| Images: Topaz Labs |
Topaz Labs, the maker of powerful AI-based photo and video editing tools, has announced that it is expanding beyond desktops for the first time. Its image upscaler and image restoration programs, gigapixel aiWill be available on iOS devices soon. By January 22, when the app is expected to be fully available, iPhone users will have new opportunities to enhance and potentially save photos.
Gigapixels are primarily used to enhance images, allowing you to significantly enlarge images while preserving detail and quality. It does this using AI, which means it’s inventing details as needed, not just preserving existing details. According to the app listing, the mobile app will allow 4x upscaling, while the desktop version goes beyond this based on the original file size. However, in addition to upscaling, it can also be useful for enhancing sharpness and detail), restoring old photos, and recovering blurry or out-of-focus photos (within reason, of course).
Given the processing power required for Gigapixel, it makes sense that it has been a desktop-only application until now. I am using the desktop version gigapixel ai For my growing needs (like creating the larger version of the logo at the top of this story), and it puts a lot of strain on my admittedly aging MacBook Pro. The description on the App Store page says the app will “deliver the same cutting-edge AI technology trusted by professionals on desktop, now in your pocket.” However, the fine print in the emailed announcement mentions “limited capabilities compared to the desktop app.”
The desktop version allows you to work locally or through a server, making it possible to process confidential or protected images without any worries. While Topaz Labs doesn’t specify how the mobile app will work, the Apple data protection note lists “user content (photos or videos)” as “data that may be collected by the app.” This leads us to believe that the processing will happen through the cloud and not locally on your iPhone.
We haven’t been able to test it, as it’s only available for pre-order at the moment. It will certainly be interesting to see what those limited capabilities actually are, and how it performs compared to the desktop version. The app will be free to download from the App Store, though it’s no surprise that in-app purchases will also be available. Topaz Labs However, no additional information was provided on what the pricing or in-app purchases will be. To use the desktop version you need a $99 license (which includes one year of unlimited upgrades). As a result, it is hard to imagine that mobile apps would allow free unlimited use.
