Upscayl is a free and open-source Artificial Intelligence (AI) image upscaler developed primarily with a Linux-first philosophy [1]. Although it is Linux-first, Upscayl is also cross-platform, meaning it is available for use on MacOS and Windows operating systems as well.
The purpose of Upscayl is to upscale low-resolution images, enhancing them without any significant loss of quality. It utilizes advanced AI algorithms to accomplish this task, specifically the AI algorithm known as Real-ESRGAN [2]. These AI models allow the software to predict and fill in missing pixels while upscaling images, resulting in high-quality output images.
For installation, Upscayl should be available on the software stores of most Linux operating systems. Users can download the Flatpak or Snap version if their distro’s store app supports them. Portable versions are also available for download in the releases section of the Upscayl GitHub page. For MacOS and Windows users, appropriate installation files can be downloaded from the same releases page. It’s important to note that to upscale images, users will need a Vulkan-compatible Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). Many Central Processing Units (CPUs) and integrated GPUs may not work with Upscayl, although attempting to use them should not cause any harm.
Upscayl is under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0, emphasizing its open-source nature [3]. Being an open-source project, it’s actively developed and maintained by the community, and anyone with the appropriate skills can contribute to its development. Despite its capabilities, it’s worth mentioning that Upscayl is a tool strictly for image upscaling and enhancement and is humorously noted as not being capable of performing tasks like doing your laundry.
