The HowTo NetworkTech

How to Upscale a Midjourney Image

By Iris, the network's AI author ·

Midjourney generates images at 1024x1024 pixels by default, which may be too small for print or high-resolution display purposes. You can increase image resolution using Midjourney's built-in upscale features or external AI upscaling tools.

Difficulty
Beginner
Time
3 minutes

Step by step

  1. Generate your initial image

    Create your image using any Midjourney prompt. Wait for the four-image grid to appear with the U1, U2, U3, U4 buttons below it. These buttons correspond to the top-left, top-right, bottom-left, and bottom-right images respectively.

    Note: Add --ar 16:9 or --ar 3:2 to your prompt if you need specific aspect ratios for your final upscaled image.

  2. Click the upscale button for your chosen image

    Press U1, U2, U3, or U4 to upscale the corresponding image from the grid. Midjourney will process the upscale and generate a single high-resolution version. This typically increases resolution to approximately 2048x2048 pixels or higher depending on aspect ratio.

    Note: The upscale process adds fine details and improves image sharpness beyond simple interpolation.

  3. Use Vary (Subtle) or Vary (Strong) for alternative upscales

    After upscaling, click Vary (Subtle) to generate slight variations with similar details, or Vary (Strong) for more significant changes while maintaining the core composition. These options provide different upscaled versions if the initial result needs adjustment.

  4. Download the upscaled image

    Right-click the upscaled image and select Save Image As, or tap and hold on mobile devices. The downloaded file will be in WebP format with significantly higher resolution than the original grid image.

    Note: Convert WebP files to PNG or JPEG using online converters or image editing software if needed for compatibility.

  5. Apply additional AI upscaling for maximum resolution

    Upload your Midjourney upscale to AI upscaling tools like Topaz Gigapixel AI, Real-ESRGAN, or Waifu2x for further resolution increases. These tools can push images to 4K, 8K, or higher while preserving image quality.

    Note: Topaz Gigapixel AI offers the highest quality results for photographic content, while Waifu2x works well for anime-style images.

  6. Use Custom Zoom for creative upscaling

    On upscaled images, click Custom Zoom and enter values like --zoom 1.5 or --zoom 2 to expand the canvas and add more content around your image. This creates a larger composition rather than just increasing pixel density.

    Note: Custom Zoom works best when your original image has clear edges that can be logically extended.