2K or 4K upscaling? Choose by dimensions, use and credits
Understand our requested size tiers, aspect ratios and credit costs. Check whether your original is already sufficient, then verify the returned file.
First check whether you need upscaling
If the original meets your display or print requirements, you do not need another generation simply for a “4K” label. Re-export text, logos and charts from source files when possible. AI may alter details; more pixels do not guarantee more authentic information.
What 2K and 4K mean here
Our tiers specify requested size bounds, not twofold or fourfold scaling. Landscape requests fit within 2560 × 1440 for 2K or 3840 × 2160 for 4K; portrait bounds are reversed. Each fitted dimension is rounded down to a multiple of 16. The provider may return different dimensions. 4K is experimental.
Choose for the destination, then inspect the result
For screens, check actual display pixels and your final crop. For print, calculate both sides using PPI and viewing distance. A square 4K request is 2160 × 2160, not 3840 × 3840. If you need a larger square or exact dimensions, assess whether our request bounds fit the job first.
Allow for the cost of separate attempts
2K uses 8 credits per image and 4K uses 18. Trying 2K and then 4K creates two separate jobs, each charged if successful. It is not a discounted upgrade, and textures may differ between generations. Failed processing does not spend credits; an unwanted detail in a successfully generated result is not a processing failure.
Check the downloaded file
Read the actual width and height and compare eyes, text, outlines and repeating textures with the source. After cropping, check the remaining pixels again. Make a small print section at the intended physical scale. Do not judge quality only from a thumbnail or repeatedly upscale generated results.
| Source ratio | 2K request | 4K request |
|---|---|---|
| 16:9 | 2560 × 1440 | 3840 × 2160 |
| 9:16 | 1440 × 2560 | 2160 × 3840 |
| 1:1 | 1440 × 1440 | 2160 × 2160 |
| 3:2 | 2160 × 1440 | 3232 × 2160 |
These are request calculations, not guaranteed output sizes. Rounding to multiples of 16 may slightly change the ratio. Check the downloaded file for actual dimensions.