# Upscale Studio User Guide

Upscale Studio enhances image resolution using AI-powered upscaling. This guide covers all upscaling modes and how to achieve the best results.

## Overview

Upscale Studio uses Stability AI's advanced upscaling technology to increase image resolution while maintaining or enhancing quality. Whether you need quick 4x upscaling or professional 4K enhancement, Upscale Studio provides the right tools.

### Key Features
- **Fast 4x Upscaling**: Quick upscale in ~1 second
- **Conservative 4K**: Preserve original style and details
- **Creative 4K**: Enhance with artistic improvements
- **Quality Presets**: Web, print, and social media optimizations
- **Side-by-Side Comparison**: View original and upscaled versions
- **Prompt Support**: Guide upscaling with prompts (conservative/creative modes)

## Getting Started

### Accessing Upscale Studio

1. Navigate to **Image Studio** from the main dashboard
2. Click on **Upscale Studio** or go directly to `/image-upscale`
3. Upload your image to begin

### Basic Workflow

1. **Upload Image**: Select the image you want to upscale
2. **Choose Mode**: Select Fast, Conservative, or Creative
3. **Set Preset** (optional): Choose quality preset
4. **Add Prompt** (optional): Guide the upscaling process
5. **Upscale**: Click "Upscale Image" to process
6. **Compare**: View side-by-side comparison with zoom
7. **Download**: Save your upscaled image

## Upscaling Modes

### Fast (4x Upscale)

**Speed**: ~1 second  
**Cost**: 2 credits  
**Quality**: 4x resolution increase

**When to Use**:
- Quick previews
- Web display
- Social media content
- When speed is priority

**Characteristics**:
- Fastest processing
- Minimal changes to original
- Good for general use
- Cost-effective

**Best For**:
- Social media images
- Web graphics
- Quick iterations
- Low-resolution source images

### Conservative (4K Upscale)

**Speed**: 10-30 seconds  
**Cost**: 6 credits  
**Quality**: 4K resolution, preserves original style

**When to Use**:
- Professional printing
- High-quality display
- Preserving original style
- When accuracy is critical

**Characteristics**:
- Preserves original details
- Maintains style consistency
- High fidelity
- Professional quality

**Prompt Support**:
- Optional prompt to guide upscaling
- Example: "High fidelity upscale preserving original details"
- Helps maintain specific characteristics

**Best For**:
- Product photography
- Professional prints
- High-quality displays
- Archival purposes

### Creative (4K Upscale)

**Speed**: 10-30 seconds  
**Cost**: 6 credits  
**Quality**: 4K resolution with artistic enhancements

**When to Use**:
- Artistic enhancement
- Style improvement
- Creative projects
- When you want improvements

**Characteristics**:
- Enhances artistic details
- Improves style
- Adds refinements
- Creative interpretation

**Prompt Support**:
- Recommended prompt for best results
- Example: "Creative upscale with enhanced artistic details"
- Guides the enhancement process

**Best For**:
- Artistic images
- Creative projects
- Style enhancement
- Visual improvements

## Quality Presets

Quality presets help optimize upscaling for specific use cases:

### Web (2048px)
- **Target**: Web display
- **Use Case**: Website images, online galleries
- **Balance**: Quality and file size

### Print (3072px)
- **Target**: Professional printing
- **Use Case**: High-resolution prints, publications
- **Balance**: Maximum quality

### Social (1080px)
- **Target**: Social media platforms
- **Use Case**: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn posts
- **Balance**: Platform optimization

## Using Prompts

Prompts help guide the upscaling process in Conservative and Creative modes:

### Conservative Mode Prompts

**Purpose**: Preserve specific characteristics

**Examples**:
- "High fidelity upscale preserving original details"
- "Maintain original colors and style"
- "Preserve sharp edges and fine details"
- "Keep original lighting and contrast"

### Creative Mode Prompts

**Purpose**: Enhance and improve the image

**Examples**:
- "Creative upscale with enhanced artistic details"
- "Add more detail and depth"
- "Enhance colors and vibrancy"
- "Improve texture and sharpness"

### Prompt Tips

1. **Be Specific**: Describe what to preserve or enhance
2. **Match Mode**: Conservative = preserve, Creative = enhance
3. **Consider Style**: Reference the original style
4. **Test Iteratively**: Refine prompts based on results

## Comparison Viewer

The side-by-side comparison viewer helps you evaluate upscaling results:

### Features

- **Side-by-Side Display**: Original and upscaled images
- **Synchronized Zoom**: Zoom both images together
- **Zoom Controls**: Adjust zoom level (1x to 5x)
- **Metadata Display**: View resolution and file size

### Using the Viewer

1. **Compare**: View original and upscaled side-by-side
2. **Zoom In**: Use zoom controls to inspect details
3. **Check Quality**: Evaluate sharpness and detail preservation
4. **Download**: Save if satisfied, or try different settings

## Best Practices

### For Web Images

1. **Use Fast Mode**: Quick and cost-effective
2. **Web Preset**: Optimize for web display
3. **Check File Size**: Ensure reasonable file sizes
4. **Test Display**: Verify on target devices

### For Print Materials

1. **Use Conservative Mode**: Preserve original quality
2. **Print Preset**: Maximum resolution
3. **Add Prompt**: Guide detail preservation
4. **Check Resolution**: Verify meets print requirements

### For Social Media

1. **Use Fast or Conservative**: Based on quality needs
2. **Social Preset**: Platform-optimized sizing
3. **Consider Speed**: Fast mode for quick posts
4. **Maintain Quality**: Ensure good visual quality

### For Product Photography

1. **Use Conservative Mode**: Preserve product details
2. **Add Prompt**: Emphasize detail preservation
3. **High Resolution**: Use print preset if needed
4. **Compare Carefully**: Verify product accuracy

### For Artistic Images

1. **Use Creative Mode**: Enhance artistic elements
2. **Add Prompt**: Guide artistic enhancement
3. **Experiment**: Try different prompts
4. **Compare Results**: Evaluate enhancements

## Troubleshooting

### Common Issues

**Low Quality Results**:
- Try Conservative mode instead of Fast
- Add a prompt to guide upscaling
- Check source image quality
- Use Print preset for maximum quality

**Artifacts or Distortions**:
- Use Conservative mode
- Add prompt to preserve details
- Check source image for issues
- Try different mode

**Slow Processing**:
- Fast mode is fastest (~1 second)
- Conservative/Creative take 10-30 seconds
- Large images take longer
- Check internet connection

**File Size Too Large**:
- Use Web preset for smaller files
- Consider Fast mode for web use
- Compress after upscaling if needed

### Getting Help

- Check mode-specific tips above
- Review the [Workflow Guide](workflow-guide.md) for common workflows
- See [Implementation Overview](implementation-overview.md) for technical details

## Cost Considerations

### Credit Costs

- **Fast Mode**: 2 credits
- **Conservative Mode**: 6 credits
- **Creative Mode**: 6 credits

### Cost Optimization

1. **Use Fast for Iterations**: Test with Fast mode first
2. **Choose Appropriate Mode**: Don't use Creative if Conservative is sufficient
3. **Batch Processing**: Upscale multiple images efficiently
4. **Check Before Upscaling**: Ensure source image is worth upscaling

## Next Steps

After upscaling images in Upscale Studio:

1. **Edit**: Use [Edit Studio](edit-studio.md) to refine upscaled images
2. **Optimize**: Use [Social Optimizer](social-optimizer.md) for platform-specific exports
3. **Organize**: Save to [Asset Library](asset-library.md) for easy access
4. **Create More**: Use [Create Studio](create-studio.md) to generate new images

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*For technical details, see the [Implementation Overview](implementation-overview.md). For API usage, see the [API Reference](api-reference.md).*

