Upscaling Images and GIFs with Stability AI and Electron

Introduction

In this article, we'll explore how to enhance images and GIFs using Stability AI's image upscaling API integrated into an Electron application called Conductor. This guide will cover the process of upscaling images, converting formats, extracting frames from GIFs, and stitching them back together to create upscaled GIFs.

The Conductor Application

Conductor is an Electron app that simplifies various image processing tasks. Users can drag and drop images into the app, convert formats, extract frames from GIFs into images, and vice versa. A common limitation of GIFs is their relatively small size. For instance, popular GIFs may have dimensions around 500x376 pixels, which can lead to quality loss upon scaling.

Integrating Stability AI's Upscaling API

To overcome the size limitation of images and GIFs, we can use Stability AI’s image upscaling API, which utilizes artificial intelligence to enlarge images while maintaining quality. The API provides different endpoints, including conservative, fast, and creative modes, but for our project, we'll utilize the fast endpoint.

Steps to Implement the Upscaling Feature

Setting Up the Environment: Start by installing necessary packages like axios and form-data. These libraries will help make HTTP requests to the API.
```
npm install axios form-data
```
Creating an Upscaler Script: In your project, create a new JavaScript file (e.g., upscaler.js). Here, implement a function that handles the request to Stability AI’s API. The function will read the image, send it to the API, and save the upscaled result.
Modifying the Conductor App's Workflow:
- After extracting frames from a GIF, you can pass each image through the upscale function in a loop.
- Retain the workflow of processing images: if the user opts to upscale images, the processed input paths should refer to the newly upscaled images.
Updating the User Interface: Add a toggle option in the settings of Conductor that allows users to choose whether to upscale images before conversion. Capture the status of this toggle in the frontend and send it as part of the conversion request to the backend.
Testing the Functionality: Restart the app and check the new functionality. By dragging an image or GIF to the application, users can now select the upscale option, ensuring higher-quality outputs.

Example Code Snippet for Upscaling Function

Here’s a simplified snippet demonstrating the function that calls the Stability AI API:

const fs = require('fs');
const path = require('path');
const axios = require('axios');
const FormData = require('form-data');

async function upscaleFast(imagePath) (
    try {
        const form = new FormData();
        form.append('image', fs.createReadStream(imagePath));
        form.append('output_format', 'PNG');

        const response = await axios.post('API_ENDPOINT_HERE', form, {
            headers: form.getHeaders(),
        ));

        if (response.status === 200) (
            const outputPath = path.join('output', 'upscaled_image.png');
            fs.writeFileSync(outputPath, Buffer.from(response.data));
            return outputPath;
        )
    } catch (error) (
        console.error(error);
    )
}

Conclusion

By integrating Stability AI’s image upscaling API into the Conductor application, users can now effortlessly enlarge images and create higher-resolution GIFs without losing quality. This capability enhances the overall functionality of the app and provides users with better output for their projects.

Keywords

Stability AI
Image Upscaling
Electron App
Conductor
GIF Conversion
API Integration

FAQ

Q1: What is the role of Stability AI's API in the Conductor app?
A1: Stability AI's API is used to upscale images and GIFs, enhancing their resolution without losing quality.

Q2: How does the upscaling process work in the app?
A2: Users can drag and drop images into the app, select the upscale option, and the application processes images using the API to generate larger versions.

Q3: Can the app handle GIFs?
A3: Yes, the app can extract frames from GIFs, upscale each frame, and reassemble them into a higher resolution GIF.

Q4: What technologies are used in building the Conductor app?
A4: The Conductor app is built using Electron, JavaScript, and integrates with the Stability AI API for image processing features.