This Easy Install AI Upscaler Blew Me Away! Competes with Magnific & Krea!

MattVidPro AI
2 Jan 202421:31

TLDRThis video discusses the resurgence of AI upscaling, focusing on the capabilities and limitations of magnific AI, an upscaler that can enhance image details but is costly. The host introduces 'upscale', a free, open-source alternative that runs locally and offers impressive results, especially for vector and digital art. The comparison between different upscaling tools highlights 'upscale's efficiency and potential, despite some shortcomings with certain types of photography. The video concludes with a look at 'upscale's unique features, emphasizing its future-proof nature and customizability.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 AI upscaling is experiencing a resurgence due to new techniques and tools that have brought it back into the mainstream.
  • 🚀 Magnific AI has gained popularity as an AI upscaler, offering unique features like correcting faces and adding details to images.
  • 💸 Magnific AI is criticized for its high pricing, with a minimum of $40 per month for a limited number of upscales.
  • 🆓 Introducing 'Upscale', a free and open-source AI upscaler that runs locally on your own machine, offering a cost-effective alternative.
  • 🛠️ Upscale supports various operating systems including Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, and is very easy to install.
  • 🔍 Upscale requires a GPU for optimal performance, and users can check their system's compatibility through simple steps.
  • 🎨 The interface of Upscale is user-friendly, allowing users to select images, choose models, and upscale with ease.
  • 🔧 Upscale offers customization options, such as different models for various types of images and themes for the interface.
  • 📈 Upscale can handle a range of images, from vector graphics to photographs, with varying degrees of success depending on the original image quality.
  • 🔮 The script also discusses the limitations of local upscalers compared to services like Magnific AI, especially in terms of 'magic upscaling' or reimagining images.
  • 🌐 The presenter shares predictions for AI advancements in 2024, including the anticipation of new models like GPT 5 and continued growth in AI video.

Q & A

  • What are the AI Focus predictions for 2024 mentioned in the video?

    -The predictions for 2024 include the release of a new stable diffusion model, GPT 5, and a continuation of the explosion of AI video that was seen in 2023.

  • What is the main topic discussed in the video?

    -The main topic discussed is AI upscaling, specifically focusing on a tool called Magnific AI and its alternatives.

  • Why has AI upscaling seen a resurgence recently?

    -AI upscaling has seen a resurgence due to new tricks of the trade that have brought it back into the mainstream, with a focus on tools like Magnific AI.

  • What does the term 'upscaling' refer to in the context of AI?

    -In the context of AI, 'upscaling' refers to the process of taking an image, typically generated with AI, and applying upscaling to it to allow for more detail when zooming in.

  • How does Magnific AI differ from traditional upscaling methods?

    -Magnific AI differs by not only upscaling the image to a higher resolution and bringing out more detail but also creatively hallucinating more details, which is a feature not commonly seen in traditional upscaling methods.

  • What is the main issue with Magnific AI as discussed in the video?

    -The main issue with Magnific AI is its high cost, which is not in line with the value it provides. It is considered overpriced compared to other AI image generation sites.

  • What alternative to Magnific AI is mentioned in the video?

    -Krea AI is mentioned as an alternative to Magnific AI. It offers a completely free upscaler that is similar to Magnific AI.

  • What is the 'Smoking Gun' of the video, and how does it solve the problems with Magnific AI?

    -The 'Smoking Gun' is an AI upscaler called 'Upscale'. It solves the problems with Magnific AI by being completely free, open-source, running locally on the user's machine, and being future-proof.

  • What are the system requirements for running the 'Upscale' AI upscaler?

    -To run the 'Upscale' AI upscaler, a GPU (Vulkan compatible) is required. It can be checked by looking at the GPU settings in the task manager on Windows or checking for Nvidia or AMD in the system.

  • How does the 'Upscale' AI upscaler compare to the upscaling provided by mid Journey and Magnific AI?

    -The 'Upscale' AI upscaler provides a higher resolution than mid Journey's built-in upscaling and is more cost-effective than Magnific AI. It also retains more of the original image's details and film grain compared to Magnific AI.

  • What unique features does the 'Upscale' AI upscaler offer that make it future-proof?

    -The 'Upscale' AI upscaler offers the ability to add custom models to a folder, allowing users to easily integrate new open-source upscalers into the system as they become available, making it future-proof.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 AI Predictions and Upscaling Resurgence

The speaker kicks off the video by asking viewers for their AI focus predictions for 2024, sharing personal bets on a new stable diffusion model, GPT 5, and a continued boom in AI video. The main topic, AI upscaling, is introduced, highlighting its resurgence due to new techniques. Magnific AI, an upscaler that corrects and enhances image details, is discussed, along with its steep pricing plans which are criticized as overpriced compared to other AI image generation sites.

05:02

🆓 Introducing Free and Local AI Upscaling

The speaker presents 'upscale', a free, open-source AI upscaler that runs locally on various operating systems including Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. It is positioned as a user-friendly and hassle-free alternative to Magnific AI, with a simple installation process and an intuitive interface. The importance of having a GPU for running upscale is mentioned, and a method to check for GPU compatibility is provided. The video also outlines the basic steps to upscale an image using the software.

10:03

🎨 Exploring Upscale's Features and Models

The speaker delves into the features of the upscale application, discussing the batch upscale option, the selection of images and models, and the output folder for results. Six different models are available for various upscaling needs, with 'ultramix balanced' being the speaker's preferred choice. The process of creating an image with mid-journey V6 and upscaling it using the software is demonstrated, showcasing the impressive results that can be achieved with this free tool.

15:05

📊 Comparing Upscaling Results and Performance

A detailed comparison of upscaling results is presented, featuring the original mid-journey image, the mid-journey upscale, and the upscale output. The speaker evaluates the performance of different models within the upscale app, noting their effectiveness on details like fur, whiskers, and background elements. The upscale's performance is also compared to that of magnific AI and Korea AI, with observations on resolution, sharpness, and realism.

20:05

🌟 Showcasing Unique Features and Future Proofing

The speaker highlights unique features of the upscale app, such as customizable themes, image format options, and the ability to add custom models. The app's future-proof nature is emphasized, with the potential to incorporate new open-source upscalers as they become available. The video concludes with a discussion on where the upscaler excels, particularly with vector and digital art, and where it may fall short, such as in reimagining old video games or images.

🎉 Wrapping Up and Looking Forward to AI Advancements

In the concluding part of the video, the speaker expresses hope for a 2024 filled with beneficial AI advancements. They encourage viewers to subscribe, like the video, and join the community on Discord and Twitter to stay updated on the latest in AI. The speaker also hints at future content, including a potential video on reimagining video game scenes using AI.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI Upscaling

AI Upscaling refers to the process of using artificial intelligence to increase the resolution of an image or video. In the context of the video, it is the main theme as the host discusses various tools and techniques for enhancing the quality of AI-generated images. The host demonstrates how AI upscaling can add more detail to images, making them appear larger and more detailed.

💡Magnific AI

Magnific AI is an AI-powered image upscaling service mentioned in the video. It is highlighted for its ability to not only increase the resolution of images but also to creatively 'hallucinate' additional details. However, the host criticizes its pricing, stating it to be expensive compared to other available options.

💡GPT

GPT, which stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, is a type of AI model used for natural language processing. The host predicts the release of a new stable diffusion model and GPT 5 as part of AI focus predictions for 2024, indicating the anticipated advancements in AI technology.

💡Stable Diffusion Model

A Stable Diffusion Model is a term used in AI to describe a model that has been trained to generate images that are coherent and stable in terms of their visual content. The host expresses anticipation for a new stable diffusion model in 2024, suggesting it will be a significant development in the field of AI image generation.

💡AI Video Explosion

The term 'AI Video Explosion' refers to the rapid growth and increased popularity of AI-generated videos. The host mentions the continuation of this trend as a prediction for 2024, indicating that AI-generated content, particularly videos, will become even more prevalent.

💡Krea AI

Krea AI is another AI upscaling tool mentioned in the video. It is presented as a free alternative to Magnific AI, which allows users to upscale images without incurring costs. The host discusses Krea AI's upscaling capabilities and compares its results to those of Magnific AI.

💡GPU

A GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit, is a type of computer hardware that is essential for running the discussed AI upscaling software. The video explains that a Vulcan-compatible GPU is required to run the upscaler locally on one's machine, which is a key point for users to consider when choosing to use the free upscaling tool.

💡Open-Source

Open-source refers to software whose source code is available to the public, allowing anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute it. The host introduces an open-source AI upscaler that can be run locally, emphasizing its free availability and potential for future updates through additional open-source models.

💡Midjourney

Midjourney is an AI image generation model mentioned in the video. The host uses it to create an example image of an orange tabby cat who is a wizard, which is then upscaled using various methods to demonstrate the capabilities and differences of the upscaling tools discussed.

💡Batch Upscale

Batch Upscale is a feature of the discussed AI upscaling tool that allows users to upscale multiple images in a folder simultaneously. This feature is highlighted as a time-saving option for users looking to upscale a large number of images at once.

💡High Fidelity

High Fidelity in the context of the video refers to the accuracy and quality of the upscaled image in representing the original. The host discusses the trade-offs between free alternatives and paid services like Magnific AI in terms of maintaining high fidelity during the upscaling process.

Highlights

AI upscaling has been having a resurgence lately, with a focus on magnific AI, which corrects and enhances image details.

Upscaling involves making an image larger with more pixels, allowing for more detail upon zooming in.

Magnific AI can creatively hallucinate more details into an image, but has a learning curve and high pricing.

Krea AI offers a free upscaler similar to magnific AI, although with potential fidelity and waiting time issues.

Upscale is a free, open-source AI upscaler that runs locally on your machine, offering fast and cost-effective upscaling.

Upscale supports various operating systems including Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, with a simple installation process.

A GPU is required to run the Upscale application, and it's compatible with Vulkan.

Upscale offers a simple interface with batch upscaling capabilities and various model options.

Upscale can handle high-resolution images from AI generators like Mid Journey Dolly 3 efficiently.

Different models within Upscale cater to various types of images, including General photo and Digital art.

Upscale provides a higher resolution upscale than magnific AI out of the box.

Upscale retains realistic photo grain and background blurriness, unlike some other upscalers.

Mid Journey's own upscaling is less effective than the free local running Upscale.

Comparing Upscale to magnific AI shows that Upscale can be just as effective, if not better, without the cost.

Upscale has unique features like customizable themes and the ability to add custom models for future scalability.

Upscale performs exceptionally well with vector and comic book art, providing near-perfect results.

For photography, the effectiveness of Upscale depends on the original image's detail and quality.

Upscale is not designed for reimagining old video games or images into real-life scenarios, which requires different AI capabilities.