Gigapixel AI is an AI-powered image upscaler that enables you to enlarge your digital photos by up to 600% – all while improving your photo’s image quality. Moreover, Gigapixel AI is the best AI Upscaler I have tested, frequently outperforming top-tier upscalers such as ON1 Resize AI 2023 and Lightroom Super Resolution.
However, Gigapixel AI is not perfect. It runs slower than some and lacks the expanded feature set of its stablemate, Topaz Photo AI. Nevertheless, if you are looking for the best image upscaler today, you’re looking for Gigapixel AI. Jump to Conclusion.
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Table of Contents
- What is Gigapixel AI
- How much does Gigapixel AI cost
- Download the Free Gigapixel AI trial.
- How to use Gigapixel AI
- Gigapixel AI Tutorial – Video
- Gigapixel AI Tested
- Does Gigapixel AI work
- Is Gigapixel AI good to use
- Gigapixel AI Alternatives
- Conclusion
What is Gigapixel AI
Topaz Gigapixel AI is an AI-powered image upscaling application for PC and Mac designed to upscale your digital photos by up to 600%.
But unlike traditional upscaling, which mindlessly turns one pixel into many, Gigapixel’s machine-learned AI algorithms insert new detail into your enlarged image. As a result, pictures enlarged with Gigapixel AI look far superior to the smaller original.
For this reason, Gigapixel AI is hugely beneficial if you want to enlarge older low-resolution images or convert your digital photos into giant prints.
Besides upscaling, Gigapixel AI includes some lens and raw color correction, plus a cropping tool. Nonetheless, it would be best not to confuse Gigapixel AI for a traditional photo editing application.
How much does Gigapixel AI cost
US$99.99 Buy Gigapixel AI Now.
Download the Free Gigapixel AI trial.
You can try Gigapixel AI – free for 30 days. No credit card is required. Try Gigapixel Now – For Free.
How to use Gigapixel AI
#1 Open your image
Click ‘Browse Images’ to open the photo you wish to upscale. You can also open many images simultaneously and do a batch upscale.
#2 Upscaling photos in Gigapixel AI using the Automatic mode
The easiest way to upscale your photos in Gigapixel AI is with its automatic mode. In its automatic mode, Gigapixel AI will assess your image and apply whatever settings it thinks suit your picture best.
For your part, you must choose how much you wish to enlarge your image. To this end, Gigapixel offers four presets – 0.5x, 2x, 4x, and 6x. Alternatively, dial in any value between 0.20x and 6.94x or specify your desired image height and length in pixels, centimeters, or inches.
#3 Upscaling photos in Gigapixel AI using manual settings
Gigapixel AI’s automatic mode is robust and reliable. However, you may squeeze out even better results with manual tuning.
Choosing an AI model
Gigapixel AI features five separate AI models: Standard, Lines, Art & CG, HQ, Low Res, and Very Compressed. Each AI model offers distinct results; the best AI model depends on your photo’s content and image quality.
The best way to compare the effect of different AI models is to use Gigapixel AI’s four-way split screen mode to compare up to four other AI models simultaneously. You can switch between the standard and comparison views using the controls at the top-right corner of the photo.
Adjusting your AI model
Each of Gigapixel AI’s five AI models has up to three separate adjustments. These include Suppress Noise, Remove Blur, and Fix Compression. You can set these yourself or switch the ‘lightning-bolt’ toggle on and let Gigapixel AI set them for you.
Each of these adjustments offers you granular control over your photo’s image quality, helping you to achieve the best upscale possible.
#4 Using Face Recovery in Gigapixel AI
With Gigapixel AI’s Face Recovery, you can adjust the amount of processing applied to any faces appearing in your photo. As a result, you’re more likely to preserve natural features and skin tones.
Face recovery is only enabled when a face is detected in your photo and consists of a single slider. Dragging the slider from the left to the right increases Face Recovery’s effect.
#5 Saving your Upscaled Photo
Click Save Image once you are finished upscaling your photo. By default, your upscaled image will be saved as a copy and will not overwrite your original file.
You can save your upscaled image as a JPEG, JPG, TIFF, TIF, or PNG and choose the quality and compression of each. Alternatively, you can save your image as a DNG Raw file, which is better if you plan on editing your picture further.
Finally, you can name your file, specify where to save it, and choose a color profile, namely sRGB, ProPhoto RGB, Adobe RGB, Apple RGG, or Wide Garmut GRB.
Gigapixel AI Tutorial – Video
Gigapixel AI Tested
Test 1 – High-Quality Image
Gigapixel AI’s first test is a high-quality photo of a Fur Seal. In my experience, Gigapixel AI is at its best when upscaling sharp, noise-free images and, thus, aces this easiest of tests.
Test 2 – Low-Resolution Image
So we know Gigapixel AI excels at upscaling high-quality, high-resolution images – but how does it handle low-resolution photos?
To find out, I fed Gigapixel AI a photo taken with my 6-megapixel Nikon D40. However, while the resolution may be low by today’s standard, it’s a high-quality image nonetheless. As a result, Gigapixel AI produced an attractive-looking 400% upscale. Not bad.
As you can see, Gigapixel AI does a fine job. So long as your image is sharp and reasonably well-detailed, Gigapixel AI will perform well despite a low megapixel count.
Test 3 – Poor Quality Image
So, how does Gigapixel AI handle low-resolution photos with poor image quality? To find out, I dragged out an old 3.1-megapixel image taken with my very first digital camera – a Sony point-and-shoot.
Not only is this image low resolution, but it suffers from detail stripping noise reduction (posterization, also known as the oil painting look) and suffers the consequences of a soft lens.
Therefore, this image is the perfect stress test for Gigapixel AI, and it shows. There’s not enough detail for Gigapixel AI to work with. Nevertheless, I was able to achieve a reasonable-looking 200% upscale.
Does Gigapixel AI work
As the samples above demonstrate, Gigapixel AI is highly effective at upscaling detailed images – even when the image suffers from a lower megapixel count.
For instance, I upscaled many of my old 6-megapixel Nikon D40 images by at least 400%, resulting in great-looking 24-megapixel photos. When I fed it files from my 24-megapixel Nikon D750, I was rewarded with superb-looking 100-150 megapixel monsters.
However, Gigapixel AI works less well with images suffering from a lack of detail or, worse, false detail caused by noise and posterization. In these cases, Gigapixel AI may have insufficient detail to work and even upscale things it shouldn’t.
Therefore, you should not consider Gigapixel AI a means to revive and remaster poor-quality images. Instead, consider Gigapixel AI as a way to transform small, high-quality pictures into larger, even better-looking photos.
Is Gigapixel AI good to use
Usability
Gigapixel AI’s interface is attractive, well-designed, and stocked with well-named features and tools. Learning Gigapixel AI from back to front took me less than an hour. If an hour still seems too long, Gigapixel AI has some Tutorials that guide you through upscaling a sample image.
Speed and Performance
Crucially, Gigapixel AI is very responsive to your inputs and, thus, feels lag-free. However, when you choose a different AI model or adjust its settings, Gigapixel AI will pause between five and ten seconds to rerender the image. While such delays are not ideal, they are familiar to most AI Upscalers, and I believe the results are worth the wait.
Gigapixel AI Alternatives
Gigapixel AI vs Topaz Photo AI
Gigapixel AI and Topaz Photo AI are equally excellent upscalers producing near-identical results. However, Topaz Photo AI’s expanded feature set means it can upscale, sharpen, and denoise.
This means two things. First, Topaz Photo AI is useful more often simply because it does more. Second, you can combine Topaz Photo AI’s features to produce results Gigapixel AI cannot match. For instance, Topaz Photo AI is better able to upscale noise-ridden images, as the sample below demonstrates.
Yet, Gigapixel AI is just as effective when upscaling good-quality images and costs half as much. But if you can stretch your budget, Topaz Photo AI is worth every cent, penny, and dime.
Read Topaz Photo AI Review for more information.
Gigapixel AI vs Lightroom Super Resolution
Gigapixel AI is superior to Lightroom Super Resolution for two reasons. First, unless you’re willing to endure a simple but clumsy workaround, Lightroom Super Resolution is limited to 200% upscales compared to Gigapixel AI’s 600%.
Second, Gigapixel AI is better than Lightroom Super Resolution when upscaling complex scenery and portraits. To demonstrate, I ran a photo of a lighthouse through Gigapixel AI and Lightroom Super Resolution, and the results speak for themselves.
Overall, Lightroom Super Resolution is excellent value when considered as a small part of a Lightroom subscription. But judged solely as an upscaler, Gigapixel AI well beats it.
Gigapixel AI VS ON1 Resize AI
ON1 Resize AI is a terrific AI upscaler that runs faster than Gigapixel AI. Furthermore, ON1 Resize AI has some additional features to assist with printing.
But when it comes to image quality, ON1 Resize AI is less effective when upscaling portraits despite the recent inclusion of a Face Recovery feature.
Also, like Lightroom Super Resolution, ON1 Resize AI struggles with complex scenes (the Lighthouse test), whereas Gigapixel AI does much better.
Netherthess, ON1 Resize AI’s outright speed and print-friendly features help it stand out. But in terms of image quality, Gigapixel AI has the upper hand. Read ON1 Resize AI Review
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Conclusion
Regarding image quality, Gigapixel AI is the best AI upscaler I have tested.. Moreover, Gigapixel AI is well-presented, straightforward to use, and well-priced. While Gigapixel AI may be a little slow at times, its speed is comparable with most other upscalers, and the results are generally worth the wait.
Speaking of other upscalers, Gigapixel AI is a few steps ahead. This is particularly true when upscaling challenging high-detail scenes and Gigapixel AI’s lighter touch produces more natural-looking upscaled portraits than its over-processing rivals.
However, with Topaz Photo AI, Gigapixel AI has met its match. Topaz Labs develops both, and I’m sure both utilize the same technology to produce near-identical results. Yet, thanks to Topaz Photo AI’s expanded feature set, it can augment its upscaling with class-leading sharpening and denoising to deliver results beyond what Gigapixel AI is capable of.
Yet, Topaz Photo AI costs twice as much as Gigapixel AI. Therefore, if you are looking solely for an upscaler to enlarge your favorite photos, Gigapixel AI is tough to beat.
Rating: 5 out of 5
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Topaz Photo AI Review – Topaz Photo AI 2 Tested and Compared
Topaz Denoise AI Review – A Flawed Gem.
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Topaz Video AI Review – Amazing Features, Flawed Performance.
