If you’re a 3D artist looking to make your work sharper, here are some AI upscalers you need to try in 2024:

Paid but worth it: Quick results and great quality. If you can spend a little, this one makes your images look amazing fast.

  • Free and User-Friendly: Upscayl is a no-cost tool that’s quick and easy to use for upscaling images.
  • Custom AI Models: You can add your own AI models to get even better results.
  • Easy Installation: Download the Windows executable file here and start using it right away.
  • Loading Custom Models: As of February 4, 2024, adding custom AI models from Open Model Database isn’t straightforward. These models are often in Pytorch format (with a .pth file extension), which Upscayl doesn’t directly support.
  • Conversion Needed: To use a .pth model, you’ll need to convert it into NCNN format, which creates two files: Model.bin and Model.param. Move these files to the Upscayl models directory at C:\Program Files\Upscayl\resources\models.
  • Current Issue: There’s a known issue with this process in Upscayl version 2.9.8. The community is actively discussing a solution here.
  • Free to Use: Chainner.app is a cost-free tool designed for upscaling images, accessible to everyone.
  • Download the Software: You can easily download the executable file for Windows directly from their website.
  • Unique Node-Based Workflow: What sets Chainner.app apart is its node-based system. This means you can create a workflow that connects different processes like a chain, offering a lot of flexibility.
  • Load Any Model: You have the freedom to use any upscaling model you find online, allowing for a wide range of customization and experimentation.
  • Batch Processing Made Easy: Chainner.app excels in batch processing, enabling you to upscale multiple images at once efficiently. This is great for large projects or when you need to process a series of images in the same style.
  • More Control Over Images: Compared to other tools, Chainner.app gives you more control over the upscaling process. This means you can tweak your workflow to get the exact results you want.

4. Using Stable Diffusion with Control Net and Ultimate SD Upscale for High-Quality Upscales


Stable Diffusion Automatic 1111 with Control Net and Ultimate SD upscale script is a powerful, open-source option for upscaling images, though it may seem daunting at first. Here’s a simplified guide on how to set it up and achieve the best results:

Initial Setup

  1. Install Python and Git:
    • Python: Download Python 3.10.6 from its official website. During installation, select “Add Python 3.10 to PATH” to ensure it’s accessible from the command line.
    • Git: Download and install Git from its official website. The default installation settings are fine for most users.
  2. Clone the Stable Diffusion Repository:
    • Open the folder where you want to install Stable Diffusion, right-click, and select “Git Bash here”.
    • Clone the repository by entering: git clone https://github.com/AUTOMATIC1111/stable-diffusion-webui.git
  3. Update the Repository:
    • For future updates, navigate to the stable-diffusion-webui directory in Git Bash and run git pull to update your local version.

Installing Control Net and Ultimate SD Upscale

  1. Start Stable Diffusion:
    • Once Stable Diffusion is up and running, access its web UI.
  2. Install Control Net:
    • Go to the extension tab, search for Control Net, and install it.
  3. Install Ultimate SD Upscale:
    • In the same extensions area, search for Ultimate SD upscale and install it.

Downloading and Installing Upscaler Models

  1. 4x Ultrasharp Model for Ultimate SD Upscale:
    • Download the upscaler model from civitai.com.
    • Move the downloaded model to S:\Stable Diffusion\stable-diffusion-webui\models\ESRGAN. This makes it available in the “imgtoimp” section when you enable “Ultimate SD upscale”.
  2. Control Net Model:
    • Download the Control Net model from Hugging Face.
    • Move this model to S:\Stable Diffusion\stable-diffusion-webui\extensions\sd-webui-controlnet\models.

Achieving Best Results

    • Configure Settings: After installing the models and scripts, adjust the settings in Stable Diffusion to optimize the upscaling process. The specific settings will depend on the models and scripts you’ve installed, so experiment to find what works best for your images.

Fooocus-MRE is also great for enhacing/upscaling Images. Designed for those who appreciate a mix of simplicity and advanced control, Fooocus-MRE is perfect for artists and designers looking to upscale images without the hassle.

Key Features:

  • Based on Gradio: This software leverages Gradio to offer a user-friendly interface for image generation.
  • Enhanced Variant: Fooocus-MRE is an enhanced build, forked from Moonrider, tailored for slightly more advanced users who seek better performance and quality.
  • Offline and Open Source: Learning from Stable Diffusion, Fooocus-MRE is available offline and is completely open source, offering freedom and flexibility.
  • High-Quality Output: Taking cues from Midjourney, it guarantees high-quality outputs right from the start, letting users focus more on creativity rather than tweaking settings.
  • User Control: Inspired by SD web UI and ComfyUI, it offers control over the image generation process for those who desire it, without overwhelming those who don’t.
  • Simplified Installation: The installation process is streamlined to ensure that from clicking “download” to generating your first image, you’ll only need a few clicks, making it accessible to more users.
  • Minimal Requirements: It requires a minimum of 4GB GPU memory (Nvidia), making it accessible to a wide range of users with different hardware capabilities.
  • Fooocus-Only Features: For users looking to dive deeper, Fooocus-MRE includes unique features for fine-tuning and perfecting results.

Downloading Fooocus-MRE:

For Windows users looking to enhance their image upscaling capabilities, Fooocus-MRE can be directly downloaded from the GitHub releases page:

So, wrapping this up, if you’re into making your 3D art look even better, you’ve got some awesome AI upscaling options in 2024. We talked about Magnific.ai, Upscayl, Chainner, using Stable Diffusion with Control Net and Ultimate SD Upscale, and Fooocus-MRE. Each of these tools has its own cool features. Some are free, some you have to pay for, but all of them can help make your images sharper and more detailed.

With these tools, you can do a lot more with your art, like making it clearer and adding details that weren’t there before. This is super helpful for any artist who wants to make their work stand out.

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