How to Restore Low-Resolution Photos: A Guide to Software and Techniques
Do you have a cherished old photo that looks pixelated, or an image downloaded from the internet that is too small to print?
A few years ago, "enhancing" a pixelated photo was mostly a trope seen in science fiction movies or crime dramas (the famous "Zoom and Enhance" scene). However, today, thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced Image Processing techniques, recovering low-resolution photos and increasing their size without losing quality is a reality.
In this guide, we explore the technical details of how to fix blurry, small images and the best tools available to do it.
The Technical Difference: Resize vs. AI Upscale
Before attempting to fix a photo, it is important to understand the technology behind it.
Standard Resizing: This is the classic method. The computer copies existing pixels to fill in the gaps. The result is usually blurry and soft. It increases the file size but does not add detail.
AI Upscaling: This is the modern method. The software uses a database of millions of images as a reference to "predict" and redraw the missing pixels in your photo. This method not only increases the size but also reconstructs details like eyelashes, brick textures, or hair.
Here are 3 effective ways to recover low-resolution photos:
1. The Professional Solution: Adobe Photoshop Super Resolution
If you already use Adobe Photoshop, you likely do not need any extra software. Adobe recently introduced a feature called "Super Resolution" that is a game-changer.
How to Use It:
Open your photo in Photoshop (preferably via Camera Raw).
Right-click on the image and select "Enhance".
Check the "Super Resolution" box.
This process quadruples the resolution of your image (e.g., 10MP becomes 40MP) while using AI to maintain sharp edges.
Alternative Photoshop Method:
Go to
Image > Image Size.Under the "Resample" options, select "Preserve Details 2.0". This algorithm is significantly better than the old "Bicubic" method for upscaling.
2. Dedicated AI Software like Topaz Photo AI
The best tools for this job are often standalone software designed specifically for upscaling. Programs like Topaz Photo AI (formerly Gigapixel) are considered the industry standard. They utilize deep learning algorithms to analyze the image content.
Why Is It Better? These programs "understand" the photo. When upscaling a face, the software knows how skin texture should look. When upscaling a building, it knows how to maintain straight lines.
Pros: Incredibly sharp results.
Cons: These are usually paid software and require a computer with a good graphics card.
3. Free Online Tools and Browser Solutions
If you do not want to install software or need to fix a photo on your phone, browser-based AI tools are a lifesaver. These tools process the image on cloud servers.
Popular Options:
Waifu2x: Originally designed for upscaling anime and illustrations, this tool is surprisingly effective on photographs as well. It is particularly good at reducing "noise" in an image.
Online AI Upscalers: There are many free web tools available that can upscale an image by 2x or 4x while cleaning up JPEG artifacts.
Manual Recovery Tactics: What If Software Fails?
If AI doesn't give you the result you want, or if the photo is damaged beyond repair, you can use "artistic" tricks to make the photo look better:
Convert to Black and White: Low-resolution photos often have "color noise" (random red and green pixels). Converting the photo to black and white hides these imperfections and gives the image a classic, nostalgic look.
Add Film Grain: It sounds counterintuitive, but adding a little bit of "noise" or "grain" to a pixelated photo can trick the eye. It stops the image from looking like "smooth plastic" and adds a texture that makes the blurriness feel intentional and artistic.