ON1 Resize AI 2026 Comparison

ON 1 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqzUyuVPBqE

What it covers: It’s a thorough, hands-on review of ON1 Resize AI 2026 (photo enlargement/upscaling). The reviewer walks through what’s new, print-focused features, side-by-side quality comparisons versus ON1 2023.5, Adobe Super Resolution, Luminar, ACDSee, and Topaz (Gigapixel AI and Photo AI), plus real-world testing methodology.

Key takeaways:

  • Image quality: ON1 Resize AI 2026 is a big step up over 2023.5 and decisively better than mid-tier options (Lightroom Super Res, Luminar, ACDSee). It’s competitive with Topaz; Topaz can look more natural on some portraits, but ON1 is often equal or better on noisy/difficult files.
  • Features that stand out: Strong print workflow tools (printer/paper presets, focus-correct sharpening, grain, tiling, gallery wrap) and a responsive UI. Works standalone or as a Lightroom/Photoshop plugin.
  • Performance: New AI models include a fast “lightweight” and a slower “quality” option; render speeds are good for the quality level.
  • Value: Presented as good value with a one-time license, especially if you need print-oriented features that Topaz lacks.

Strengths:

  • Excellent detail retention with natural sharpening and effective noise handling, particularly on low-quality images.
  • Print-friendly pipeline built in (rare among competitors).
  • Plugin support plus simple UI makes it easy to slot into existing workflows.

Limitations:

  • In some portraits, Topaz Photo AI/Gigapixel may yield subtler, more natural output.
  • As with all AI upscalers, results can vary by image type; testing on your own files is still important.

Who it’s best for:

  • Photographers who print large and want integrated tiling/gallery wrap and paper/printer presets.
  • Users with older, low-res, or noisy shots needing clean upscale with minimal fuss.
  • Lightroom/Photoshop users wanting a capable plugin without switching ecosystems.

Bottom line:
If print output is a priority or you often upscale challenging files, ON1 Resize AI 2026 is a top-tier pick and arguably the most print-centric option. If your work skews heavily to portraits and you value the most “invisible” touch, also trial Topaz Photo AI/Gigapixel for comparison.

The following provides a practical buyer’s checklist plus a quick, repeatable test protocol you can run on your own images to decide between ON1 Resize AI 2026 and Topaz (Photo AI or Gigapixel AI).

Buyer’s checklist

  • Your primary use case: If you print large or need canvas/gallery wraps and paper/printer presets, ON1’s print pipeline is a big plus. If your work is mostly portraits or subtle editorial upscales, Topaz may look more natural occasionally.
  • Image types you upscale most: Noisy/high-ISO, smartphone crops, wildlife, landscapes, portraits, product shots. Match to the tool that handles your dominant case best.
  • Output look preference: Crisp/pop versus natural/subtle. ON1 tends to deliver punchy, print-ready sharpness; Topaz can be more restrained on faces.
  • Artifact tolerance: Look for halos on high-contrast edges, plastic skin, over-smoothing, zippering on fine textures, false detail, color shifts.
  • Speed vs quality: ON1 has fast “lightweight” and slower “quality” models; Topaz has Auto vs manual controls. Decide if throughput or max quality matters more.
  • Workflow fit: Need LR/PS plugin? Batch processing? Simple presets? ON1 integrates tightly for printing; Topaz integrates well for general editing.
  • Print-centric features: ON1’s tiling, gallery wrap, printer/paper presets, focus-correct sharpening, and grain are unique advantages if you print often.
  • Licensing/value: Consider one-time license versus what you already own. If you already have Topaz Photo AI, ON1 is compelling for print features; if you don’t print, Topaz might suffice.
  • Hardware and stability: Test GPU utilization, RAM, and render times on your machine; note any crashes or UI sluggishness under batch load.
  • Support and updates: How often do they update models and fix issues you care about?

Quick testing protocol (60–90 minutes, reproducible)

  1. Curate a mini test set (6–10 images)
  • Portrait (good lighting), portrait (low light/high ISO)
  • Detailed texture (foliage, fabric, architecture)
  • Wildlife or fine feathers/fur
  • Noisy/high-ISO shot or heavy crop
  • Product/macros with edges and labels
  • Low-res phone image you’d love to print
  1. Define targets and baselines
  • Target scale: choose 2× and 4× (or specific print sizes at 300 dpi, e.g., 16×24 and 24×36 inches).
  • Baseline: Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop Super Resolution or bicubic smoother for comparison.
  1. Run controlled upscales
  • ON1 Resize AI 2026:
    • Model: start with “High Quality” model.
    • Sharpening: Low to Moderate; avoid over-sharpening on portraits.
    • Noise reduction: Minimal unless source is noisy; then Moderate.
    • Grain: Off for evaluation; add later for print aesthetics.
    • Output: TIFF or high-quality JPEG (quality 90–100), sRGB or your print profile.
  • Topaz Photo AI:
    • Autopilot on first pass; note settings it chooses.
    • Then manual pass: Remove Noise Low–Normal, Sharpen Low–Normal, Face Recovery Low (10–20) for portraits.
    • Output: same format/color space as ON1.
  • Topaz Gigapixel AI (if available):
    • Standard or High Quality mode; suppress noise 10–30; remove blur 10–30.
  • Keep all other variables identical (resize factor, color space, output format).
  1. Evaluate on‑screen at 100% and 200%
  • Acutance and microcontrast: Does detail look real or “invented”?
  • Skin tones and faces: Plasticity, pore detail, eyelashes, eyebrows, artifacts near lips/eyes.
  • Text/edges: Halos, ringing, stair-stepping on diagonals, label legibility.
  • Fine textures: Foliage, hair, fabric weave — false detail vs preserved texture.
  • Noise handling: Retained vs smeared detail; blotchiness or chroma noise.
  • Color and tone: Shifts, banding in skies, crushed shadows.
  • Consistency: Do multiple images require lots of per-image tweaking?
  1. Print test (optional but decisive)
  • Make 8×10 or A4 prints from the 4× outputs of 2–3 files (portrait, texture-rich, noisy).
  • View at typical distance; then examine up close for halos, plasticity, banding, grain.
  1. Measure practicalities
  • Render time per image and total batch time.
  • GPU/CPU usage and thermals; note any throttling or crashes.
  • Effort: number of clicks/adjustments per image to get acceptable results.
  1. Score and decide
  • Use a simple matrix: columns = Baseline, ON1 HQ, Topaz Photo AI, Topaz Gigapixel; rows = criteria above. Score 1–5 per cell; note subjective comments.
  • Pick the tool that wins on your most frequent image types and meets your look preference with the least tweaking.

Recommended starting presets (to save time)

  • ON1 portraits: High Quality model; Sharpening Low; Noise Minimal; no grain; consider slight negative Texture in LR after if needed.
  • ON1 noisy wildlife: High Quality; Sharpening Moderate; Noise Moderate; micro-contrast modest; avoid overshoot on edges.
  • Topaz portraits: Auto, then manually cap Face Recovery to 10–20; Sharpen Low; Noise Low; avoid the “waxy” look.
  • Topaz textures/landscapes: Sharpen Normal; Noise Low–Normal; avoid Texture Boost extremes.

Tips and pitfalls

  • Don’t judge at 400% zoom; evaluate at 100–200% and via small prints.
  • Disable added grain and heavy output sharpening during evaluation; add after you choose a winner.
  • Keep lighting/white balance equal across outputs.
  • Beware of over-reliance on “wow” detail — prioritize naturalness on skin and realism on textures.
  • Save side-by-side crops (same pixel coordinates) for fair comparisons.

If you want, share a couple of representative images and your target print sizes, and I’ll suggest tool settings tailored to those files and your preferred look.