How to upscale a video or image using AI 

Every video creator knows the pain of mixing footage that just doesn’t match. Plus, today’s platforms are unforgiving, with viewers expecting crisp visuals no matter where they’re watching.

Upscaling helps you improve clarity, repurpose older footage or images, and keep your projects consistent across platforms. AI tools make it easier to enhance resolution without restarting your edit from scratch.

So, let’s break down the basics of resolution and show you how to upscale your videos using Artlist’s AI tools for sharper, high-quality results with minimal effort.

Changing video resolution in the edit

There was a time when video quality was locked in the moment you pressed record. If your footage was soft, noisy, or low-resolution, you simply had to accept it. That’s not the case today. AI upscaling gives creators a new advantage with the ability to restore detail, sharpen textures, and improve clarity long after the camera has stopped rolling. Whether you’re polishing client work, repurposing older clips, or preparing a project for multiple platforms, upscaling can dramatically improve the final result.

Understanding video and image resolution

Resolution refers to the number of pixels in your image. Pixels are the tiny dots that form every frame, and the more you have, the clearer, sharper, and more detailed your video/image will look. But resolution isn’t about “bigger is better” — it’s about choosing what fits your style, workflow, and final platform.

Understanding the visual differences

Lower resolutions tend to blur fine details and soften edges, while higher resolutions reveal textures, depth, and clarity. As resolution increases, you gain more room to crop, zoom, stabilize, or reframe without degrading the image. In other words, higher resolution gives you more creative freedom, not just sharper visuals.

AI tools on Artlist

Artlist’s AI models support high-resolution output and built-in upscaling, giving creators the ability to enhance video quality directly in the platform. This makes it much easier to generate or refine footage without juggling multiple apps or plugins.

When you generate videos on Artlist, you can choose your starting resolution 720p (HD) or 1080p (Full HD), based on the model, your project needs, and how many credits you want to spend. Once your video or image is ready, the Upscale button lets you boost the resolution in seconds. If the result looks right and you want it sharper or more detailed, you can upscale instantly without restarting your workflow.

Why upscale a video or image?

Upscaling isn’t only about improving sharpness. It’s a way to bring cohesion, flexibility, and longevity to your work, especially as visual standards continue to rise across platforms.

Higher image quality improves how your work is perceived

Clients expect clean, clear footage, and better resolution often translates to higher trust and credibility. Even subtle improvements can make your edits feel more professional.

Consistency matters just as much

Mixing older footage or images with newly shot clips can create clashes in detail and clarity. Upscaling lets you align everything to one standard so the viewer stays immersed in the story.

Upscaling also breathes new life into existing assets

Many creators have old videos, photos, images, archived projects, or early social content that would benefit from a quality boost. Upscaling modernizes your library so it can be reused across platforms without calling attention to its age.

Platform requirements make resolution more important than ever

YouTube favors HD and above, vertical platforms expect sharp visuals even on small screens, and TV or film often requires high resolution from the start. Upscaling helps you meet these expectations without reshooting a thing.

Higher resolution also increases your creative possibilities

The extra pixel detail lets you crop, zoom, punch in, or stabilize footage while maintaining a professional look. When you’re editing a video with multiple use cases, that flexibility is invaluable.

VFX and grading

If you’re working with VFX or color grading, higher-resolution footage simply holds up better. Gradients look cleaner, masks stay sharp, and tracked elements behave more naturally.

Upscale your visuals

Upscaling gives creators more room to experiment and more control over the final look of their videos. Whether you’re restoring old footage, polishing a client project, or preparing content for multiple platforms, better resolution can elevate your storytelling. Artlist’s AI tools make the process quick, intuitive, and accessible, giving you high-quality results without slowing down your creative flow. Try upscaling a clip in Artlist today and see how sharper, clearer footage can transform your next project.

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