Cropping an image often leads to pixelation, especially when zooming in on details like faces or textures for print or display. Enter Photoshop’s Generative Upscale (Beta), launched in July/August 2025, powered by Adobe Firefly. This AI tool reconstructs pixelated cropped portions, boosting resolution up to 8 megapixels with stunning clarity.
In this tutorial, we’ll use generative upscale to enhance a blurred, cropped image, and share tips to maximise results for your next project.
What You’ll Need
- Adobe Photoshop (Beta 26.10 or later, desktop or web, 2025 version)
- An image to crop
Let’s Begin!
Step 1: Open and Crop Your Image
Launch Photoshop (Beta) and open your image (File > Open). Select the Crop Tool (C) and crop tightly around your desired area. Confirm the crop by clicking the checkmark.
Step 2: Access Generative Upscale
Go to Image > Generative Upscale in the menu bar. This opens the Generative Upscale dialogue, powered by Firefly AI. Ensure you’re using Beta 26.10 or later for the latest model.
Step 3: Choose Your Upscale Factor
In the dialogue, select 2x, 3x, or 4x. Start with 2x to double resolution safely. If the crop is very small or pixelated, try 3x. Note the 4096px limit per dimension.
Step 4: Apply and Inspect the Result
Click “Upscale” to generate a new document:
Zoom to 100% (Ctrl+1 / Cmd+1) to check details.
What Do “2x”, “3x”, and “4x” Upscale Mean?
- 2x Upscale: Doubles the cropped area’s dimensions (e.g., a 300x300px crop becomes 600x600px). Best for mildly pixelated crops needing a quick sharpness boost, like web-sized headshots. Choose this for crops with decent starting quality to maintain authenticity.
- 3x Upscale: Triples dimensions (e.g., 300x300px to 900x900px). Ideal for heavily pixelated crops requiring significant detail reconstruction, such as for poster-sized prints. Use when 2x isn’t enough but check for AI-generated artefacts.
- 4x Upscale: Quadruples dimensions (up to a 4096px limit). Suited for tiny, heavily pixelated crops (e.g., a 100x100px thumbnail), but risks inventing details. Reserve for extreme cases and inspect closely.
- How to Choose: Start with 2x for most cropped images to avoid over-processing. Use 3x for print prep or very blurry crops. Opt for 4x only if the crop is tiny and you need maximum resolution, but zoom to 100% to ensure AI details (e.g., eyes, textures) match the original. Smaller crops benefit more, but over-scaling can alter subtle features like skin tones.
Pro Tips and Tricks for Cropped Images
- Crop Conservatively: Avoid over-cropping to retain enough pixels for AI to analyse. A 200x200px crop upscales better than a 50x50px one.
- Check Facial Details: Cropped portraits may lose subtle features (e.g., freckles). Use 2x and “Low” Creativity Level to preserve authenticity.
- Pair with Harmonize: After upscaling, use the new Harmonize feature (Beta) to match lighting if placing the crop in a composite. See Adobe’s release notes.
- Test Firefly Models: Switch between Firefly Model 1 and Model 3 in the dialogue. Model 3 is best for photorealistic cropped faces.
- Fix Artefacts: If AI adds unwanted details (e.g., odd textures), use the Clone Stamp Tool post-upscale for manual fixes.
- Pre-Clean the Image: Use the Remove Tool before cropping to eliminate distractions, ensuring a cleaner upscale.
- Monitor Credits: Generative Upscale is free in Beta, but track AI credits once it’s fully released.
Conclusion
Unlike traditional upscaling, which stretches pixels and blurs details, Generative Upscale uses Firefly AI to reconstruct images with realistic details—ideal for reviving old photos or prepping graphics for print. It’s faster than manual retouching and outperforms older tools like Preserve Details 2.0.