# AI Image Upscaler: Upscale & Sharpen Photos in Bulk (`pnda/ai-image-upscaler`) Actor

AI image upscaler: upscale, sharpen and enhance photos in bulk with Recraft Crisp Upscale or Google Upscaler (Imagen). Up to 100 image URLs per run. No API key, paid Apify plans only, pay per upscaled image.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/pnda/ai-image-upscaler.md
- **Developed by:** [PNDA](https://apify.com/pnda) (community)
- **Categories:** AI, Automation, E-commerce
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $25.00 / 1,000 upscaled image (upscale)s

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## AI Image Upscaler: Upscale & Sharpen Photos in Bulk

**AI image upscaler**: upscale, sharpen and enhance images in bulk with **Recraft Crisp Upscale** or **Google Upscaler** (Imagen). Pay per upscaled image.

- 📦 Bulk: up to 100 image URLs per run, one output per image.
- 🔍 Crisp Upscale: sharper details and higher resolution for photos, illustrations and product shots.
- 🧠 Google Upscaler (Imagen): 2x super-resolution for photos.
- 🔑 **No API key**: no Replicate, OpenAI, Google or ByteDance account needed.
- 💳 **Paid Apify plans only.** Runs from a free plan stop immediately with an upgrade message, at no cost.
- 💸 **Pay only for successful outputs.** Failures are never charged.

Works from the Apify Console, the API, the JavaScript / Python clients, **n8n, Make, Zapier** and **AI agents / MCP**.

### 💡 Who is it for?

- E-commerce: sharper product images
- Print and design: enlarge low-resolution assets
- Restoring old or compressed photos

### ⚙️ How it works

1. You send a list of public image URLs and pick a model.
2. The Actor generates each output and waits for the result (no task id to poll).
3. Each file is **copied to your Apify key-value store**, so the link does not expire after an hour.
4. One dataset row per output: URL, model, options.

### 💰 Pricing

**Available on paid Apify plans only.** Pay per event, one event per successful output, no start fee:

| Model | Option | Event | Price per image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recraft Crisp Upscale (sharp details, fixed factor) | — | `upscale` | $0.025 |
| Google Upscaler (Imagen, 2x) | — | `upscale-premium` | $0.08 |

- A failed output is **not charged**. If nothing could be produced, nothing is charged.
- Set a **maximum cost per run**: the Actor stops *before* generating an output your budget would not cover.

### 📥 Input

| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `model` | string | Which AI model to use. Each option is billed at its own price, see the Pricing section of the README. |
| `imageUrls` | array | Public, direct links to the JPG / PNG / WebP images to process (up to 100 per run). One output per image. |
| `includeFailedVariants` | boolean | Also write failed outputs (with the reason) to the dataset. Failed outputs are never billed. |

#### Example: Upscale two images (Recraft Crisp Upscale)

```json
{
  "imageUrls": [
    "https://example.com/photo-1.jpg",
    "https://example.com/photo-2.jpg"
  ],
  "model": "recraft-ai/recraft-crisp-upscale"
}
```

### 📤 Output

One dataset row per output:

```json
{
  "model": "recraft-ai/recraft-crisp-upscale",
  "mode": "upscale",
  "index": 1,
  "imageUrl": "https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/<STORE_ID>/records/image-1",
  "contentType": "image/png",
  "chargedEvent": "upscale",
  "chargedUnits": 1,
  "success": true
}
```

Export the dataset as **JSON, CSV, Excel or HTML**, or read it from the API.

### 🧠 Models

- **Recraft Crisp Upscale (sharp details, fixed factor)** (`recraft-ai/recraft-crisp-upscale`): needs a source image.
- **Google Upscaler (Imagen, 2x)** (`google/upscaler`): needs a source image.

### 🛟 Errors and reliability

- Invalid options (unsupported ratio, duration or resolution for the chosen model) stop the run **before** anything is generated or charged, with a message listing the supported values.
- If the AI provider is temporarily unavailable, the run stops right away (no time burned on the remaining outputs), **nothing is charged**, and the dataset contains one row with `success: false`, `status: "service-unavailable"` and a clear message. Retry a bit later.
- Runs from a free Apify plan, or whose maximum cost per run is too low for one output, also stop at once with an explanatory row (`status: "paid-plan-required"` / `"budget-too-low"`), at no cost.
- If one output is refused (safety filter, unreadable source image), the others still run.

### ❓ FAQ

**Which model should I pick?**

Recraft Crisp Upscale for the best price and sharp details; Google Upscaler (Imagen) for photographic 2x super-resolution.

**Do I need an API key (Replicate, OpenAI, Google...)?**

No. Your Apify account is enough: no key, no subscription, no quota to manage.

**Can I use it on the free Apify plan?**

No. This Actor is available on **paid Apify plans only**. Runs started from a free plan stop immediately with an upgrade message, at no cost.

**Am I charged when a generation fails?**

No. You pay only for outputs that are delivered. Invalid inputs are rejected before any generation starts.

**How do I cap my spending?**

Set **Maximum cost per run** in the run options. The Actor stops before generating an output your budget would not cover.

**How long are files kept?**

Outputs are copied to the run key-value store and follow your Apify data retention. Download them or copy them to your own storage for long-term use.

**Can I call it from code, n8n, Make, Zapier or an AI agent?**

Yes. Use the "Run Actor synchronously and get dataset items" API endpoint, the Apify clients, the integrations, or the Apify MCP server.

**Who owns the generated content?**

Use of generated content is subject to the terms of each model provider. Do not submit images you do not have the right to use.

### ▶️ Start now

Pick a model, type a prompt, click **Start**.

# Actor input Schema

## `model` (type: `string`):

Which AI model to use. Each option is billed at its own price, see the Pricing section of the README.

## `imageUrls` (type: `array`):

Public, direct links to the JPG / PNG / WebP images to process (up to 100 per run). One output per image.

## `includeFailedVariants` (type: `boolean`):

Also write failed outputs (with the reason) to the dataset. Failed outputs are never billed.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "model": "recraft-ai/recraft-crisp-upscale",
  "imageUrls": [
    "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/PNG_transparency_demonstration_1.png/280px-PNG_transparency_demonstration_1.png"
  ],
  "includeFailedVariants": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `dataset` (type: `string`):

All generated records (JSON, CSV, Excel).

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "model": "recraft-ai/recraft-crisp-upscale",
    "imageUrls": [
        "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/PNG_transparency_demonstration_1.png/280px-PNG_transparency_demonstration_1.png"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("pnda/ai-image-upscaler").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "model": "recraft-ai/recraft-crisp-upscale",
    "imageUrls": ["https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/PNG_transparency_demonstration_1.png/280px-PNG_transparency_demonstration_1.png"],
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("pnda/ai-image-upscaler").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "model": "recraft-ai/recraft-crisp-upscale",
  "imageUrls": [
    "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/PNG_transparency_demonstration_1.png/280px-PNG_transparency_demonstration_1.png"
  ]
}' |
apify call pnda/ai-image-upscaler --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,pnda/ai-image-upscaler"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/5EikykB2o7k542iDl/builds/h1T4bUiBtLvnPVVlK/openapi.json