openclaw-home-pc/skills/image-edit/upscaling.md

Upscaling

Increase image resolution with AI enhancement.

Tools

Real-ESRGAN (Local, Free)

# Install
pip install realesrgan

# CLI
realesrgan-ncnn-vulkan -i input.jpg -o output.png -n realesrgan-x4plus

from realesrgan import RealESRGAN
import torch

model = RealESRGAN(torch.device("cuda"), scale=4)
model.load_weights("weights/RealESRGAN_x4plus.pth")

result = model.predict(input_image)

Models:

• realesrgan-x4plus — General images (4x)
• realesrgan-x4plus-anime — Anime/illustrations
• realesr-general-x4v3 — Latest general model

Topaz Gigapixel AI

Commercial desktop app:

• Up to 6x upscale
• Face recovery built-in
• Batch processing
• ~$99 one-time

Magnific AI

curl -X POST "https://api.magnific.ai/v1/upscale" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -F "image=@photo.jpg" \
  -F "scale=2"

Features:

• "Creativity" slider adds AI detail
• Best for artistic enhancement
• ~$0.50/image

Replicate (Various Models)

import replicate

output = replicate.run(
    "nightmareai/real-esrgan:42fed1c4974146d4d2414e2be2c5277c7fcf05fcc3a73abf41610695738c1d7b",
    input={
        "image": open("photo.jpg", "rb"),
        "scale": 4,
        "face_enhance": True
    }
)

Scale Factors

Original	2x	4x	8x
512x512	1024	2048	4096
1080p	4K	8K	—
720p	1440p	4K	8K

Rule: Don't upscale beyond 4x in one pass for best quality.

When to Upscale

• Print production — need 300 DPI
• Large displays — billboards, banners
• Old photos — restore low-res originals
• AI-generated images — increase from 1024px

Pipeline Order

1. Restore faces first — GFPGAN/CodeFormer
2. Remove artifacts — denoise if needed
3. Upscale — Real-ESRGAN or similar
4. Sharpen — light unsharp mask if soft

Quality Tips

• Don't over-upscale — 4x max in one pass
• Match model to content — anime model for anime
• Face enhance — enable for portraits
• Check artifacts — AI can add weird textures
• Preserve grain — add back film grain if needed

Comparison

Tool	Scale	Speed	Quality	Cost
Real-ESRGAN	4x	Fast	Good	Free
Topaz	6x	Medium	Excellent	$99
Magnific	2-4x	Medium	Best (creative)	$$$
Replicate	Varies	Fast	Good	Per-use