Upscaling Low-Resolution Footage: 4 Simple Tools and Techniques in 2024

What Is Video Upscaling?

Upscaling low-resolution footage has become an essential process in video restoration and enhancement.

Whether you’re working on old home videos or archival footage, upscaling enables you to convert lower resolutions into HD, 4K, or even higher, enhancing clarity and making the footage suitable for modern displays.

The process involves using software that can intelligently add detail, reduce artifacts, and improve overall visual quality.

Here’s an overview of the tools and techniques involved in upscaling low-resolution footage effectively:

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1. Understanding the Upscaling Process

Upscaling is more than just enlarging a video. It involves adding new pixel information that wasn’t present in the original footage. Modern upscaling software uses complex algorithms to predict and fill in missing details, which can significantly improve the clarity of the video.

Two Key Techniques:

Interpolation-Based Upscaling: Traditional upscaling relies on interpolation methods, such as bicubic or bilinear scaling, to estimate new pixels by averaging existing ones. While quick, these methods can lead to a blurred or stretched look, especially with significant upscaling.
AI-Based Upscaling: Artificial intelligence has revolutionized upscaling by using machine learning models trained on large datasets. AI-based methods, such as those used in Topaz Video AI and DVDFab Video Enhancer AI, analyze and predict pixel patterns to enhance the video with far greater detail and accuracy.

2. Tools for Upscaling Low-Resolution Footage

Here are some of the most effective tools for AI-based video upscaling:

Topaz Video AI:
Features: Uses AI to upscale, denoise, and stabilize footage. It’s particularly strong for upscaling SD footage to HD and beyond, adding details and sharpening edges without introducing artifacts.
Best For: High-quality restorations where detail preservation is essential. Works well on footage with textures, like hair or foliage.
DVDFab Video Enhancer AI:
Features: Offers AI-driven upscaling from 480p to 4K. It can reduce noise and correct colors, making it versatile for general enhancement tasks.
Best For: Users looking for an all-in-one tool that provides solid upscaling results along with additional enhancement features.
AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI:
Features: Known for its affordability and ease of use, this tool provides AI upscaling, denoising, and frame interpolation.
Best For: Beginners or hobbyists who want an affordable, user-friendly option for basic upscaling.
Video2X:
Features: An open-source solution that uses multiple AI models to upscale video, making it flexible for different types of footage.
Best For: Users comfortable with open-source software and looking for a free solution with various customization options.
DaVinci Resolve with Neat Video Plugin:
Features: While primarily an editing and color grading tool, DaVinci Resolve, combined with the Neat Video plugin, offers robust noise reduction and mild upscaling capabilities, ideal for video with high visual noise.
Best For: Professional editors who need advanced control over both video enhancement and upscaling.

3. Techniques for Effective Upscaling

To ensure that the upscaling process improves video quality, consider the following techniques:

Noise Reduction Before Upscaling: It’s often beneficial to apply noise reduction before upscaling. This prevents the AI from enhancing unwanted artifacts, resulting in a cleaner image. Many upscaling tools, like Topaz Video AI, include built-in noise reduction features.
Adjust Frame Rate and Deinterlace: For older footage, it’s helpful to correct frame rate inconsistencies and remove interlacing artifacts before upscaling. This provides a smoother and more stable base for the AI to work with.
Selective Upscaling: Instead of upscaling an entire video, consider enhancing specific scenes that need the most improvement. This targeted approach can save processing time and resources, particularly for lengthy footage.
Incremental Upscaling: When upscaling footage by a large margin, such as from 480p to 4K, try upscaling incrementally—first to 1080p, then to 4K. This gradual approach can help the AI retain more details and reduce the risk of artifacts.

4. Challenges and Considerations

While upscaling is powerful, it comes with challenges:

Processing Power: Upscaling, particularly at high resolutions, is resource-intensive and requires significant processing power. Expect long rendering times, especially when working with 4K footage or beyond.
Detail Preservation vs. Artifacts: Not all footage will upscale well. Videos with significant compression artifacts may require additional cleaning before upscaling. Over-processing can lead to a plastic-like appearance, so it’s essential to fine-tune settings.
Cost and Accessibility: Many AI-based upscaling tools come with a price. However, open-source options like Video2X can be a viable alternative for those on a budget, though they may lack the ease of use and polish of premium tools.

how to improve quality of low resolution videos?

can you upscale a 480p video?

Yes, you can upscale a 480p video, but there are limitations and trade-offs. Tools like Topaz Video AI can effectively enhance and upscale low-resolution footage, often doubling (2x) or even quadrupling (4x) the resolution. However, the process isn’t magic—challenges like motion blur, depth of field, fine textures, heavy interlacing, or noisy footage can hinder the final quality. These issues can become even more pronounced after upscaling, as the tool attempts to interpret and fill in missing details, sometimes amplifying artifacts present in the original footage.

The quality of the source material is the most critical factor in determining the success of upscaling. A clean, high-quality 480p video will yield better results compared to footage with significant compression or noise. While AI-based upscalers can enhance details and reduce artifacts to some extent, the original resolution and visual fidelity set the ceiling for what’s achievable. If you’re realistic about expectations, AI upscaling can significantly improve older footage, but it won’t perform miracles.

can 720p be upscaled to 4k?

Yes, 720p can be upscaled to 4K using AI-powered tools like Topaz Video AI, but the results depend on the quality of the source footage and the upscaling algorithm. AI upscaling works by interpreting the original image, enhancing edges, and filling in details to create a higher-resolution output. For 720p footage, this can yield visually impressive results, especially for content with clear details and minimal compression artifacts. However, the jump from 720p to 4K (a 4x increase in resolution) is substantial, and any flaws in the source material—such as noise, compression artifacts, or motion blur—may become more noticeable after upscaling.

While AI algorithms are adept at improving sharpness and enhancing details, they can’t generate true 4K quality from a lower-resolution source. Some details may look artificial, and issues like over-sharpening or exaggerated textures can occur. For the best results, starting with high-quality 720p footage and pairing the upscaling process with additional post-processing, such as noise reduction and color grading, can help achieve a cleaner, more polished 4K-like appearance.

how Does resolution upscaling work?

Resolution upscaling is the process of increasing the pixel dimensions of a video or image to fit a higher-resolution display. Traditional upscaling methods, such as bilinear and bicubic interpolation, work by averaging nearby pixels to fill in the gaps, resulting in a larger image. While these methods are simple and fast, they often produce soft or blurry results, as they can’t add real detail. In contrast, modern AI-based upscaling uses machine learning to predict and synthesize details that weren’t present in the original file. Trained on large datasets, AI algorithms analyze patterns and features in the input, such as edges, textures, and motion, to generate realistic enhancements and sharper visuals.

AI-driven upscaling tools, like Topaz Video AI, have revolutionized this process by creating additional detail and reducing noise and artifacts. They excel at preserving textures and edges, making them ideal for converting lower-resolution footage (e.g., 480p or 720p) into HD or even 4K. However, the success of upscaling still depends heavily on the quality of the source material. High-quality inputs yield impressive results, while poor-quality footage can amplify artifacts or create unnatural textures. Despite its advanced capabilities, upscaling isn’t a magic fix—it’s best used as part of a broader workflow that includes noise reduction, color grading, and other post-processing techniques to achieve optimal results.

Conclusion

Upscaling low-resolution footage is a transformative process that can bring old or degraded videos back to life with modern clarity.

By selecting the right tools and employing effective techniques like noise reduction, frame rate correction, and incremental upscaling, you can significantly enhance video quality.

While resource-intensive, AI-based upscaling offers results that traditional methods simply can’t match.

Have you tried upscaling your videos? Which tools or techniques have worked best for you? Share your experiences and insights in the comments!

Thanks for reading,

Ali