How To Upscale Videos In DaVinci Resolve - Step By Step Guide

DaVinci Resolve Upscale Tutorial Using 'Super Scale'

I recently wrote a review article on Topaz Enhance AI, but what if you don't have the budget for expensive third-party upscaling tools? Enter the Super Scale feature in DaVinci Resolve, a built-in solution that offers a sophisticated approach to video upscaling. The importance of video resolution in today's digital age cannot be overstated.

With the Super Scale feature, not only can you enhance the resolution of your videos, but you can also achieve a level of detail and sharpness that rivals high-end cameras. This article will walk you through the intricacies of the Super Scale feature, its significance, and a step-by-step procedure to harness its capabilities effectively. Whether you're looking to upscale for better video quality or to match different resolution footages, understanding and mastering this feature can elevate your video editing skills to new heights.

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What Is Super Scale In Davinci?

Super Scale is DaVinci Resolve's built-in AI upscaler. Unlike regular upscaling, which might simply double the pixels, Super Scale employs a sophisticated algorithm and AI power to enhance video detail while expanding. This means you get a sharper, clearer image, even when you're increasing the video's resolution significantly.

Examples:

• If you have a 1080p video and you want it to match the quality of a 4K video, Super Scale can upscale it to that resolution, making it appear as if it was originally shot in 4K.
• The feature offers different magnitudes of upscaling: 2x (for 4K), 3x (for 6K), and 4x (for 8K).

Comparison to After Effects Features

Adobe After Effects also has upscaling features, most notably the "Detail-preserving Upscale" effect. Here's a comparison:

• Method: While both tools aim to upscale footage, Super Scale in DaVinci uses a combination of advanced algorithms and AI. In contrast, After Effects' Detail-preserving Upscale uses edge-preserving algorithms.
• Quality: Both tools strive to upscale without losing detail, but Super Scale's AI-driven approach often results in sharper and clearer upscaled footage, especially when dealing with significant resolution jumps.
• Ease of Use: Super Scale is integrated into DaVinci's editing workflow, making it straightforward for users familiar with the software. After Effects, being a compositing tool, might require a slightly more complex workflow for upscaling.

Super Scale in TV, Movies, and High Authority Sources

While specific titles and productions that have used Super Scale might not be publicly disclosed, it's known that DaVinci Resolve itself has been used in the post-production of many Hollywood films and TV shows. Given the need for various resolutions in the industry (from cinema screens to home TVs), tools like Super Scale are invaluable. They allow editors to use footage shot in lower resolutions and upscale them for larger screens without a noticeable loss in quality, similar to AI-powered platforms.

For instance, older movies or TV shows shot in non-4K resolutions might be upscaled using tools like Super Scale for re-release in 4K Blu-ray or streaming in 4K on platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime.

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Why Upscale Videos?

You might wonder, why upscale videos in the first place? Well, when you upscale a 1080p video to 4K, for instance, you're not just stretching the video. In the realm of advanced video editing, an intricate algorithm transforms your 1080p video into genuine 4K resolution, resulting in better pixels and a sharper quality. This is especially useful for those who might not have high-quality cameras that can shoot in 4K but are aiming for that level of clarity. In a nutshell, the Super Scale feature in DaVinci Resolve uses AI to elevate your video's resolution, making it look as if it was shot with a more advanced camera.

A Quick Analogy

Think of upscaling like zooming into a digital photograph. If you zoom in using basic methods, the image becomes pixelated. But with advanced tools, like Super Scale, it's as if you're using a magnifying glass that can magically enhance the details as you zoom in, making everything clearer.

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Accessing the Super Scale Feature

Now that you understand the significance of the Super Scale feature, let's delve into how to access and use it:

1. Locate the Project Settings: On the lower right corner of the DaVinci Resolve interface, you'll find a gear icon. Click on it to open the project settings.
2. Adjust the Timeline Resolution: In the project settings, you'll need to change your timeline resolution to a higher value than your desired output. For instance, if you're aiming for a 1440p final video, set it to a 4K timeline. This approach, in my opinion, often yields better image quality.
3. Image Scaling Settings: Within the project settings, navigate to the 'Image Scaling' option. Here, turn off 'Input Scaling' and disable 'Center Crop'. We want the original video size to remain unchanged at this stage.
4. Apply Super Scale: Return to your timeline, right-click on the video clip you wish to upscale, and select 'Clip Attributes'. Within this menu, you'll find the 'Super Scale' option. Choose the extent of upscaling you desire (e.g., 2x for 4K when working with 1080p footage).

Using Super Scale

• In the Super Scale section, you'll see options for upscaling: 2x, 3x, and 4x. Choose the one that suits your needs. For instance, to upscale 1080p footage to 4K, you'd choose 2x.
• You'll also see options for 'Sharpness' and 'Noise Reduction'. Depending on your clip, you might need to adjust these. The default 'Medium' setting usually works well for most clips.

Example: For my beach scene, I'm choosing 2x upscaling. I'll leave the sharpness and noise reduction at their default settings for now.

After applying Super Scale, play back your clip in the timeline. You should notice a significant improvement in clarity and detail.

Example: As I play back my upscaled beach scene, I'm amazed. The details of the waves, the grains of sand, and even distant people look clearer and more defined. It's almost as if I shot it in 4K!

If you notice any noise artifacts after upscaling, you can further refine the clip's quality:

• Go to the color tab.
• Apply additional noise reduction to the final node. This will help smooth out any graininess introduced by the upscaling process.

Example: My beach scene looks great, but there's a slight graininess in the shadows. I'll apply a bit of noise reduction in the color tab to smooth this out.

Once you're satisfied with the results, it's time to export your video. Go to the 'Deliver' tab, choose your desired export settings, and render your video.

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Topaz Video Enhance AI Vs Super Scale

A lot of people are having trouble deciding between Topaz' AI enhancement software and Super Scale (which you can try for free here). As someone who has used both, I can confirm that Topaz is better than Super Scale by far. Probably explains why it costs so much more as well - it's a specialized service unlike a 'jack of all trades' like DaVinci.

Effectiveness

Topaz Video Enhance AI is designed specifically for video upscaling and enhancement. Its algorithms are tailored to extract the most detail from videos, even from low-quality sources. Super Scale, on the other hand, is just one of the many features within DaVinci Resolve. While it does a commendable job, it might not always match the precision and effectiveness of a dedicated tool like Topaz.

Example: I once tried upscaling an old home video from the 90s. Using Super Scale, I got a decent result, but with Topaz, the details were sharper, and the colors seemed more vibrant.

Features

‍Topaz Video Enhance AI offers a range of AI models to choose from, each optimized for different types of content and upscaling needs. This flexibility allows users to pick the best model for their specific video. Super Scale, while powerful, doesn't offer the same level of customization.

Example: When upscaling a cartoon animation, I found that Topaz had a specific AI model that preserved the smooth lines and vibrant colors, whereas Super Scale treated it like any other video.

Speed

‍DaVinci Resolve's Super Scale is integrated into the software, which can leverage the power of your computer's GPU for faster processing (just make sure your processing mode is compatible). Topaz Video Enhance AI, being a standalone software, can sometimes be slower, especially when processing long videos. However, the wait is often justified by the quality of the output.

Example: I upscaled a 2-hour movie. Super Scale finished in about an hour, while Topaz took almost two. But the difference in clarity and detail was evident in Topaz's output.

Quality

‍Both tools can produce high-quality results, but Topaz Video Enhance AI often has the edge in terms of sheer detail and clarity. Its dedicated AI models can extract and enhance details that might be overlooked by more generalized tools like Super Scale.

Example: In a nature documentary clip I upscaled, the textures of animal fur and the ripples in water were more pronounced and realistic in the version processed by Topaz.