[Feature] Upscaling images using AI

[DankMemeGuy]

I have searched the existing feature requests, both open and closed, to make sure this is not a duplicate request.

• Yes

The feature

I wanted to get the community’s thoughts before attempting an implementation. I think adding optional image-upscaling functionality could be a valuable enhancement to Immich.

Many users have photos going back decades or from sources where compression and resizing have degraded quality over time. These images often look fine on mobile devices - albeit will get worse as phone screens get better - but lose sharpness when displayed on larger screens, like TVs or monitors. Upscaling could breathe new life into older photos while keeping the originals untouched.

Proposed Functionality

• Model Integration: Incorporate an open model such as https://openmodeldb.info/models/4x-Nomos8k-atd-jpg for high-quality AI upscaling.

• Non-destructive Workflow: Keep the original file intact while storing an upscaled duplicate that can be served automatically in certain contexts (e.g., slideshows, TV display mode, or when explicitly toggled).

• Smart Filtering: To manage resources, the system could:

  • Only upscale images below a certain quality score, using an image-quality assessment model (e.g., Idealo IQA
  • Optionally focus on images containing people (based on existing person-detection pipelines).
  • Allow configurable thresholds for resolution or quality.

Benefits

• Enhanced experience when viewing legacy or low-quality images on modern high-resolution screens.
• Fully optional, respecting user storage and performance constraints.
• Aligns with Immich’s goal of preserving and improving personal photo collections through intelligent automation.

Considerations

• Storage management: A toggle or separate album for upscaled versions could help prevent duplication overload.
• Potential UI integration: A small “HD” or “AI-enhanced” indicator could help users identify upscaled versions.

Just putting this out there for discussion, but I think this could be an exciting step toward integrating light-touch restoration features into Immich while maintaining its core philosophy of local control and user ownership.

Platform

• Server
• Web
• Mobile

[bo0tzz]

Dupe of #10883. I don't see us wanting upscaling in Immich core.

[DankMemeGuy]

ah, i searched upscaling but didn't see that result. I am ok with doing this as a plugin, but how would that work? building out a process for actually making the image upscaler wouldn't be that hard, but how would a plugin be integrated to show the upscaled images instead of the originals?