How to Upscale an Image in Photoshop (2026 Guide + Free Alternative)

Your image is 800×600 pixels and you need it at 3200×2400 for print. Or you cropped a photo so aggressively that it's now unusably small. Either way, you need to upscale an image in Photoshop without it turning into a blurry mess.

Photoshop offers three distinct methods for AI-powered upscaling in 2026, each suited to different situations. This guide covers all three with exact steps, plus when to use each one.

Method 1: Super Resolution in Camera Raw (Best Quality)

Super Resolution is Photoshop's most powerful upscaling feature. It uses Adobe's machine learning model to double the linear dimensions of your image — turning a 12MP photo into a 48MP image. It works with RAW, JPEG, TIFF, and PNG files.

When to Use Super Resolution

• You need the highest possible quality
• You're working with RAW files
• You want a true 2× resolution increase (4× total pixels)
• The image has fine details you want to preserve

Step-by-Step: Super Resolution

Step 1: Open your image in Camera Raw

For RAW files, Photoshop opens Camera Raw automatically. For JPEG/PNG, go to Filter → Camera Raw Filter (or right-click the file in Bridge and choose "Open in Camera Raw").

Step 2: Access the Enhance dialog

Right-click anywhere on the image preview and select Enhance. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut on the toolbar.

Step 3: Enable Super Resolution

In the Enhance Preview dialog:

• Check the Super Resolution box
• The preview shows a before/after comparison
• Estimated processing time appears at the bottom
• The output resolution is displayed (your original dimensions × 2)

Step 4: Click Enhance

Photoshop processes the image using Adobe's neural network. Processing time varies:

• Small images (under 12MP): 10-30 seconds
• Large images (20MP+): 1-3 minutes
• RAW files take longer than JPEG/PNG

Step 5: Save the enhanced file

The result is saved as a new DNG file alongside your original. Open it in Photoshop to continue editing or export to your preferred format.

Super Resolution Tips

• Stack it for 4×: Apply Super Resolution, save, then apply it again to the output for a 4× upscale. Quality degrades on the second pass but is often still usable.
• Apply before editing: Run Super Resolution on your original file before cropping or adjusting. More input data = better output.
• Check the preview carefully: Zoom to 100% and examine faces, text, and edges. Some images don't benefit from upscaling.

For quick upscaling without Photoshop, you can try a free AI image upscaler that works directly in your browser.

Method 2: Preserve Details 2.0 (Flexible Scaling)

Preserve Details 2.0 is Photoshop's built-in resampling algorithm. Unlike Super Resolution (which only does 2×), Preserve Details 2.0 lets you upscale to any arbitrary size — 150%, 300%, or a specific pixel dimension.

When to Use Preserve Details 2.0

• You need a specific output size (not just 2×)
• You want to upscale beyond 2× in a single step
• You need to combine upscaling with canvas size changes
• Super Resolution isn't available for your file type

Step-by-Step: Preserve Details 2.0

Step 1: Open Image Size dialog

Go to Image → Image Size (or press Alt/Option + Ctrl/Cmd + I).

Step 2: Set your target dimensions

• Enter your desired width or height (with the chain link locked to maintain aspect ratio)
• Or change the resolution (e.g., from 72 PPI to 300 PPI for print)

Step 3: Select the resampling method

Click the Resample dropdown at the bottom and choose Preserve Details 2.0. If you don't see this option, go to Preferences → Technology Previews and enable it.

Step 4: Adjust the Noise Reduction slider

When you select Preserve Details 2.0, a Reduce Noise slider appears:

• 0%: No noise reduction (preserves maximum texture)
• 20-40%: Good balance for most photos
• 50%+: Aggressive smoothing — use for very noisy source images

The preview updates in real-time. Compare different noise reduction values before committing.

Step 5: Click OK

The image is resized immediately. Unlike Super Resolution, this modifies your current document — use Edit → Undo or work on a duplicate layer.

Preserve Details 2.0 vs. Super Resolution

For most users, Super Resolution at 2× produces noticeably sharper results. But if you need 3× or higher, Preserve Details 2.0 in a single step often beats stacking multiple Super Resolution passes.

If you're looking for alternatives that handle larger upscale factors, our AI image enhancer can process images up to 4× in a single pass.

Method 3: Neural Filters for Enhancement (Not Upscaling)

Photoshop's Neural Filters aren't strictly upscaling tools, but they're worth mentioning because they can dramatically improve perceived image quality — making an image look higher resolution even at the same pixel count.

Useful Neural Filters for Image Enhancement

Photo Restoration — Removes scratches, tears, and age damage from old photos. Combined with Super Resolution, this is the best workflow for restoring vintage prints.

JPEG Artifacts Removal — Reduces compression artifacts from heavily compressed files. Run this before upscaling for cleaner results.

Depth Blur — Creates a shallow depth of field effect, making the subject appear sharper by comparison. Useful for product photos and portraits.

Color Transfer — Applies the color grading from a reference image. Won't increase resolution but can make the output feel more professional.

How to Access Neural Filters

1. Open your image in Photoshop
2. Go to Filter → Neural Filters
3. Download any filters you haven't used before (they're cloud-based)
4. Apply the filter and adjust settings
5. Choose output: Current Layer, New Layer, Smart Filter, or New Document

Combining Neural Filters with Upscaling

The optimal workflow is:

1. Clean up — Run JPEG Artifacts Removal if the source is compressed
2. Upscale — Apply Super Resolution or Preserve Details 2.0
3. Enhance — Use Photo Restoration or sharpen with AI tools for final polish

This three-step process produces significantly better results than upscaling alone.

Photoshop Upscaling Limitations

Being honest about what Photoshop can and can't do:

• No magic resolution creation — AI upscaling predicts what missing pixels might look like. It can't recover information that was never captured.
• Diminishing returns past 2× — Quality drops noticeably above 2× upscale. For extreme enlargements (8×+), dedicated tools like Gigapixel AI perform better.
• GPU dependency — Super Resolution and Neural Filters need a supported GPU. On older hardware, processing can be painfully slow.
• RAW advantage — Super Resolution works dramatically better on RAW files than compressed JPEGs. If you have the RAW, use it.
• Subscription required — You need an active Creative Cloud subscription ($22.99+/month).

Common Upscaling Mistakes to Avoid

Upscaling after heavy editing — Always upscale before applying filters, text, or heavy retouching. Upscaling baked-in edits amplifies imperfections.

Ignoring the source quality — A 200×200 thumbnail won't become a usable 4K image regardless of the AI model. There's a floor to what upscaling can recover. Start with the highest-resolution source you can find.

Using the wrong resampling method — Bicubic Smoother and Bilinear are outdated for upscaling. Always use Preserve Details 2.0 or Super Resolution.

Not checking at 100% — An upscaled image might look fine zoomed out but reveal artifacts, smearing, or AI hallucinations at full zoom. Always inspect the final output at 100% magnification.

For more on how different tools handle upscaling, see our comparison of the best AI image enhancers.

Free Alternative: AI Image Upscaler

Not everyone has Photoshop. If you need to upscale an image and don't want to pay for a Creative Cloud subscription, browser-based AI upscalers have gotten remarkably good in 2026.

AI Enhance Image's free AI image upscaler offers:

• Up to 4× upscaling in a single pass
• No signup or download required
• Instant processing for standard-size images
• Support for JPG, PNG, and WebP formats
• 4K upscaling for higher resolution output

The output quality won't match Photoshop's Super Resolution on RAW files, but for JPEG and PNG images, the difference is smaller than you'd expect. For occasional upscaling needs, it's a genuine alternative.

Which Method Should You Use?

Use Super Resolution when:

• You need the absolute best quality at 2×
• You're working with RAW files
• You have time to wait for processing

Use Preserve Details 2.0 when:

• You need a specific output size (not just 2×)
• You're upscaling beyond 2×
• You need faster processing

Use Neural Filters when:

• You want to improve perceived quality without changing resolution
• You're restoring old or damaged photos
• You need cleanup before upscaling

Use a free AI image upscaler when:

• You don't have Photoshop
• You need quick, one-off upscaling
• You want results without learning curve

Whichever method you choose, always start with the highest quality source image available and inspect the output at 100% zoom before using it.