How to Use Topaz Video AI: Best Settings & Pro Tips

Topaz Video AI has become a go-to tool for many to enhance low-quality videos and upscale videos from SD to HD, HD to 4K, or even 4K to 8K. It delivers higher enhanced and upscaled video quality than most others. However, to use Topaz Video AI for video enhancement and upscaling, you need to understand both the basic workflow and the best Topaz Video AI models and settings.

In this guide, I’ll break down exactly how to use Topaz Video AI—step by step, with the best settings for different scenarios.

Topaz Video AI $299/Year Too Expensive? Get the Best-Value Alternative

For many users, navigating Topaz Video AI’s dense menus and advanced settings can be a real challenge—especially if you’re just aiming for a quick, great-looking enhancement. And with the new $299/year subscription model (no easy opt-out), it’s a hefty investment for anyone who edits video only occasionally.

Note: The comparison image above is sourced from actual tests.

What is Topaz Video AI & How Does It Work?

Topaz Video AI is an advanced, AI-powered video enhancement tool designed to upscale, restore, and improve videos through deep learning models. Unlike basic filters, it uses specialized AI models (like Proteus, Iris, Dione, Chronos) to restore lost detail, reduce noise, and add clarity—even on old, compressed, or low-res footage. Topaz is favored by professionals for its fine-grained controls and ultimate quality, but it’s popular with enthusiasts too. 

How It Works

At its core, Topaz Video AI analyzes your footage frame by frame, predicts and reconstructs details using AI models trained on thousands of real-world videos, and outputs a sharper, cleaner, often higher-resolution version. Instead of simply “sharpening the picture,” it reconstructs edges, textures, and even generates new frames if you need smoother motion.

How to Use Topaz Video AI – Step-by-Step Guide

Topaz Video AI is most powerful when you understand not just “what button does what,” but how to build a simple, repeatable workflow that suits your footage.

Here's my go-to process for getting reliable, high-quality results—even if you’ve never opened the software before.

Step 1: Import Your Video

• Open Topaz Video AI, and click "Browse videos" or simply drag-and-drop your file in.
• For image sequences, make sure all frames are in one folder before importing.

Tip: Use Ctrl+I (Windows) or Cmd+I (Mac) to speed up importing.

Step 2: Choose a Starting Point

• Either start from scratch or select a built-in preset in the top pop-up.
  Presets cover common tasks (e.g., “Upscale to 4K,” “Remove noise,” or “Convert to 60 fps”).

If you’re lost, start with a preset and tweak from there.

Step 3: Select the Best AI Model

In the right sidebar, you’ll see model options:

• Proteus: General upscaling, noise, detail—your “safe default.”
• Iris: Best for faces, low-light, YouTube clips, and compression artifacts.
• Dione: Great for de-interlaced footage (old DVDs).
• Chronos / Apollo: Add slo-mo or boost framerate (from 24/30 to 60fps).
• Specialized (e.g., Nyx, CG models): Animation, noisy, or stylized sources.

Use Proteus/Auto for most everyday tasks. Switch only if you run into problems.

Step 4: Fine-Tune Settings

Output Resolution: Set your target (1080p, 4K...); keep the aspect ratio locked unless you want to crop.

Parameters:

• Add Noise: Adds a layer of digital noise to videos. Useful for reducing the effect of noise reduction and texure smoothing when using Enhancement.
• Focus fix: Helps improve out-of-focus video footage and increase processing speed for high resolution inputs.
• Grain: Activate grain and grain related settings.

[[checklist: Manual tuning mini-guide]]

• Preview with a short segment (1–30 seconds) first before committing to a full render.
• Tweak one slider at a time—write down what works, don’t trust your memory!
• Watch faces, text, and busy movement: these show artifacts fastest.
• If in doubt, less is usually more.

Step 5: Preview, Compare, and Export

Preview with a short segment first before committing to a full render. For the Render Preview button, there is a default of 2 seconds. Click the caret to select up to 30 seconds to preview. 
Use split-view or side-by-side to instantly check your changes versus the original. Zoom in on critical areas—faces, logos, motion blur.

Once satisfied, go to Codec Settings which allows you to select the export Encoder, Container, and audio settings.

Click Export as.... Now, wait. Yes, your GPU fans will sound busy. That's normal!

Pro Tip:
Preview short segments first, especially on long or high-resolution files. I learned this the hard way—once spent two hours rendering an entire music video, only to find everyone’s faces looked like plastic mannequins because I over-sharpened. Never again.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Use presets or Auto first—manual tweaking matters most for tricky clips.
• Short previews prevent heartbreak (and wasted hours).
• There’s no “one size fits all”—let yourself adjust based on what you see, not just numbers.
• Hardware matters. If renders are painfully slow, it’s likely a GPU bottleneck.

Best Topaz Video AI Settings for Different Scenarios

There’s no universal “best setting” for Topaz Video AI—what works wonders for crisp Blu-rays might wreck a blurry VHS home video. But after digging through forums, Reddit, and way too many personal trial-and-error sessions, here are the battle-tested formulas that work for 90% of cases. 

1. General Footage (YouTube, vlogs, phone clips)

• Model: Proteus (Manual or Auto)
• Noise Reduction: 10–20 (just enough to clean things up, but not erase detail)
• Recover Details: 30–50
• Sharpen: 25–30
• Add Noise: 3–5 (avoids waxy look on faces)
• Dehalo: 20–30
• Anti-Alias/Deblur: 75

Use “Auto” settings if unsure, then nudge sliders

2. Low-Quality/Compressed/Old Footage

• Model: Iris (Manual) for faces/heavy compression, or Proteus with tweaks
• Noise Reduction: 15–25 (old footage needs heavier cleaning)
• Recover Details: 40–55
• Sharpen: 25–35
• Add Noise: 4–6
• Revert Compression: 30–50

Faces are especially tricky: tweak manually, and always preview—too much “sharpen” equals nightmare fuel!

3. Animation/CG Content

• Model: CG or Artemis (High Quality)
• Noise Reduction: Often very low (0–10)
• Sharpen: 30+ (cartoon lines need snap)
• Recover Details: 40+
• Compression: 60–100 (animated content suffers most from compression)

Animated footage tolerates aggressive settings—plastic faces aren’t an issue here!

4. Interlaced/Classic TV Videos

• Model: Dione (de-interlacing model)
• Sharpen/Detail: Conservative; too much makes things look unnatural
• Noise: Moderate

Old TV content can fall apart with heavy-handed enhancement—prioritize natural look over drastic change.

5. When & How to Check Your Work

Always preview using 5–10 second clips, comparing original vs. enhanced in split-view.
Focus on:

• Faces: Are they sharp or waxy?
• Motion: Any weird artifacts?
• Text/logos: Still readable?

If you spot problems, dial settings back (usually “sharpen” or “noise reduction” are the culprits).

Example: Reddit-Approved “4K Upscale” Formula

Proteus (Manual):

• Revert Compression: 40
• Recover Details: 50
• Sharpen: 30
• Dehalo: 25
• Anti-Alias/Deblur: 75
• Add Noise: 4

Try this for 1080p-to-4K upscaling and tweak if faces or motion look weird.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Start low, add more only if the preview looks clean.
• There is no “universal” value; let your footage lead your choices.
• Animated footage wants higher compression/sharpen, faces need subtlety.
• Always, always preview. Yes, even if it’s a pain!

Getting the Best Results – Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

I’ve spent more nights than I’d like to admit tweaking parameters and waiting for renders—so you don’t have to repeat my mistakes! Here are the essential pro secrets and problem-solvers for mastering Topaz Video AI. 

Pro Tips for Excellent Results

• Preview Smart. Always hit the Preview button and render 5–10 seconds of your most demanding scene. It’s the fastest way to avoid “face disasters” and wasted hours.
• Don’t Overdo Sharpening or Noise Reduction.
  Even pros fall for the “more is better” trap. Over-sharpening makes faces eerily smooth or “waxy”; over-noising blurs detail.
  If in doubt: lower sliders, not raise.
• Faces and Skin Are Always the Weak Links.
  Zoom in on faces during preview—if they look unnatural, wind back the “sharpen” or try the Iris model.
  I once spent an hour tweaking a concert video, only to discover the singer’s face started to resemble melted plastic. Lesson learned!
• Hardware Tweaks.
  If Topaz slows to a crawl or crashes:
  - Check your VRAM/GPU memory usage.
  - Reduce “Max Processes” in Preferences.
  - For laptops, set performance mode (plug into power, don’t use battery saver).
  - Update graphics drivers.
• Output Strategy.
  Export in ProRes for maximum quality (archival or editing), or H.264/High Profile for smaller, YouTube-ready files.

Troubleshooting: Most Common Problems

Q: My video takes forever to render—is this normal?
A: Sadly, yes. Topaz is GPU-hungry, especially at 4K or with complex models. Batch process overnight or, if desperate, consider a lighter model or less demanding settings.

Q: Faces/text look weird—what did I mess up?
A: Most likely, too much Sharpen or Dehalo. Try lowering both. If it persists, try the Iris model for faces or re-check your source—it might be too compressed to recover perfectly.

Q: Topaz keeps crashing.
A: Usually a VRAM issue, especially with long clips or many simultaneous jobs. Lower memory allocation in Preferences, or try rendering shorter segments.

Q: Video file is huge after export!
A: ProRes is lossless and massive. Export as H.264 or use Handbrake/UniFab for final compression.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Preview short, critical sections before full-render—especially faces and text.
• Avoid going wild with sliders. Incremental tweaks deliver better results than drastic changes.
• Hardware, workflow, and patience matter almost as much as the settings.
• For tight deadlines or batch jobs, lighter settings (or a different tool) might actually get you better practical results.

Why Consider UniFab Video Enhancer AI Instead?

Topaz Video AI: Where It Falls Short

While Topaz Video AI offers incredible detail and ultimate control, it's not all sunshine:

• Steep Learning Curve: The interface and many tweakable sliders can overwhelm beginners or anyone seeking quick results.
• Slow Processing: Even with a robust GPU, Topaz can be sluggish—especially on long videos or in batch jobs.
• Ongoing Cost: The recurring subscription adds up, making it costly for regular or long-term use.
• Limited Functionality: Topaz focuses solely on enhancement; there’s little support for editing, conversion, or subtitles.

UniFab Video Enhancer AI: The Smarter, Easier Alternative

• Fast & Efficient: UniFab processes videos much faster, making it ideal for batch conversions and time-sensitive projects.
• User-Friendly: One-click presets and an intuitive workflow mean you don’t need to be a techie.
• Better Value: Pay once (lifetime license), no subscriptions.
• All-in-One: Beyond enhancement, UniFab handles video translation, colorization, subtitle generation, format conversion, editing, and more.

For more details, check UniFab vs Topaz.

Visual Comparison: Results Side-by-Side

In multiple real-world scenarios, UniFab delivers enhancements that are almost indistinguishable from Topaz for most content—especially on anime video footage.

How to Use UniFab AI – Step-by-Step Guide

Conclusion

Getting the “best” out of Topaz Video AI isn’t about copying someone else’s numbers, but about mastering your own workflow. Across all our testing and research, one thing is clear: the perfect settings always depend on your source video and your goals.

Topaz Video AI remains the top-tier solution for anyone who demands total control and is willing to spend time fine-tuning every detail to achieve maximum quality. The results can be incredible—if you’re patient. But if you want speed, simplicity, and reliable results with minimal tweaking, UniFab Video Enhancer AI is a strong Topaz Video AI alternative that gets most jobs done brilliantly, with minimal fuss.

FAQs about Topaz Video AI Settings

What is the best setting for low quality video in Topaz Video AI?

For low-quality or heavily compressed footage, start with the Iris model. Recommended manual settings: Noise Reduction 15–25, Recover Details 40–55, Sharpen 25–35, Add Noise 4–6, and Revert Compression 30–50. Always preview first and tweak as needed for your specific source.

How to get good quality with Topaz?

Start with Auto mode or a relevant preset, then fine-tune sliders gradually—focusing on detail recovery and moderate sharpening without overdoing noise reduction. Preview frequently to avoid artifacts, and use the Proteus model for general improvement or Iris for faces and very degraded sources.

How to enhance video quality with Topaz AI?

Import your video into Topaz Video AI, select an appropriate AI model (like Proteus or Iris), choose a preset or start from scratch, then adjust key settings such as noise reduction and detail enhancement. Preview your changes on a short segment, make tweaks as needed, and export the result. Using a GPU will speed up processing.

How much RAM do I need for Topaz Video AI?

Topaz Video AI recommends at least 16GB of RAM for smooth operation. However, for large or high-resolution projects, 32GB or more is ideal. A strong GPU is even more important than RAM for fast, stable processing.

Is Topaz Video AI for beginners?

It’s beginner-friendly if you stick to presets and Auto mode, but the many manual controls and models can feel overwhelming at first. New users can learn basic upscaling quickly, but mastering fine-tuning takes some trial and error.