---
title: "How to upscale low resolution photos with AI SuperScale in DaVinci Resolve"
author: "Cutsio Team"
date: "2026-05-15"
lastmod: "2026-05-15"
category: "DaVinci Resolve Advanced Workflows"
excerpt: "DaVinci Resolve AI SuperScale uses the Neural Engine to upscale low resolution still images up to 4x their original size. This guide covers standard upscaling, enhanced mode for compression artifact removal, and optimal settings for different image types."
tags: ["DaVinci Resolve","AI SuperScale","Image Upscaling","Super Resolution","AI Neural Engine","Photo Enhancement"]
---

## How do you upscale low resolution photos with AI SuperScale in DaVinci Resolve?

AI SuperScale uses the DaVinci Neural Engine to upscale low resolution still images with exceptional quality. Open a photo in the Color page or Photo page, right-click the clip in the node editor, select "Change Clip Duration" and then "Super Scale." Choose the scaling factor — 2x, 3x, or 4x — and select the processing mode. The AI analyzes the image and generates a higher-resolution version while preserving detail and texture.

![AI SuperScale](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/photo/powerful/ai@2x.jpg?_v=1775273297)

Standard Super Scale mode is optimized for general image upscaling. It analyzes the image content and intelligently adds detail at the target resolution. Enhanced mode is specifically designed to remove compression artifacts while upscaling, making it ideal for low-quality JPEGs, heavily compressed web images, or frame grabs from streaming video. The enhanced mode processes more slowly but produces significantly better results on compressed source material.

## What is the optimal Super Scale workflow for different image sources?

| Source image type | Recommended mode | Max scaling | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-res JPEG | Enhanced | 4x | Removes compression artifacts |
| Web-downloaded image | Enhanced | 3x | Artifact removal critical |
| Frame grab from video | Enhanced | 2-3x | Video compression artifacts present |
| Scan of printed photo | Standard | 3-4x | Clean source, standard upscaling |
| RAW thumbnail preview | Standard | 2x | Already has good detail |

For the best results, start with the highest quality source available. Super Scale can work wonders on compressed images, but it cannot create detail that was never captured. A 480p frame grab upscaled to 4x will look significantly better than the original but will not match a natively captured 4K image.

## How does Super Scale compare to traditional image upscaling?

Traditional upscaling methods — bilinear, bicubic, Lanczos — simply stretch the existing pixels, resulting in soft, blurry images at anything beyond modest scaling. AI Super Scale analyzes the content and generates new detail that matches the image structure.

For photographers, Super Scale is particularly useful for rescaling frame grabs from video to use as stills, upscaling archival images for modern print sizes, and preparing low-res web images for presentation. The enhanced mode's artifact removal makes previously unusable compressed images viable for professional use.

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