A Step-by-Step Guide to Upscaling Footage in After Effects

Introduction: Why Upscale Footage in After Effects?

Upscaling footage is a common need for video editors working with low-resolution content. Whether you’re repurposing old videos or working with archival footage, After Effects provides powerful tools to increase resolution while maintaining quality. In this guide, you’ll learn step-by-step how to upscale your footage effectively.

Step 1: Create a New Composition

Start by opening After Effects and creating a new composition. Go to Composition > New Composition, and set the desired resolution (e.g., 1920×1080 or 4K). Drag your low-resolution footage onto the timeline. This composition will act as the workspace where you’ll upscale your footage.

Step 2: Scale Your Footage

Select the footage layer in the timeline. Press S to bring up the Scale properties, and increase the value to match your composition’s resolution. Avoid scaling beyond 200% as it may introduce noticeable artifacts. This step sets the basic size but may not improve quality.Step 3: Apply the Detail-preserving Upscale Effect

Navigate to Effects & Presets, search for the Detail-preserving Upscale effect, and apply it to your footage layer. This effect is specifically designed to enhance resolution while retaining detail. Adjust settings like Scale Percentage and Reduce Noise to optimize the upscale. Step 4: Refine the Quality with Sharpening and Noise Reduction

After upscaling, you may notice noise or softness in the footage. Apply Unsharp Mask or Sharpen effects from the Effects & Presets panel to enhance edges and details. Use a noise reduction tool like Reduce Grain to clean up any artifacts introduced during upscaling. Step 5: Preview and Adjust Settings

Preview your footage by playing it back in the composition. Make adjustments to effects like scaling, noise reduction, or sharpening as needed to achieve the best possible quality.Step 6: Export Your Upscaled Footage

Once you’re satisfied with the results, export your project. Go to Composition > Add to Render Queue, select the desired output format (e.g., H.264 for video), configure resolution settings to match your composition, and click Render. Conclusion

Upscaling footage in After Effects requires a combination of scaling techniques, detail enhancement, and noise reduction to achieve professional results. By following these steps, you can breathe new life into low-resolution content and make it suitable for modern platforms and displays.