Upscaling Explained? 7 FREE Apps to Upscale Art in 2024. Tutorial & Review for Print on Demand

Detour Shirts
10 Feb 202425:35

TLDRIn this video, Juna from Detour Shirts explains the concept of upscaling and its importance for print-on-demand services. She demonstrates the process using Affinity Designer and compares the results with various free online upscaling apps. Juna highlights the need to upscale AI-generated images, which are typically 1024x1024, to a larger size suitable for print. She reviews seven different upscaling tools, including 'Upscale.doai', 'I Love IMG', 'Dgbl LOL', 'Pixel Cut', 'Leonardo', 'Mid Journey', and 'Canva'. Each tool has its pros and cons, such as the file format compatibility, upscaling multiplier, processing time, and cost. The summary emphasizes the importance of choosing the right tool based on one's specific needs and concludes with a teaser for a future video on removing the white background from the upscaled designs.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 **Upscaling Defined**: The process of increasing the size of an image without significant loss of quality is crucial for print-on-demand services.
  • 🚀 **Affinity Designer**: Used to demonstrate the effects of upscaling, showing how images need to be scaled up from AI-generated sizes to meet print requirements.
  • 🔍 **Pixelation Problem**: When stretching an image without upscaling, pixelation occurs, leading to a loss of image quality.
  • 📈 **Vectorizing vs. Upscaling**: Vectorizing provides a clean, scalable image, but upscaling can be used when a vectorized version isn't available or desired.
  • 🌐 **Free Upscaling Tools**: Several online apps can upscale images for free, which is useful for those on a budget or who don't require professional-grade upscaling.
  • 🔧 **Format Limitations**: Many free upscaling tools only accept certain file formats like PNG and JPEG, which can require additional steps for file conversion.
  • 🔗 **I Love IMG**: A free upscaling service that was highlighted for its effectiveness and speed, offering up to 4x upscaling.
  • 📱 **Pixel Cut**: A fast upscaling tool with limitations on image size and requiring a workaround for larger images.
  • 🕒 **Dgb.lol**: Offers high-quality upscaling up to 6x, but the process can be time-consuming.
  • 💡 **Leonardo**: An upscaler that works well for photo-realistic images but may not be as suitable for T-shirt graphic designs.
  • ✨ **Mid Journey and Canva**: Both platforms offer upscaling within their services, with Mid Journey being limited to its own AI creations and Canva having an app for image enhancement.

Q & A

  • What is the primary purpose of upscaling in the context of the video?

    -The primary purpose of upscaling is to increase the size of an AI-generated image to a suitable dimension for print on demand, without causing pixelation or loss of quality.

  • What is the standard size mentioned for Amazon Merch on Demand?

    -The standard size mentioned for Amazon Merch on Demand is 4500 by 5400 pixels.

  • Why does upscaling add pixels to an image?

    -Upscaling adds pixels to an image to make it smoother and larger without the pixelation that occurs when simply stretching a smaller image.

  • What is the difference between upscaling and vectorizing an image?

    -Upscaling increases the pixel dimensions of an image, which can sometimes lead to a loss of sharpness, while vectorizing converts the image into mathematical formulas that can be scaled without loss of quality.

  • What file formats are commonly accepted by free online upscalers?

    -Most free online upscalers accept PNG and JPEG file formats.

  • What is the name of one of the first free upscalers mentioned in the video?

    -One of the first free upscalers mentioned is Upscale.doai.

  • How does the 'I Love IMG' upscaler perform in comparison to the standard upscale?

    -The 'I Love IMG' upscaler performs well, offering a cleaner image with less noticeable pixels, even at higher magnifications.

  • What is the main advantage of using 'Dgbl LOL' for upscaling?

    -The main advantage of 'Dgbl LOL' is that it offers a high-quality upscale up to six times the original size, resulting in a sharper image.

  • What is the limitation of using 'Pixel Cut' for upscaling?

    -The limitation of 'Pixel Cut' is that it only upscales images up to 4000 pixels and requires a workaround for images larger than this size.

  • How does the 'Leonardo' upscaler differ from the others mentioned?

    -The 'Leonardo' upscaler is more suited for photo-realistic images and has a limitation of only upscaling at 2X at a time, which can be time-consuming for multiple upscaling needs.

  • What is the benefit of upscaling over vectorizing when it comes to maintaining gradients in an image?

    -Upscaling retains the smooth gradients of the original image, whereas vectorizing might distort or simplify these gradients, leading to a less accurate representation of the original artwork.

Outlines

00:00

📈 Introduction to Upscaling for Print on Demand

Juna from Detour Shirts introduces the topic of upscaling, explaining the importance of upscaling AI-generated images to the correct size for print on demand. She mentions a previous video on vectorizing and emphasizes that both upscaling and vectorizing are solutions to achieve the necessary image size. Juna demonstrates the process in Affinity Designer, showing the pixelation that occurs when an image is simply stretched without upscaling, and how upscaling can help maintain a clean, non-pixelated design.

05:05

🌐 Exploring Free Online Upscaling Services

The video continues with Juna searching for and demonstrating various free online upscaling services. She discusses the limitations of certain formats, such as WEBP, and how to convert them to accepted formats like PNG or JPEG for upscaling. Juna tests multiple services, including Upscale.do.ai and I Love IMG, comparing the results at different scaling factors like 2X and 4X, and noting the improved clarity and reduced pixelation in the upscaled images.

10:08

🔍 Comparing Upscaling Results and Techniques

Juna compares the results from different upscaling services, highlighting the differences in quality and processing time. She discusses the advantages of using services like Dgbl LOL, which offers a 6X upscale but takes longer to process. She also mentions Pixel Cut, which is faster but has limitations on image size and requires a workaround for upscaling beyond its initial constraints. The paragraph emphasizes the need to balance speed and quality when choosing an upscaling service.

15:12

🎨 Utilizing Other Platforms for Upscaling

Juna explores additional platforms that offer upscaling services, including Leonardo and Mid Journey, which are particularly useful for users already working within those ecosystems. She also mentions Canva's Pixel Perfect app, which is available to Canva Pro users and can upscale images to a high quality. However, she notes that some of these services have limitations or may not be suitable for all types of designs, such as T-shirt graphics.

20:19

🚀 Final Thoughts on Upscaling for Design

In the concluding paragraph, Juna summarizes the various upscaling options presented in the video and emphasizes the importance of choosing the right service based on individual needs. She points out that upscaling can preserve gradients and details that might be lost in vectorization, and encourages viewers to consider upscaling as an alternative to vectorizing their AI-generated images. Juna invites feedback on the best upscaling methods and offers to provide further guidance in future videos.

Mindmap

Keywords

Upscaling

Upscaling refers to the process of increasing the resolution of an image or video, making it appear larger and more detailed without losing quality. In the context of the video, upscaling is crucial for taking AI-generated images, which are often 1024x1024 pixels, and enlarging them to the size needed for print-on-demand services, such as for T-shirts or Amazon Merch.

Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is a vector graphics editing software used for creating and editing high-quality images. In the video, it is used to demonstrate the effects of upscaling an image and to compare the results of different upscaling methods. It is highlighted as a tool for visualizing the pixelation and clarity issues that occur when an image is simply stretched without proper upscaling.

Vectorizing

Vectorizing is the process of converting a raster image (made of pixels) into a vector image (made of paths and shapes). This allows for better scalability and clarity at larger sizes. The video mentions vectorizing as an alternative method to upscaling for preparing AI images for print-on-demand, particularly useful for achieving clean edges and smooth gradients.

Print on Demand (POD)

Print on Demand is a service where products are manufactured and printed as ordered by the customer, reducing the need for inventory. In the video, POD is mentioned as the ultimate use case for the upscaled AI images, where the target size for Amazon Merch or T-shirt printing is discussed.

AI Image

An AI image refers to a piece of artwork or design created using artificial intelligence, often through platforms like chat GPT. These images are typically generated at a base resolution and require upscaling to be used for larger formats such as printing on merchandise.

Pixelation

Pixelation occurs when an image is enlarged to the point where the individual pixels become visible, leading to a loss of clarity and a blocky appearance. The video discusses how upscaling helps to reduce pixelation, ensuring that the final design looks smooth and professional when printed.

WebP

WebP is an image file format that provides lossless and lossy compression for images on the web. The video script mentions that some upscaling tools do not support WebP files, requiring users to convert their AI-generated images to a supported format like PNG or JPEG before upscaling.

PNG

PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics and is a widely used image format known for its ability to support transparency and its lossless compression. In the video, PNG is the preferred file format for upscaling because it maintains image quality without compression artifacts.

JPEG

JPEG is a commonly used method of lossy compression for digital images, particularly for those being used on the web. The video notes that many free upscaling tools accept JPEG files, which are suitable for upscaling due to their widespread compatibility.

I Love IMG

I Love IMG is mentioned as one of the free online upscalers used in the video to enlarge AI-generated images. It is highlighted for its ability to upscale images up to 4X without significant quality loss, making it a useful tool for those looking to prepare images for print-on-demand services.

Dgbl LOL

Dgbl LOL is an online image upscaling tool that uses AI to enhance the quality of upscaled images. The video demonstrates its capability to upscale images up to 6X, resulting in a sharper and cleaner image, although it takes longer to process compared to other methods.

Highlights

Juna from Detour Shirts discusses upscaling and its importance for print on demand.

Seven different free online apps for upscaling are introduced.

Affinity Designer is used to demonstrate the effects of stretching an image without upscaling.

AI images are typically 1024x1024, which is smaller than the target size needed for print on demand.

Upscaling adds pixels to make images smoother and less pixelated.

Vectorizing is an alternative method to upscaling for achieving a clean, straight edge in designs.

Free upscaler 'upscale.doai' is demonstrated, with a workaround for webp file format limitation.

ILoveIMG upscaler is shown to provide clean results at 4X magnification without cost.

Dgbl LOL upscaler offers super sharp 6X magnification, though the process is slower.

Pixel Cut is praised for its speed, but has limitations on image size and requires a workaround for larger images.

Leonardo's Universal upscaler is mentioned for its use with photorealistic images, but may not be cost-effective for frequent use.

Mid Journey's in-app upscaler automatically upscales designs created within the platform up to 4X.

Canva's Pixel Perfect app is revealed to upscale images, though its availability may depend on the user's Canva subscription.

The importance of upscaling for maintaining clean gradients and avoiding jagged edges in designs is emphasized.

A comparison of different upscaling methods shows varying levels of crispness and cleanness in the final design.

The video concludes with a teaser for an upcoming tutorial on removing backgrounds from upscaled images.

Viewers are encouraged to share their preferred upscaling methods in the comments.

A link to a previous video on vectorizing is provided for those interested in an alternative to upscaling.