Gigapixel vs Topaz Photo AI - Which is the Best for Upscaling

Introduction

Hello everyone, my name is Richard from Silent Peak, and welcome to this detailed comparison of two powerful image upscalers: Topaz Photo AI 3 and Gigapixel 7. After testing numerous upscaling options, I’ve found that these two consistently outperform their competitors, such as Adobe Lightroom Super Resolution, ON1 Resize AI, and Luminar Neo's Upscale AI.

If you're interested in trying each of these upscalers yourself, visit Silent Peak Photo for my comprehensive article on the best upscalers, featuring trial links and sample outputs.

Overview of Gigapixel 7

Gigapixel 7 is solely focused on image upscaling. Priced at $ 99, it differs from Topaz Photo AI, which retails for $ 199. The functionalities of Gigapixel include loading images in JPEG or RAW formats, cropping, and choosing the desired upscaling multiplier or a specific pixel dimension.

Gigapixel also features different AI upscaling models. If left in automatic mode, it assesses the image and selects the optimal model. Users can also manually choose from various options, including those specifically beneficial for low-resolution images. The software provides a face recovery option to enable gentle processing for portraits.

Furthermore, users can compare their processed images with the originals side-by-side or using a slider view. Once satisfied with the results, exporting options are available in all standard formats.

Overview of Topaz Photo AI

Topaz Photo AI, while more expensive, offers additional features beyond just upscaling. It incorporates noise reduction and sharpening into its interface, effectively combining Gigapixel's upscaling with Topaz Sharpen AI and DeNoise AI.

In addition to upscaling, Topaz Photo AI includes functions for cropping images, adjusting exposure, and employing an erase brush for removing unwanted elements.

Comparative Testing for Upscaling

Methodology

To compare the two upscalers, I began with a full-size reference image, downscaled it to one-quarter of its original size, and then used both Gigapixel and Topaz Photo AI to upscale it back to 400%. This allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of each upscaler relative to the original reference image.

Results

Seal Image: Both upscalers produced results superior to the original reference image.
Portrait Test: Results from both Gigapixel and Topaz Photo AI were very similar, showcasing exceptional performance for portraits.
Lighthouse Image: This image presented a significant challenge for both upscalers, but they both came closer to matching the original reference than any other upscalers tested.

Overall, when it comes to pure upscaling, Gigapixel and Topaz Photo AI performed similarly well. If your focus is mainly on upscaling, Gigapixel seems to be the more cost-effective choice.

Unique Features of Topaz Photo AI

However, Topaz Photo AI surpasses Gigapixel when it comes to dealing with challenging scenarios. Here’s how:

Noisy Images: When processing a noisy image, Topaz Photo AI excelled at reducing noise and restoring detail upon upscaling, achieving clearly superior results compared to Gigapixel, which struggled to balance noise reduction with image clarity.
Motion Blur Correction: In cases of motion blur, Topaz Photo AI effectively repaired the blur before performing the upscale. Gigapixel, on the other hand, was incapable of resolving the blur, indicating that if you frequently deal with lower-quality images, Topaz Photo AI is the advantageous choice.

Conclusion

In summary, while both Topaz Photo AI and Gigapixel 7 are excellent upscalers, Topaz Photo AI is ultimately the superior choice for those looking to upscale images in a variety of conditions, including noisy or slightly blurred images.

If your needs are limited to high-quality images, Gigapixel’s functionality at a lower price makes it a fair option. However, for a comprehensive experience that encompasses deblurring tools, noise reduction, and advanced erasing capabilities, Topaz Photo AI is unmatched.

For free trials of both products, check the links in the description below, and if you wish to evaluate these upscalers against others, visit Silent Peak Photo.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you found this comparison informative!

Keyword

Gigapixel
Topaz Photo AI
Upscaling
Noise Reduction
Portrait Enhancement
Motion Blur Correction
Image Restoration

FAQ

What is the main difference between Gigapixel and Topaz Photo AI? Gigapixel is solely an upscaling tool with straightforward functionalities, while Topaz Photo AI offers additional features like noise reduction and sharpening.

Which is more affordable? Gigapixel is priced at $ 99, making it a cheaper option compared to Topaz Photo AI, which costs $ 199.

Can Topaz Photo AI handle noisy images better than Gigapixel? Yes, Topaz Photo AI excels at reducing noise while upscaling, providing better results on noisy images than Gigapixel.

Is Gigapixel as good as Topaz Photo AI for upscaling portraits? Both produce similar quality for portraits, making either a good choice for this type of image.

Where can I test these software options? You can find free trials linked in the description or on Silent Peak Photo's website.