Methods, Tips & Best Alternative on Upscaling Video in Premiere Pro

You will come across situations where certain portions of the videos need an extra boost of sharpness in terms of resolution. This is where I find myself on more occasions than not, and instead of moving elsewhere for my needs, I thought I'd give Adobe’s Premiere Pro the ultimate test in improving quality and sharpness.

This tutorial shows how to upscale videos in Premiere Pro by using a variety of in-house techniques and tools. You will also learn which technique works best in practical situations and some quick tips for obtaining clearer footage.

Upscale Video In Premiere Pro

Method 1. Set to Frame Size vs. Scale to Frame Size

Using Set to Frame Size and Scale to Frame Size is probably one of the simplest methods of making your video conform to a higher-resolution timeline in Premiere Pro. However, while these two options seem almost identical, they operate differently, and this may lead to different results regarding your final video quality.

Step 1.
Load Adobe Premiere Pro and add the clip to the timeline, making sure that the sequence is at a higher resolution (such as 1080p or 4K).
Step 2.
After that, go to the timeline, right-click on the video clip, and select either Set to Frame Size (preferred) or Scale to Frame Size.
Select Set To Frame Size

Here’s a clear comparison to help you understand the difference between the two options in Adobe Premiere Pro:

Feature Set to Frame Size Scale to Frame Size
How it works Adjusts scale to fit sequence without changing original resolution Resizes the clip by altering its resolution
Image Quality Better quality (non-destructive) Can reduce quality
Flexibility Editable and adjustable anytime Less flexible after scaling
Best Use Recommended for upscaling workflows Basic resizing only
Performance Slightly heavier but more accurate Faster but less precise

Pros

  • Retain better image quality
  • Resizing without losing any pixels
  • Editing is easier
  • Easy to apply a change
  • Effective for simple resizing tasks

Cons

  • Still restricted, nothing new is added
  • Can lower video quality
  • Limited ability after scaling

For retaining quality while resizing video, use Set to Frame Size. Can you upscale video in Premiere Pro? ​Yes, it can be done, but techniques tend to just resize rather than enhance the resolution.

Method 2. Maximum Render Quality Sequence Settings

One easy way to enhance the quality of a video in Adobe Premiere Pro is to turn on the Maximum Render Quality option. While it won't create new details out of thin air, it will assist in making the scaled footage look cleaner and sharper.

How to Enable It

Step 1.
Go to Sequence > Sequence Settings from the top menu.
Step 2.
Check the box for Render at Maximum Depth . Make sure your sequence resolution is set to 1080p or 4K for better output.
Check Render At Maximun Depth
Step 3.
When exporting, also enable Maximum Bit Depth and Maximum Render Quality in the export settings.
Enable Max Bit Depth And Max Render Quality

Pros

  • Enhances image quality in scaling by producing crisp edges and minimizing pixilation
  • Very easy to activate, with no other resources needed

Cons

  • Takes more time to render
  • Does not actually recover any missing information
  • There are minimal gains for extremely low-resolution videos

Method 3. Using After Effects via Dynamic Link (Detail-Preserving Upscale)

Want AI-style upscaling? This is one of the best methods inside the Adobe ecosystem. If you link Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects, you can access the Detail-Preserving Upscale effect that will recover details in a smarter way than simple resizing.

Step 1.
Within the Premiere Pro timeline, use the right-click menu on the clip and select Replace with After Effects Composition.
Choose Replace With After Effects Composition
Step 2.
Now, in After Effects, go to Effects & Presets and search for Detail-Preserving Upscale. Apply the effect to the clip.
Search Detail Preserving Upscale
Step 3.
Increase the value of Scale slightly and adjust the Reduce Noise slider to minimize the noise. In case you need any adjustments for the sharpness level, do that as well.
Adjust Scale And Noise
Step 4.
Review the effects within the composition itself. Since you have Dynamic Link, everything will automatically reflect in Premiere Pro.
Step 5.
Lastly, export the video from Premiere Pro.

Pros

  • Better detail enhancement than basic scaling
  • Works seamlessly with Premiere Pro (no export needed between apps)
  • More control over sharpness and noise

Cons

  • Requires After Effects (additional software)
  • Slower rendering time
  • Not fully AI-like dedicated upscaling tools

How to AI upscale video in Premiere Pro? Using this method is the most direct and closest way of doing it within the software, as it improves details in a more smart way than usual. However, it still cannot be compared with the strength of specialized AI video upscalers.

Method 4. Upscale Video in Premiere Pro (Without Plugins)

If you prefer to avoid installing additional plug-ins, then you can use the capabilities available in Adobe Premiere Pro. It is not artificial intelligence-based, but if it is used correctly, then it can improve the quality of your material.

Adobe Premiere Pro CC Native Upscaling

This software offers some built-in scaling and rendering options, which are aimed at cleaning up the footage:

  • Scale / Set to Frame Size: scale the video to make it look better in high resolutions
  • Maximum Render Quality: increase the scaling quality and remove any jaggies from it
  • Sharpen Effect: slightly increase the clarity of the material
  • Lumetri Color: improve overall visual performance
Step 1.
Import your clip and drag it into your sequence. Right-click the clip and choose Set to Frame Size for better quality.
Step 2.
Go to Effects > Sharpen and apply it lightly to enhance details.
Step 3.
Use Lumetri Color to adjust exposure, contrast, and sharpness.
Step 4.
Turn this on in both sequence and export settings. Then, choose a higher resolution (1080p or 4K) when exporting.

Pros

  • No additional cost (built-in features)
  • Easy to use and beginner-friendly
  • Works directly inside Premiere Pro

Cons

  • Not true AI upscaling
  • Limited detail enhancement
  • Less powerful compared to dedicated tools

Best Alternative to Premiere Pro

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How to Use Aiseesoft Video Converter Ultimate

Step 1.
Install Aiseesoft Video Converter Ultimate, and launch the program. Go to Add Files, and add your video here.
Put Video File
Step 2.
Choose your desired format to convert the video to, like MP4, MOV, AVI, or MKV. You can even set up resolution settings according to your needs, like 720p, 1080p, or 4K.
Change Format And Resolution
Step 3.
The program utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance, denoise, and upscale. You can select General Enhancement, Video Denoise, and even the Color Enhancement model.
Choose Ai Model
Step 4.
The output folder is where your video will be stored after conversion. Hit the Export Full Video button and start the conversion process. Your video will be converted after some time.
Hit Export Full Video
Step 5.
Once the whole process is done, go to the output folder and find your video.

FAQs about Upscaling Video in Premiere Pro

Why does my upscaled video look blurry in Premiere Pro?

The cause in most cases is the low resolution or the heavy compression of the original footage. If you enlarge the footage, the pixels will be stretched, and the detail will not be enhanced.

Is it better to upscale before or after editing in Premiere Pro?

It is usually better to do the editing first and then upscale at the export stage. This way, all your effects and changes are done before the final rendering.

Can nested sequences improve upscaling results?

Only a little. Nesting is a great way to keep things tidy when you are scaling or applying effects, but it doesn't enhance the actual quality of the image or the sharpness.

Conclusion

By upscaling a video in Premiere Pro, you are essentially raising the resolution. However, this does not generate new details, so the outcome might seem a bit soft or fuzzy, particularly when dealing with low-quality source material. Upscaling is good enough for simple usage, but not when you want a highly refined output.

AI technologies, on the other hand, are a much better option if you want to get good results. Mastering the art of how to AI upscale video in Premiere Pro is one of the ways through which you can take video quality to a level higher than just rescaling.

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