Upscale an image with AI

How it works

1. Drop a photo. ×4 works on images up to 1024 × 1024 pixels, ×2 on images up to about 2 megapixels, such as 1600 × 1200.
2. Choose ×2 or ×4. ×2 keeps a more natural look; ×4 gives the largest picture.
3. Press Upscale. The first time, the AI model and its runtime (about 5 MB) are downloaded. The picture is cut into tiles and enlarged on several processor cores at once.
4. Download the enlarged image.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take?

The model runs on your processor, so a 1000 × 1000 photo takes about 15 seconds on a fast computer and a minute or more on an older laptop. Phones are slower still; small images work best there.

Can it bring back details the photo does not have?

No tool can recover what the camera never captured. The model draws edges and textures that look plausible, so skin can look smoother than it was and small text can come out as different letters. Do not use it for documents, number plates or anything that has to stay faithful.

Does it work on illustrations and manga?

Yes. The same model sharpens the lines of illustrations, anime-style art and line drawings, and black-and-white manga stays black and white. Fine screentone and text smaller than about 14 pixels cannot be restored and come out as invented dots and shapes, so start from the largest copy you have.

Why is my image too large?

Enlarging happens in your browser's memory. ×4 stops at 1024 × 1024 pixels, which becomes 4096 × 4096, the largest picture some browsers can hold; ×2 stops at about 2 megapixels. Photos larger than that rarely need upscaling, and you can make them smaller first.

Is my photo uploaded?

No. The AI model, Real-ESRGAN, is downloaded once and runs in your browser, so the picture stays on your device. Later uses start straight away and work offline.

What are the free limits?

The free plan handles 3 images per run, 20 MB each and 10 runs per day. Pro removes these limits.