Upscale an image

Last updated: October 11, 2026

Make an image larger and sharper when it is too small for where it has to go: an old concept piece for a campaign, an icon for a store listing, a render for print. Layer adds the upscaled image as a new version and keeps the original.

Before you start

  • The image is in a session, or in your library ready to add to one.
  • Each run costs Creative Units. The cost depends on the model and the output size.

Steps

  1. In the session, press ⌘K (Ctrl+K on Windows) and choose Add asset….

  2. Select the image, then click Select 1 asset. It lands on the board.

  3. Hover the image on the board and click View to open it full-size. The viewer shows the file's details on the left and the Actions panel on the right.

  4. In the Actions panel, under Tools, click Upscale image. Its form opens in the panel. Pick a factor under Upscale, such as 2× or 4×; each option shows the size you will get.

  5. Click Upscale.

  6. Wait while it runs. The viewer stays open, and the new version appears beside the original.

Result

The upscaled image opens in the viewer as a new file. The original is unchanged: both sit in the strip on the left of the viewer, newest first, so you can switch between them and compare detail. The new file is also added to the session's board.

Production tips

  • Upscale last. Do your edits and reframes at the working size, then upscale the version you will ship. Edits on an upscaled image work on more pixels, so they take longer and can cost more.
  • Pick the factor from the target size. Work out the pixel size the placement needs and choose the smallest factor that reaches it; the options list the output size so you do not have to calculate it.
  • Compare at 100% before you ship. Upscaling adds detail the source did not have. Check faces, hands, text and logos against the original in the strip, where invented detail is most visible.
  • Not for pixel art. An upscaler smooths hard pixel edges. Scale pixel art with nearest-neighbour scaling in your editor or engine instead.
  • Try another model from the model menu at the top of the tool when the result looks over-sharpened or painterly. Models differ in how much they add, the factors they offer, and whether they take a prompt describing the detail to add.
  • Doing a batch? Build the upscale into a workflow so a whole set of icons or key art comes out at the same size and treatment.

If something goes wrong

  • The result looks over-processed or changed the art. Use a smaller factor, or try another model from the model menu.
  • The factor you need is not listed. The factors depend on the model. Pick another model, or upscale the result a second time.
  • The run failed. The new version shows the failure in the strip. Try again; if it fails again, try another model.
  • You are out of Creative Units. The run will not start. Top up from your workspace's billing settings, or ask a workspace admin.

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