AI Video Upscaler: Improve Resolution With Topaz

VdoBloom upscales video with Topaz, at 1×, 2× or 4× the source resolution. It is priced per second of the clip: 3.2 credits a second for 1× and 2×, and 5.6 credits a second for 4×, with a 30-credit minimum per job.

Disclosure: VdoBloom is our platform.

What upscaling does

Upscaling increases the resolution of a clip that is too small: a 480p or 720p video becomes sharper and larger, which matters when you are posting to a platform that favours higher resolution or viewing on a big screen. Topaz is a dedicated upscaler, so it rebuilds detail rather than just stretching the picture.

That distinction is the whole point. A naive resize stretches each pixel into a block, so a small clip becomes large and soft. A model-driven upscaler looks at the picture, infers what the missing detail should have been, and draws it back in — edges become crisp, textures gain definition, and faces read clearly at a size where they would otherwise turn to mush. The result is a clip that holds up on a large screen instead of only looking right in a thumbnail.

1× / 2× / 4×: how much larger the output is.
Priced per second: cost scales with the length of the source clip.

When to upscale

Old or low-resolution footage: bring archival clips or early exports up to a size that suits modern screens.
Generated video: raise the resolution of a clip that came out smaller than you need.
Platform requirements: meet a size that a social platform or client expects.
Large displays: sharpen a clip that will be shown on a TV or a big monitor.
Reuse at scale: make one clean high-resolution version of a clip you will reuse in many places.

How to do it on VdoBloom

Open the Video Upscaler.
Upload the clip you want to improve.
Choose the factor (1×, 2× or 4×).
Generate; the video appears when it completes.

What it costs

Factor	Price
1× and 2×	3.2 credits per second (min 30)
4×	5.6 credits per second (min 30)

A 10-second clip at 2× is about 32 credits; at 4×, about 56. Because it is per second, a long clip costs proportionally more — trim to the section you need. Credits are one-time and never expire.

Why it is priced per second

Upscaling works frame by frame, and a longer clip means more frames to rebuild. Charging per second keeps the price tied to the work involved rather than to the output resolution, so a longer clip at 2× can cost more than a short one at 4×. That is why trimming matters more than the factor you pick: the fastest way to lower the bill is to cut the clip to the part you actually need before you run it.

Getting the most from it

Start from the best source you have. Upscaling rebuilds detail; it cannot invent what was never there.
4× costs nearly twice the rate of 2×, so use it only when the extra resolution is needed.
Trim long clips first — cost is per second of the whole clip.
Pick the smallest factor that solves the problem. If 2× brings the clip to the size you need, 4× is wasted spend.
Remove anything you will cut later, so you are not paying to upscale frames that never make the final edit.

Choosing a factor

The factor decides how much larger the output is, so the right choice starts from the size you have and the size you need. If a clip needs only a modest lift, 1× or 2× at the lower rate is usually enough. Reach for 4× when the source is small and the destination is large — a big screen, a high-resolution platform or a piece of footage that will be viewed up close. The 30-credit minimum applies to any job, so a very short clip still costs at least that.

Realistic limits

It sharpens, it does not restore. A heavily degraded or heavily compressed source will not fully recover.
3 factors only. 1×, 2× or 4×, with no finer control.
Cost is tied to length. A long clip costs more whatever factor you choose, so trimming is the main lever.
There is a minimum. Every job starts at 30 credits, even a very short one.

Before you upload

A little preparation makes the result and the bill both better.

Trim to the section you need. Cost is per second, so anything you cut on the timeline is money saved on the run.
Use the best source you have. The upscaler works from what is there; a cleaner input gives a cleaner output.
Know your target size. Decide the size you need before you pick a factor, so you choose the smallest one that gets there.
Check the clip plays. Confirm the file is intact before you spend on it.

What upscaling can and cannot do

It is worth being clear about the boundary. Upscaling rebuilds detail from what the model can infer, so a clip that is merely small or a little soft comes back sharper and larger. A clip that is badly degraded — heavy compression artefacts, out-of-focus footage, damage — will look somewhat better but will not be fully restored. The tool improves a good-or-fair source well; it does not resurrect a ruined one. Starting from the best available version is therefore the single most effective habit.

After the upscale

The output is an ordinary video file, so it drops into the same workflow as any other clip: edit it, caption it, or post it straight to the platform you were targeting. If you expect to reuse the clip in several places, making one clean high-resolution master and exporting smaller versions from it saves running the upscaler more than once.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is video upscaling priced?

Per second of the clip: 3.2 credits a second for 1×/2× and 5.6 for 4×, with a 30-credit minimum.

Can it fix a blurry video?

It sharpens and rebuilds detail; a very degraded source will not fully recover.

What factors are available?

1×, 2× and 4×.

Which factor should I choose?

The smallest one that reaches the size you need. 4× costs 5.6 credits a second against 3.2 for 1× and 2×, so use it only when the extra resolution earns its place.

Does the length of the clip change the price?

Yes — it is charged per second, so a longer clip costs more. Trimming to the section you need is the simplest way to spend less.

Is there a minimum charge?

Yes, 30 credits per job.

Can I upscale just part of a clip?

Trim the clip to the section you need first, then upload that. Because the price is per second, cutting on the timeline before you run it is the simplest way to lower the cost.

Does it work on any video file?

It works on ordinary video clips. The quality of the result depends on the source: a clean, higher-resolution input upscales better than a heavily compressed one.

Questions people ask about this

Does AI video upscaling actually work, or is it just hype?

It works, but within limits. A model-driven upscaler rebuilds detail rather than just stretching the picture, so a clip that is merely small or a little soft comes back sharper and larger. It is not magic: a badly degraded source with heavy compression artefacts or out-of-focus footage will look somewhat better but will not be fully restored.

How does AI video upscaling work?

It works frame by frame. Instead of stretching each pixel into a block, the model looks at the picture, infers what the missing detail should have been, and draws it back in, so edges become crisp and textures gain definition. Because it runs per frame, a longer clip means more frames to rebuild.

Can you really improve the resolution of an existing video?

Yes, up to a point. Upscaling increases the resolution of a clip that is too small, so a 480p or 720p video becomes sharper and larger. The catch is the source: starting from the best version you have is the single most effective habit, because the upscaler rebuilds detail from what is there rather than inventing what was never there.

Why does my upscaled video look harsh or barely improved?

Usually the source is the problem. A heavily degraded or heavily compressed clip will not fully recover, and a clean, higher-resolution input upscales better than a compressed one. Check that you are starting from the best available version and that the file is intact before you spend on it.

How do I enhance old low-resolution footage?

Start from the best copy you have and trim to the section you actually need, since cost is per second of the whole clip. Expect improvement rather than full restoration: old footage with damage or heavy compression will look somewhat better but will not be fully recovered. Pick the smallest factor that reaches the size you need.

Is there a good upscaler that is not too expensive for batch work?

Cost here is tied to length, not to the factor alone, so the main lever is trimming each clip to the part you need before you run it. Pick the smallest factor that solves the problem, and if 2x brings a clip to the size you need, 4x is wasted spend. Every job also starts at a minimum charge, so very short clips still cost at least that.

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