise reduction.

AI Upscaling plug-in Topaz Gigapixel for advanced image upscaling.

Gigapixel's ability to add details and refine edges in upscaled images.

Comparison of upscaling results for different image types: drawings, AI art, and photographs.

The effectiveness of Preserve Details 2.0 for drawings and artwork.

Use of the Reduce Noise slider to minimize artifacts in upscaled line work.

Super Zoom's effectiveness in handling high-contrast line work and its comparison with other methods.

Gigapixel's superior performance in maintaining texture and adding details to upscaled images.

The potential to combine multiple upscaling methods for better results.

Link to Topaz Gigapixel in the video description for further exploration.

Overall ranking of the upscaling methods with Gigapixel as the top choice.

The importance of choosing the right upscaling method based on the image type for optimal results.