How to Upscale Image Resolution in Photoshop 2024 (Guide)

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So you have this beautiful picture of you that managed to come out so close to perfect at your friend's birthday party, but this single thing is bugging you. And that is (yes, you guessed it right!) the quality of your "oh-so-perfect" picture.

 

It's so blurred and out of focus! What do you do now? Throw it away? I don't believe so; there has to be a better approach. What if I say you can turn your favourite blurry Image into a crystal-like masterpiece? So don't worry, because that's exactly what we're going to do today. 

 

In this article, we'll show you how you can increase your picture quality to perfection with the help of Adobe Photoshop. We also have a secret surprise trick to upscale the image quality, which we will reveal at the end of the article, so make sure that you read till the end to find out about it.

 

We'll also show you how to take an image that's too small for your needs and use Photoshop's Image Size dialog box to resize it while maintaining its original quality. Moreover, in this article, you'll learn to use Photoshop's Preserve Details 2.0 feature to resize images while minimizing the appearance of artefacts caused by upscaling.

 

What is Image Resolution?

The amount of pixels in an image is referred to as its resolution. The more detail an image can include, the better the resolution. Regarding Photoshop, there are two ways to increase image resolution: resampling and interpolation.

Resampling involves adding or removing pixels from an image, while interpolation uses complex algorithms to guess at missing pixels. The method you use will depend on the original Image's quality and what you hope to achieve with the upscaled version.

In general, resampling is better for low-resolution images, while interpolation is better for high-resolution images. If you're unsure which method to use, try and experiment with both and see which gives you the best results.

 

Why is it Important?

None can deny that high-resolution images appear so much clearer and simply magnificent. Resolution is essential when printing images because the wrong resolution can result in blurry or pixelated images.

 

Resolution is also important when choosing an image for a website or social media platform. For example, Facebook recommends images be at least 1200x630 pixels for the best results.

The Difference Between Image Enlargement and Resolution Upscaling

If you're a photographer, you're probably familiar with the term "image enlargement." It is taking a photo and making it more prominent, usually for printing purposes. But you may not know that there's a big difference between image enlargement and resolution upscaling.

 

Image enlargement is simply increasing the physical size of an image. On the other hand, resolution upscaling increases the number of pixels in an image, which results in a higher-quality image.

 

How to Check image Resolution in Photoshop

When working with images in Photoshop, it's essential to know the resolution of your Image. The resolution is the number of pixels that make up your Image. It's typically measured in pixels per inch (PPI).

 

To check the resolution of an image in Photoshop, go to Image> Image Size. The Resolution field is located near the bottom of the dialog box.

 

How to Enlarge Image in Photoshop

If you're looking to improve the quality of your images, upscaling them in Photoshop is a great way to do it. Upgrading the resolution will help make your pictures look sharper and more detailed.

 

When resizing photos, image editing applications such as Adobe Photoshop are perfect. Enlargements can be done in Photoshop, but it is best to keep enlargements to a minimum because quality may be quickly lost.

Enlargements might be made, for example, if a document needed to be printed in a bigger size or the Image needed to have a better resolution (while retaining document size). In this article, we'll walk you through the steps for doing it.

 

Step 1 - First, open the Image you want to upgrade in Photoshop. Then, go to the "Image" menu and select "Image Size."

Home Screen of PhotoShop Image Size

Step 2 - In the "Image Size" dialog box that appears, make sure to check the "Resample Image" option. Then, select an interpolation method from the drop-down menu. We recommend using either "Bicubic Sharper" or "Bicubic Smoother."

2nd Step to Resample Image

Step 3 - Once you've selected an interpolation method, enter your desired width and height for your Image in the appropriate fields. Finally, click "OK" to confirm your changes.

Finaly Set Resulution and Download

And that's all there is to it! After following these steps, your Image should be enlarged with significantly higher quality.

Super Resolution - Adobe Photoshop

Adobe's Super Resolution tool in Lightroom and Photoshop is an incredible technology that employs artificial intelligence to triple the size of your photographs. If you wish to give your old photographs new life and print photos twice as large with double the number of megapixels in width and height, this is the tool for you.

Here's an explanation of what it is and how to utilize it. Adobe has developed the Super Resolution feature by training its Sensei artificial intelligence engine on millions of real-world pictures. It compares and evaluates originals to quarter-size reproductions so that the machine can learn the best way to blow them up again.

It behaves similarly to your photos, giving intelligent suggestions on how to improve their resolution. It works effectively on many photos, significantly when widening borders, where it frequently does so without introducing artefacts such as mushiness or jaggy pixelization.

Even faces, frequently the essential portions of photos, turn out nicely. Super Resolution works with Photoshop's Adobe Camera Raw tool. Adobe trained the function to operate with raw photographs, preferred by photo lovers and professionals for their editing flexibility and image quality. However, Super Resolution can function with standard photographs, such as the JPEGs and HEICs that your phone most likely shoots.

 

How to Use It?

To use this new feature of Photoshop to your advantage, follow these quick and easy steps:-

Step 1 - Open a raw file to start the Super Resolution process. Raw files would open up automatically in the Adobe Camera Raw tool.

Step 2 - Secondly, right-click the shot and choose Enhance. Command-Shift-D keyboard shortcut on macOS and Control-Shift-D on Windows work just fine.

An Enhanced Preview dialogue box will appear, with a few options for managing the procedure. The Raw Details setting improves the display of raw data. 

Step 3 - Check the Super Resolution checkbox to the right of it. Pan around the preview image to see the expected results, click the magnifying glass icon to zoom out and then click back on the patch you want to investigate.

Then, wait until you click the Enhance button. Photoshop estimates how long the procedure will take; it typically takes only a few seconds to convert 12-megapixel photographs to 48-megapixels. 

Step 4 - Tap and hold the Option on MacOS or Alt on Windows while you click the Enhance option to sidestep the Enhanced Preview dialogue box.

Step 5 - Then comes the fine tweaking! Zoom in close enough to fine-tune aspects like sharpness, texture, and noise removal by using scales on the tool's right edge.

Using Super Resolution on JPEG

To use Super Resolution with JPEG, HEIC, or TIFF files, first set Photoshop to open those file formats in Adobe Camera Raw by default. Unfortunately, you can't just go to the Filter menu and select the Camera Raw Filter menu command.

To begin, browse the File Handling section and select Camera Raw Preferences from the menu. In the following dialogue box that appears, select the File Handling area. Change the JPEG/HEIC option to "Automatically open all supported" images, then repeat the process for TIFF files if required.

Even if you don't wish to use Super Resolution or the other Adobe Camera Raw editing tools, these photographs will open in Adobe Camera Raw. This is a good option if you do most of your picture processing in Lightroom. However, if you like Photoshop's default behaviour, turn it off in Photoshop's options.

DSLRs and mirrorless cameras from Sony, Nikon, Canon, and other camera manufacturers all support raw shooting. Still, smartphones are also improving, thanks to Apple's ProRaw and Google's computational raw technologies.

Tips for increasing image resolution

If you're working with images in Photoshop that need to be increased in resolution, you can do a few things to help ensure the best results. First, ensure the Image is at least 300 DPI (dots per inch). This will ensure that the Image is high enough quality for printing or other uses.

 

Next, use the "Image Size" dialog box to increase the width and height of the Image. Ensure that the "Resample Image" checkbox is selected, and choose an interpolation method from the drop-down menu. We recommend using "Bicubic Smoother" for the best results.

 

Once you've increased the image size, you may need to adjust the levels and curves to improve the overall appearance. And lastly, don't forget to save your new, high-resolution Image.

BONUS TIP: Our New Tool!

If you are looking for a straightforward alternative to enhance your Image's quality, you have to try out our exclusive tool- upscale media. And the best part about it is that it won't cost you a penny! It's totally free and super easy to use. Upscale.media supports a wide range of formats such as png, jpeg, jpg, and webp.

All you have to do is visit Upscale.media, and drop the Image you wish to enhance in the "Upload Image" box. Next, turn on the "Enhance Quality" button and upscale the quality to the highest. And that's it. That's all you had to do.

Now that you have your Image with enhanced quality, you can download this upgraded version of the Image. Upscale.media is a fast-working tool that automatically enhances your Image's quality.  

How to use Photoshop to minimize the size of an image? 

Lowering the size of a photograph in Photoshop is quite similar to expanding it. If the resolution of an image is too high for the web, the file size is too huge to e-mail, or simply a small image is required for a printed piece, the image size must be reduced.

Step 1 - Open Photoshop and navigate to File > Open. Select a picture.

Home Screen of PhotoShop

Step 2 - Navigate to Image > Image Size. A dialogue window titled Image Size will display.

2nd Step to Navigate to Image

Step 3 - Fill in the blanks with new pixel measurements, document size, or resolution.

3rd Step to new pixel measurements

Step 4 - Before pressing OK, choose a resampling approach.

4th Step to resampling approach

Step 5 - To accept the changes, click OK.

Last and Final Step to Download image

What exactly does this mean? Photoshop rejects any superfluous pixels to minimize the image size. By setting a Resampling Method, we instruct Photoshop to modify pixel information to create excellent outcomes when shrinking picture sizes.

Bicubic (ideal for subtle transitions) – An exact approach for calculating the averages of neighbouring pixels.

Bicubic Sharper (finest for reductions) - Based on Bicubic sampling, this filter best reduces pictures while maintaining detail sharpness.

FAQ's

How to upscale an image in photoshop?

Here are the easiest steps to upscale an image in Photoshop:

Step 1: Open your desired image in Photoshop.

Step 2: Navigate to "Image" and select "Image Size".

Step 3: In the dialog box, ensure the "Resample Image" option is checked.

Step 4: Choose "Bicubic Sharper" or "Bicubic Smoother" from the drop-down menu.

Step 5: Input the desired width and height for your image.

Step 6: Click "OK" to save your changes.

This will upscale your image according to the new dimensions you set, and the selected interpolation method will try to preserve the image quality as much as possible.

Can you improve resolution on Photoshop?

Yes, you can improve the resolution of an image in Photoshop. The software has tools for resizing images, and if used correctly, these can enhance the image's resolution. However, for significant improvements in resolution, AI-based tools like Upscale.media might provide better results.

Does upscaling increase resolution?

Yes, upscaling does increase the resolution of an image. It involves enlarging the dimensions of an image while algorithms attempt to fill in the extra space with added detail based on the existing pixels. This can lead to a higher resolution and more detailed image, especially when AI-based tools like Upscale.media are used to intelligently enhance image quality during upscaling.

Which is the best upscaling?

Here are five of the best upscaling tools available:

  • Upscale.media
  • Let's Enhance
  • Bigjpg
  • Topaz Gigapixel AI
  • Deep Image

These tools utilize AI technology to upscale images, increasing their resolution and overall quality.

How to enhance photo quality in photoshop?

Yes, following these steps in Photoshop can enhance the quality of a photo:

Step 1: Open the image you wish to enhance in Photoshop.

Step 2: Go to the "Image" menu and select "Image Size".

Step 3: Make sure to check the "Resample Image" option in the dialog box that appears.

Step 4: Select either "Bicubic Sharper" or "Bicubic Smoother" from the drop-down menu - these methods can help retain image quality during resizing.

Step 5: Enter your preferred dimensions for the width and height of your image.

Step 6: Click "OK" to apply your changes and enhance the quality of your image.

What upscaling means?

Upscaling refers to the process of enlarging an image by increasing its resolution or adding new pixels. Tools like Upscale.media utilize AI to achieve this, resulting in a higher-quality and more detailed version of the original image.

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Every week, we send you one article that will help you stay informed about the latest AI developments in Business, Product, and Design