THE BEST AI IMAGE UPSCALERS IN 2024

Take Better Photos
24 May 202409:10

TLDRIn 2024, upscaling technology remains popular despite high-resolution cameras, with a focus on image generation services. This video reviews the top AI image upscalers, starting with Leonardo AI, known for image generation but now offering a Universal upscaler with a creativity slider. On1's Resize AI is praised for sharpness and affordability, while Luminar Neo's Upscale AI excels in artifact removal and face recovery. Topaz Photo AI, the winner, integrates upscaling with noise reduction and sharpening, offering excellent results with batch processing and autopilot features, though it's the most expensive option.

Takeaways

  • 📷 Upscaling technology remains popular in 2024, despite high megapixel cameras, due to its role in image generation services.
  • 🔍 Leonardo AI is a new entry in upscaling, known for image generation, and offers a Universal upscaler with a creativity slider for varied results.
  • 🔑 Leonardo's strength lies in its excellent upscaling quality when the creativity slider is set between 2 to 3, but it's also the most expensive option.
  • 💡 On1's Resize AI allows enlarging photos up to 700% with a focus on detail and sharpness, and is the cheapest option without a subscription.
  • 👀 Resize AI's latest version includes a machine learning model that enhances small faces with realistic detail.
  • 🤔 Luminar Neo's Upscale AI is an extension that offers artifact removal and face enhancement, but can be overly aggressive, smoothing out fine details.
  • 🏆 Topaz Photo AI, the winner of the previous comparison, integrates Gigapixel upscaling with noise reduction and sharpening for top-quality results.
  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Photo AI excels in artifact removal and face recovery, with batch processing and autopilot for automatic photo correction.
  • 💰 Topaz Photo AI is more expensive than competitors, priced at $199, which may be a consideration for potential users.
  • 📈 A slideshow comparison will be provided in a separate video to allow viewers to judge the best upscaler based on visual output.
  • 🔍 The video script suggests that the best upscaler for 2024 is subjective and depends on the user's needs and budget.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video script?

    -The main topic of the video script is a comparison of the best AI image upscalers in 2024.

  • Why is upscaling technology still popular despite high-resolution cameras being available?

    -Upscaling technology is still popular due to the large interest in image generation services, which often produce results at a lower resolution than traditional cameras.

  • What is the name of the new entry for the year in the upscaling technology list?

    -Leonardo AI is the new entry for the year in the upscaling technology list.

  • What feature does Leonardo AI offer that is different from other upscaling tools?

    -Leonardo AI offers a creativity slider that affects how varied the final output will look compared to the original image, which is a unique feature compared to other upscaling tools.

  • What is the recommended creativity slider value for Leonardo AI to balance quality and deviation from the original image?

    -A low creativity value of around two or three is recommended for Leonardo AI to offer the best compromise between upscaling quality and deviation from the original image.

  • What is the main advantage of On1 Resize AI in terms of cost?

    -On1 Resize AI is the cheapest option among the entries, costing only $79 with no subscription required, and it is already included with Photo 2024.

  • What feature does Luminar Neo's Upscale AI offer to improve facial features?

    -Upscale AI offers a 'face enhancer' setting that improves facial features even in highly compressed faces.

  • What is the main issue with Upscale AI's processing according to the script?

    -The main issue with Upscale AI's processing is that it tends to be overly aggressive, removing fine details and producing an overly smooth image.

  • Why was Topaz Photo AI chosen as the number one upscaling tool in the script?

    -Topaz Photo AI was chosen as the number one upscaling tool because it offers topnotch upscaling quality, effectively removes artifacts, preserves fine details, and has excellent face recovery features.

  • What is the main drawback of Topaz Photo AI in terms of cost compared to its competitors?

    -The main drawback of Topaz Photo AI is its cost; it is more expensive than its competitors at $199, which is more than twice the price of On1 Resize AI and four times higher than a yearly Luminar Neo subscription.

  • What will be the content of the next video by the script's author?

    -The next video will include a slide-to-slide comparison of upscaling output from the discussed tools, allowing viewers to be the final judge on which one is the best, along with the author's thoughts on the results.

Outlines

00:00

📷 Upscaling Technology Trends and Comparison for 2024

The script discusses the ongoing popularity of upscaling technology despite the prevalence of high-megapixel cameras. It introduces the concept of image generation services and the continuous improvement of upscaling tools. The video aims to update a previous comparison from 2020 to include the latest updates and new entries for the best upscaler of 2024. It mentions a slideshow comparison for viewers to judge the upscaler's effectiveness. The script then introduces the first upscaler, Leonardo AI, which is known for image generation but has released a universal upscaler that relies on generative AI and includes a creativity slider for varying the output's deviation from the original image. The summary also touches on the strengths and cons of Leonardo AI, including its pricing and recommendation for those interested in its text-to-image service.

05:02

🔍 Detailed Review of Upscaling Technologies: Resize AI, Luminar Neo, and Topaz Photo AI

This paragraph provides an in-depth review of three upscaling technologies: On1's Resize AI, Luminar Neo's Upscale AI, and Topaz Photo AI. Resize AI is praised for its sharp and crisp output, particularly with animal images, and for being the most affordable option without a subscription. However, it has limitations in artifact removal and can introduce unsightly artifacts. Luminar Neo's Upscale AI is highlighted for its ease of use, artifact removal, and face recovery features, but it can be overly aggressive, leading to a loss of fine details. Topaz Photo AI is noted as the top choice, integrating upscaling, noise reduction, and sharpening with excellent results in artifact removal and face recovery. It supports batch processing and autopilot for autocorrecting photo deficiencies. The downside is its higher cost compared to competitors. The script concludes with a teaser for a future video featuring a slide comparison and further thoughts on the upscaling results.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Upscaling Technology

Upscaling technology refers to the process of increasing the resolution of an image or video while maintaining or improving its quality. In the context of the video, it is a popular topic due to the advancements in this field that allow for better image quality from lower resolution sources. The script mentions several upscaling tools that are continually being improved to meet the demands of high-resolution imagery.

💡Image Generation

Image generation is the creation of images from scratch, often using artificial intelligence to produce new visual content. The script highlights the interest in image generation services, which, despite producing lower resolution results, are significant in the field of upscaling as they push the boundaries of what is possible with AI and imaging.

💡Leonardo AI

Leonardo AI is a new entry in the upscaling technology field mentioned in the script. It is known for its image generation capabilities but has also released a Universal upscaler. The script discusses its unique feature of using generative AI for upscaling, which includes a creativity slider that affects the final output's deviation from the original image.

💡Creativity Slider

The creativity slider is a feature of Leonardo AI's upscaling tool that allows users to control the level of variation in the final image compared to the original. The script explains that setting this slider to a low value, around two or three, offers a good balance between upscaling quality and maintaining the original image's appearance.

💡OnOne Resize AI

OnOne Resize AI is an upscaling tool that enables users to enlarge photos significantly while preserving detail and sharpness. The script discusses its latest version, 20235, and its feature that enhances small faces with realistic detail. It is presented as a cost-effective option that comes with certain software or can be purchased separately.

💡Luminar Neo

Luminar Neo is a photo editing software that offers an upscaling extension called Upscale AI. The script mentions that Luminar Neo is available on promo for a yearly subscription, and the Upscale AI extension was last updated in July 2023 to provide even better quality results. It is noted for its ability to remove artifacts and enhance facial features.

💡Upscale AI

Upscale AI is an extension for Luminar Neo that focuses on upscaling images. The script describes its ease of use and settings that allow users to choose between different upscaling types and enable a face enhancer feature. It is praised for its artifact removal and face recovery capabilities but criticized for sometimes being overly aggressive in processing.

💡Topaz Photo AI

Topaz Photo AI is an upscaling tool that integrates Gigapixel upscaling with noise reduction and sharpening. The script highlights it as the top choice for upscaling in 2024, noting its excellent upscaling quality, artifact removal, and fine detail preservation. It also supports batch processing and autopilot features for automatic photo correction.

💡Batch Processing

Batch processing in the context of upscaling refers to the ability of a tool to process multiple images at once, rather than one by one. The script mentions that Topaz Photo AI supports batch processing, which is a significant advantage for users who need to upscale a large number of images efficiently.

💡Autopilot

Autopilot in the context of Topaz Photo AI is a feature that automatically corrects photo deficiencies, including upscaling. The script praises this feature for its effectiveness in correctly upscaling images without any manual input from the user, making the process even more streamlined and user-friendly.

Highlights

Upscaling technology remains popular despite the prevalence of high-megapixel cameras.

Leonardo AI, known for image generation, released a Universal upscaler for improved image quality.

Leonardo AI's creativity slider adjusts the level of variation in the upscaled output.

A low creativity value in Leonardo AI offers a balance between quality and deviation from the original.

Leonardo AI excels in upscaling quality but may alter the original image's appearance.

Leonardo AI is the most expensive upscaler, with a starting plan at $12 per month.

OnOne Resize AI allows enlarging photos to 700% while maintaining detail and sharpness.

OnOne Resize AI's latest version, 20235, includes a machine learning model for face enhancement.

OnOne Resize AI is a standalone app but also comes with Photo RAW 20124.

OnOne Resize AI is the most affordable option at a one-time cost of $79.

Luminar Neo's Upscale AI is an extension that costs $49 per year, including all extensions.

Upscale AI was updated in July 2023, promising even better quality than before.

Upscale AI's Universal setting produces cleaner images with less aggressive processing.

Upscale AI's face enhancer improves facial features even in compressed images.

Topaz Photo AI integrates Gigapixel upscaling and noise reduction in one package.

Photo AI's upscaling quality is top-notch, effectively removing artifacts and preserving fine details.

Photo AI supports batch processing and includes an autopilot feature for autocorrecting photo deficiencies.

Photo AI is more expensive than competitors, priced at $199.