Sharpen & UPSCALE Videos to 4k Using A.I | Topaz Video Enhance vs Pixop

4K resolution has dominated our media life in the past couple of years. However, there's still a lot of lower resolution content out there like old movies, commercials, and much more. Thanks to modern-day solutions, it's now possible to upscale these videos to a higher resolution and improve their overall quality. Most of these solutions require a powerful computer and are not available for free.

One of the most efficient upscaling tools I've used in several videos on my channel is Video Enhance AI from Topaz Labs. Such applications do provide great results but usually cost several hundred dollars and require powerful machines to run fast. In this article, I will be checking an alternative AI-powered tool that’s much more affordable – Pixop.

About Pixop

Pixop is another upscaling solution that, unlike other popular options, doesn't require a subscription. You can pay only for what you use. Pixop is browser-based, and videos are processed on the cloud, so you don't need powerful hardware.

Using Pixop

To demonstrate how Pixop works, I used it to upscale a short clip from 720p to 4K resolution. Here’s how you can do it step-by-step:

Access Pixop:
- You can access Pixop from your browser. I will drop a direct link to the website in the description below.
Log in & Create a New Project:
- Once you log into Pixop, you will notice that the UI is straightforward and easy to use. Go ahead and create a new project. You can rename it before starting.
Import Video:
- Open the project and now you can import one or more videos since Pixop supports batch processing. I only need this video here, so I'm going to select that.
Process Video:
- Go to the 'Process' menu. This is where you can adjust all the enhancement settings. You can refer to the overall score of your footage here to understand what needs to be improved.
Choose Preset:
- The most important part of this processing window is the factory presets listed on the left side. If you want to upscale to 4K and your footage is low in quality, you can use "Enhanced Ultra HD".
- In my case, I used "HQ Enhanced UHD" because the quality of my footage wasn't that bad, and I wanted to upscale it to 4K.
Adjust Settings:
- In the 'Format' tab, you can change the output file name and adjust more output settings.
- In the 'Filters' tab, you can choose from different scalers. If you just want to upscale a high-quality video, then go with the Pixop Super Resolution filter.
Generate Preview or Process:
- Once you’re done with the settings, you have the option to generate a preview of the upscaled video for a small fee or start processing the entire video.
- After processing, Pixop displays a summary with the processing fee and estimated rendering time. To start processing, simply hit confirm and wait for the results.

Comparison & Results

After the video has finished processing, you can compare the original clip and the upscaled version side by side directly in your browser. Here are some highlights:

Processing Info:
- Pixop displays detailed properties about the video, such as codec, bitrate, and other features.
Comparison Feature:
- You can compare individual frames or switch to video mode to see both versions side by side. Pixop manages to deliver high-quality results that are sharper and more detailed.

**Pixop vs. Video Enhance AI**

When I ran the same clip through Video Enhance AI for comparison, I found that:

Image Quality:
- There is pretty much no difference between both outputs. In some scenarios, Pixop delivered even sharper and more natural results.
Processing Time:
- The clip took around 4 minutes to process on Pixop and around 3 minutes on Video Enhance AI. Note: I'm using decent hardware for these tasks.

Having an affordable upscaling solution like Pixop that delivers high-quality results makes it a perfect option as a one-time solution. Pixop processes everything on the cloud, eliminating the need for powerful computers.

Conclusion

Pixop is an excellent cloud-based and affordable solution for upscaling videos. It doesn’t require any downloads or complicated setups, making it easy for individuals. Companies can access Pixop’s REST API for batch processing and video restoration capabilities within their workflow and products. The developers are continuously adding new features and filters to improve the software further.

Keyword

4K resolution
upscale videos
Video Enhance AI
Topaz Labs
Pixop
cloud-based
affordable
AI-powered tool
batch processing
video restoration

FAQ

Q1: What is Pixop? A1: Pixop is a browser-based, AI-powered tool for upscaling lower resolution videos to higher resolutions, processed on the cloud without the need for powerful hardware.

Q2: How does Pixop compare to Video Enhance AI in terms of image quality? A2: Generally speaking, there is no significant difference between the outputs of Pixop and Video Enhance AI. In some scenarios, Pixop delivers even sharper and more natural results.

Q3: How long does it take to process a video on Pixop? A3: Processing times can vary. In my tests, a short clip took around 4 minutes to process on Pixop, which is quite close to the 3 minutes taken by Video Enhance AI on decent hardware.

Q4: Does Pixop require a powerful computer? A4: No, Pixop processes videos on the cloud, so you don’t need powerful hardware, making it accessible to users without high-end computers.

Q5: Is Pixop a subscription-based service? A5: No, Pixop doesn’t require a subscription. You only pay for what you use.