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The best AI video upscaling settings depend on the finished video you need, not on a maximum-number preset. Choose the delivery resolution first, set the smallest output that meets it, keep the source frame rate unless you have a deliberate interpolation or slow-motion goal, and enable stabilization only when camera shake is distracting enough to justify cropping. Before rendering the entire file, process a representative section and compare it with the original at normal playback speed. These settings are a practical starting point based on current vendor documentation; no single model or value is proven best for every type of footage.
What are the best starting settings for AI video upscaling?
For a normal enhancement job, match the output to the screen or platform, preserve the original frame rate, and leave stabilization off unless the shot visibly shakes. Then preview a short, representative section, inspect faces, texture, edges and motion, and adjust the model before committing to a full export.
| Decision | Starting choice | When to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Output resolution | Smallest dimension that satisfies the delivery requirement; use original size when you only need enhancement | Choose 2x, 4x or custom dimensions when the destination is larger and the model supports that size |
| Frame rate | Keep the source frame rate | Use interpolation for an intentional new playback rate or slow motion |
| Stabilization | Off for locked-off or intentionally moving shots | Enable it when camera shake distracts from the subject, then check the crop |
| Source handling | Identify progressive or interlaced footage before selecting an enhancement model | Use a deinterlacing-plus-enhancement workflow for interlaced material |
| Quality control | Render and review a representative preview | Change model, strength or detail controls when the result looks soft, overly sharp or stylized |
Topaz Labs states that every piece of footage is unique and encourages experimenting with models and parameters. That warning matters: the settings below are decision rules, not a guarantee of quality from any one application.
How should I choose the output resolution?
Resolution is a delivery decision. Decide where the video will be watched or delivered, then choose the smallest useful output that reaches that requirement while preserving the source aspect ratio.
Start with the destination
For a 4K television, archive master or 4K upload, a 4K-sized output can be appropriate. For a 1080p screen or service, creating a much larger file only increases processing and storage without establishing genuine extra detail. If the source already matches the delivery dimensions, use enhancement-only processing rather than enlarging it simply because a larger option exists.
Upscaling creates new pixels from the information available in the source. A larger frame can look cleaner or more legible after enhancement, but the dimension alone does not prove that the added texture is authentic.
Use a multiplier or custom dimensions deliberately
Topaz Video documentation exposes original resolution, scale multipliers and custom dimensions. Its 2x option doubles both width and height: a 1,920×1,080 source becomes approximately 3,840×2,160, commonly called 4K. The same documentation gives a dated example in which 322×240 footage scaled 2x becomes 644×480; that is an illustration of the arithmetic, not a quality benchmark or a recommendation for every source.
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Custom dimensions are useful when a platform, editing timeline or display requires a specific size. Lock the aspect ratio while entering a custom width or height so that people and objects are not stretched. Some enhancement models limit which output sizes are available, so a missing 2x or 4x choice can be a model constraint rather than a software error.
Do not upscale beyond the delivery target without a reason
Oversizing a file and shrinking it later can be useful in a particular finishing pipeline, but it is not a universal quality improvement. If you have no downstream requirement for the larger intermediate, render directly to the delivery size and spend preview time evaluating detail, faces and edges instead.
For model-specific controls and supported output types, see the Topaz Video enhancement documentation and the Topaz Video output-resolution tutorial.
Should I convert an upscaled video to 60 FPS?
Usually, no. Keep the source frame rate for a conventional upscale; change it only when the intended playback experience requires interpolation or slow motion.
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Why preserving the source rate is the safest default
Upscaling changes spatial dimensions, while interpolation creates additional moments between captured frames. They are separate operations. A 24, 25 or 30 FPS clip does not automatically become better because it is exported at 60 FPS; an unnecessary conversion can make motion look synthetic or reveal interpolation artifacts.
Topaz lists an upscale-to-4K preset separately from a 60 FPS conversion preset. Its preset guidance recommends frame interpolation when changing the rate of footage that is not slow motion, while slow-motion presets use different interpolation modes. Treat the playback goal as the reason for changing frame rate, not the upscale itself.
When interpolation makes sense
- Choose interpolation when a project, display or delivery specification explicitly calls for a different playback rate.
- Use a slow-motion workflow when you want movement to play longer and have enough source frames for the selected interpolation method.
- Preview pans, fast movement, repeated patterns and faces at normal speed and in slow motion; these areas make interpolation errors easiest to notice.
Check legacy interlaced footage
Deinterlacing can affect frame rate as well as image structure. Topaz notes that deinterlacing some interlaced material may double the output frame rate, so verify the exported rate instead of assuming it will match the input. This is a separate consequence of converting interlaced fields and should not be confused with a creative 60 FPS interpolation.
The available modes and presets are described in the Topaz Video presets reference.
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It can. Stabilization estimates camera movement and shifts the image to counter it; when the frame is repositioned, the software may crop the edges. Topaz explicitly says its Auto-Crop Stabilization preset reduces output resolution, so steadier framing is a trade-off rather than a free improvement.
Enable stabilization only for distracting shake
Use it when handheld movement makes the subject difficult to watch or align. Leave it off on a tripod shot, a locked-off interview, or footage in which a deliberate camera move is part of the composition. Automatic stabilization can otherwise remove intentional motion or waste pixels on a crop you did not need.
Inspect the crop, not just the center
Compare a stabilized preview with the original and watch the edges throughout the shot. Check that heads, signage, subtitles and objects near the frame boundary remain inside the composition. Record the effective output dimensions after stabilization; the nominal project setting may no longer describe the visible image area.
Topaz’s interface and preset behavior are documented in its user-interface guide and presets reference.
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How does the source type affect enhancement settings?
Identify whether the source is progressive or interlaced before choosing a model. Modern digital camera and phone files are commonly progressive, while older broadcast, DVD and tape-derived material may contain interlaced fields that need a different treatment.
Progressive footage
For progressive material, start with an automatic model estimate, preview it and then adjust only when the image calls for it. Topaz exposes Auto, Dynamic relative to Auto and Manual modes. Auto is a starting estimate, not a universal optimum; footage with fine hair, film grain, compression damage or animation may need a different model or strength.
Interlaced footage
Interlaced frames can show field-related artifacts during motion. Use a workflow that combines deinterlacing and enhancement rather than applying a progressive model blindly. After processing, confirm both the absence of field artifacts and the resulting frame rate, because deinterlacing may change it.
Detail and texture controls
Recover Detail mixes some of the original detail back into the enhanced result. It can be useful when a model has made texture look too smooth, but judge it on a preview: returning source noise is not the same as recovering real detail. Add Noise can restore texture after denoising has made a clip look unnaturally clean. Neither control has a slider value that is correct for every camera, codec or subject.
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What is a reliable step-by-step upscaling workflow?
Work from the source characteristics toward the delivery requirement, and make each expensive decision on a short preview first.
- Inspect the source. Record width, height, frame rate, aspect ratio and whether the video is progressive or interlaced. Note obvious shake, motion blur, heavy compression and scenes with faces or fine texture.
- Set the delivery dimensions. Choose the screen, platform or editing timeline that will receive the file. Select original size, a supported multiplier or custom dimensions that preserve the aspect ratio; avoid exceeding the destination without a defined finishing reason.
- Select an enhancement model. Start with the application’s automatic estimate for the identified source type. If the software offers separate interlacing treatment, use it for interlaced material.
- Render a representative section. Include a face, moving subject, fine texture, hard edges and any difficult lighting. A single easy shot can hide problems that appear elsewhere in the video.
- Inspect at normal playback speed. Compare the preview with the original for facial detail, texture, edge halos or oversharpening, motion continuity and color or contrast changes. If the result looks too sharp or stylized, reduce the effect or try another model; Adobe’s Firefly guidance likewise tells users to review the result and adjust it when it looks too sharp or stylized.
- Set the frame rate. Keep the source rate unless the project requires interpolation or slow motion. If you change it, watch fast movement and verify the exported rate, especially after deinterlacing.
- Add stabilization only if needed. Compare the stabilized preview, inspect all four edges and confirm that the crop and effective resolution are acceptable.
- Export a short sample. Use the intended codec and quality settings, play the file on the target type of screen or in the target editing application, and check synchronization and motion before launching a full render.
- Process the full file. Keep the approved model, dimensions and frame-rate choices consistent across the sequence. Recheck a few later scenes if the source changes significantly.
Which export codec should I use?
Codec choice belongs to the delivery workflow, not to the AI model itself. Topaz’s February 2026 upscaling tutorial identifies H.264 and H.265 as common choices and says its workflow requires H.265 for outputs above 4K. Treat that requirement as product- and version-specific: verify the current application’s export rules before rendering a large master.
For a practical check, export a short segment with the exact codec, container, frame rate and dimensions planned for the final file. Confirm that the receiving editor or platform accepts it, then use the same settings for the full render. A technically successful upscale that cannot be imported or uploaded is still the wrong deliverable.
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See the Topaz Video upscaling tutorial for the dated codec guidance and its 322×240-to-644×480 example.
How should I compare AI upscaling tools or workflows?
Compare tools on the same representative clip, with identical output dimensions and a clearly stated goal. Vendor descriptions reveal available controls, but they are not independent performance tests.
| Comparison axis | What to check | Documented example |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity versus creative synthesis | Whether the mode preserves the source look or intentionally invents more visible detail | Adobe Firefly describes Precise as closer to the source and Creative as adding detail |
| Resolution controls | Original size, multipliers, custom dimensions and model-specific limits | Topaz documents original, 2x, 4x and custom output choices |
| Frame-rate controls | Whether interpolation is separate from enhancement and whether slow-motion modes are available | Topaz lists 60 FPS and slow-motion presets separately from its 4K upscale workflow |
| Stabilization behavior | Available modes, crop policy and resulting visible dimensions | Topaz’s Auto-Crop Stabilization preset reduces output resolution |
| Processing location | Whether processing is local or cloud-based, plus supported hardware and upload constraints | Confirm these terms in the current product documentation before committing a large file |
| Review controls | Ability to preview, compare with the source and adjust an overly sharp or stylized result | Adobe Firefly instructs users to review the upscaled result and adjust it when necessary |
For Adobe’s current mode descriptions, consult the Adobe Firefly video upscaler page. For Topaz’s model and parameter descriptions, use its Enhancement documentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What common mistakes make an upscale look worse?
Choosing the largest number first
A 4x option is not automatically better than 2x or original-size enhancement. Large dimensions can expose invented texture, increase render time and create a file that the destination immediately shrinks. Decide the delivery size first.
Converting every clip to 60 FPS
Interpolation is a motion decision, not a mandatory companion to spatial enhancement. Keep the source rate unless the project has a clear playback or slow-motion requirement.
Stabilizing by habit
Auto-crop stabilization can trade away edge content and effective resolution. Apply it only when shake is visibly distracting, and judge the crop on the complete composition.
Using a progressive model on interlaced material
Field artifacts can survive or become more obvious when the source type is misidentified. Select deinterlacing plus enhancement for interlaced footage and verify the new frame rate.
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Trusting a preset without a preview
Presets encode a useful starting point, not a guarantee. A short test exposes oversharpening, synthetic motion and lost texture before you spend time rendering the entire file.
Which settings fit common source-and-delivery situations?
1080p progressive footage for a 4K delivery
Choose a supported 2x output, lock the aspect ratio, keep the original frame rate and preview faces, fine texture and motion. Add stabilization only if shake is distracting; otherwise the upscale-to-4K path is a cleaner comparison.
Low-resolution archival footage
Identify whether the material is interlaced, choose the corresponding deinterlacing workflow, and test an enhancement model on a section containing motion and detail. Do not assume that a 4x output will create authentic archival detail.
Handheld footage intended for a steady presentation
Preview the enhancement first, then compare a stabilized version with the original. Keep the stabilized result only if the reduced framing and output resolution are preferable to visible shake.
Footage intended for slow motion
Choose the delivery dimensions independently, then select an interpolation mode designed for slow motion. Inspect moving limbs, repeating textures and fast camera moves before exporting the full sequence.
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Keep the dimensions and use enhancement-only processing if the goal is cleanup or detail refinement. This avoids a needless enlarge-then-shrink cycle and makes comparisons with the source straightforward.
Is there a universal best AI upscaling model?
No. The available documentation provides supported controls, examples and vendor recommendations, not an independent benchmark proving that one model, resolution, frame rate or application wins on all footage. A model that preserves a clean interview may behave differently on noisy archive film, animation or fast handheld action.
Use the smallest output that meets the delivery need, retain the source frame rate by default, stabilize only when the crop is acceptable, and let a representative preview decide whether the chosen model is suitable. That process is more reliable than applying a maximum-resolution or 60 FPS preset to every file.
Can a graphics card improve video during playback?
NVIDIA says RTX Video Super Resolution is available to GeForce RTX GPU owners and recommends Auto quality, which adjusts to the system profile and source content. A fixed high setting can cause stuttering on hardware that cannot sustain it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can AI upscaling recover detail that the camera never captured?
It can estimate plausible edges and textures, but increasing pixel dimensions cannot prove that the added detail existed in the original scene. Judge the result against the source and treat convincing-looking texture as a model output, not automatically as recovered evidence.
Why does an interpolated 60 FPS clip sometimes look unnatural?
Interpolation generates in-between frames, so rapid movement, repeated patterns and occlusions can expose errors that are absent at the native rate. If the project does not require a new playback rate, retaining the source frame rate avoids that extra motion synthesis.
Does RTX Video Super Resolution create a new enhanced file?
No. RTX Video Super Resolution is intended for real-time playback on supported GeForce RTX hardware. It changes what you see during playback rather than exporting a replacement master from your editor.
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Should I choose a precise or creative enhancement mode for archival footage?
A source-faithful mode is generally the safer starting point when preserving the original look matters, while a creative mode is intended to add more visible detail. Preview both on the same difficult section and select the one that keeps faces, texture and motion credible.
Why can a custom output size be unavailable in my enhancement model?
Video applications may restrict dimensions according to the selected model. If a multiplier or custom size is missing, choose a supported output that meets the delivery requirement or switch models, then verify the aspect ratio and preview the result.
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