How AI Upscaling Works
AI upscaling increases image resolution while adding plausible detail—unlike simple resize, which only stretches pixels.
Traditional vs AI Upscaling
Bilinear or bicubic resizing interpolates between existing pixels. AI models like Real-ESRGAN are trained on high/low resolution pairs and learn to predict fine texture and edges, producing sharper, more natural results.
Real-ESRGAN
Real-ESRGAN is trained on real-world degraded images, so it handles compression artifacts and noise well. It can upscale 2× or 4×. Best for photos, not synthetic graphics or text.
Limitations
AI cannot invent detail that doesn't exist. A heavily compressed 100×100 image will not become a crisp 400×400 photo. Start with the clearest source you have.