# Model Selection
We recommend starting with what you are trying to do, then selecting the best model from there.
### Image
Upscale an Image
Three tiers, each with a different tradeoff:
| | Gigapixel | Wonder | Bloom |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Tier** | Precision | Generative | Creative |
| **Description** | Precision Image Upscale & Enhancement | Generative Image Upscale & Enhancement | Creative Image Upscale & Enhancement |
| **Intent** | Improve resolution, preserve source characteristics. | Improve and restore by adding detail and texture, while preserving intent. | Transform with new, creative detail or stylization. |
| **Use Case** | General purpose upscaling & enhancement. | Upcaling, restoring and improving low resolution or compressed sources. | Upscaling, improving, and transforming GenAI sources. |
#### Gigapixel
| Model | Use Case |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| [`Standard 2`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/gigapixel/standard-2) | Default — works for most images |
| [`High Fidelity 2`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/gigapixel/high-fidelity-2) | Maximum source preservation |
| [`Low Resolution 2`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/gigapixel/low-resolution-2) | Very small inputs (thumbnails, web scrapes) |
| [`Art & CGI`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/gigapixel/art-and-cgi) | Illustrations, renders, game assets, digital art |
| [`Text & Shapes`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/gigapixel/text-and-shapes) | Documents, screenshots, text-heavy images |
| [`Recover Faces`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/gigapixel/recover-faces) | Portraits where facial detail is the priority |
| [`Transparent Image Upscale`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/gigapixel/transparent-image-upscale) | PNGs with alpha channels |
#### Wonder
| Model | Use Case |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| [`Standard Max`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/wonder/standard-max) | Default generative upscaling |
| [`Wonder 2`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/wonder/wonder-2) | Stronger generation for more detail |
| [`Redefine: Realistic`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/wonder/redefine) | Generative enhancement grounded in photorealism |
| [`Redefine: Creative`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/wonder/redefine) | Generative enhancement with more creative freedom |
| [`Recover 3`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/wonder/recover-3) | Heavily degraded or damaged sources |
#### Bloom
| Model | Use case |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| [`Bloom Creative`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/bloom/bloom-creative) | Maximum stylization |
| [`Bloom Realism`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/bloom/bloom-realism) | Creative but more grounded |
Sharpen or Deblur
**Standard** — use when you know the blur type:
| Model | Use case |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| [`Sharpen`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/sharpen/standard) | General-purpose — good starting point |
| [`Sharpen Strong`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/sharpen/strong) | Noticeably soft images |
| [`Sharpen Natural`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/sharpen/natural) | Subtle sharpening that avoids over-processing |
| [`Sharpen Lens Blur 2`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/sharpen/lens-blur-2) | Optical blur from lens softness or missed focus |
| [`Sharpen Motion Blur`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/sharpen/motion-blur) | Blur from camera or subject movement |
| [`Sharpen Refocus`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/sharpen/refocus) | Slightly out-of-focus images |
| [`Portrait`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/sharpen/portrait) | Optimized for faces and skin texture |
| [`Wildlife`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/sharpen/wildlife) | Optimized for fur, feathers, scales |
**Generative** — use when the source is heavily degraded or you're unsure of the blur type:
| Model | Use case |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [`Super Focus 2`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/sharpen/super-focus-2) | Generative sharpening that recovers detail beyond the original |
Reduce Noise or Grain
Pick based on noise severity:
| Model | Use case |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| [`Denoise Normal`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/denoise/normal) | Light noise — well-lit conditions |
| [`Denoise Strong`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/denoise/strong) | Moderate noise — high ISO, low light |
| [`Denoise Extreme`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/denoise/extreme) | Heavy noise — very high ISO, underexposed |
| [`Dust & Scratch 2`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/removal-and-cleanup/dust-and-scratch-2) | Film scans or archival images with physical artifacts |
Remove Objects or Backgrounds
| Model | Use case |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| [`Background Removal`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/removal-and-cleanup/background-removal) | Remove the background entirely |
| [`Image Object Matting`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/removal-and-cleanup/image-object-matting) | Extract subject with transparency for compositing |
Correct Color or Lighting
| Model | Use case |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| [`Balance Color`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/color-and-lighting/balance-color) | Auto white balance and color correction |
| [`Adjust Lighting 2`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/color-and-lighting/adjust-lighting-2) | Exposure and contrast adjustment |
| [`Image Colorization`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/image-models/color-and-lighting/image-colorization) | Convert black-and-white to color |
### Video
Upscale or Enhance a Video
Three families, each with a different tradeoff:
| | Proteus | Starlight | Astra |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Tier** | Precision | Generative | Creative |
| **Description** | Precision Video Upscale & Enhancement | Generative Video Upscale & Enhancement | Creative Video Upscale & Enhancement |
| **Intent** | Improve resolution, preserve source characteristics. | Improve and restore by adding detail and texture, while preserving intent. | Transform with new, creative detail or stylization. |
| **Use Case** | General purpose upscaling & enhancement. | Upcaling, restoring and improving archival and GenAI | Upscaling, improving, and transforming GenAI sources. |
#### Proteus
**Don't know where to start?** Use **Proteus**. Then narrow down if your source has specific characteristics:
| Model | Use case |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [`Proteus`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/proteus) | Default — handles most content well |
| [`Proteus Natural`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/proteus-natural) | Lighter processing, stays closest to the original |
| [`Artemis HQ / MQ / LQ`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/artemis) | Match to your source quality — HQ for clean footage, LQ for degraded |
| [`Artemis Aliasing/Moire`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/artemis) | Visible aliasing or moire patterns |
| [`Artemis Medium Halo / Strong Halo`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/artemis) | Halo artifacts from older upscaling or edge enhancement |
| [`Dione TV / DV`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/dione) | Interlaced broadcast (TV) or camcorder (DV) footage |
| [`Dione Robust`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/dione) | Interlaced content with heavy degradation |
| [`Dione Dehalo / Robust Dehalo`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/dione) | Interlaced content with halo artifacts |
| [`Gaia 2 (Animation)`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/gaia) | Animation and single-frame animation |
| [`Gaia HQ / CG`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/gaia) | High-quality or general CG and rendered content |
| [`Iris MQ / LQ`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/iris) | Legacy content at medium or low quality |
| [`Rhea`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/rhea) | General enhancement with natural texture |
| [`Theia Fine Tune Detail`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/theia) | Push detail enhancement — more aggressive |
| [`Theia Fine Tune Fidelity`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/proteus/theia) | Preserve original look — lighter touch |
#### Starlight
Quality and Fast subtiers. Use Quality when output matters most, Fast when speed or cost is the priority.
| Model | Subtier | Use case |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| [`Starlight HQ`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/starlight/starlight-hq) | Quality | Maximum quality generative output |
| [`Starlight Precise 2`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/starlight/starlight-precise-2) | Quality | Default for most generative work |
| [`Starlight Precise 1`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/starlight/starlight-precise-1) | Quality | Highest fidelity to source |
| [`Starlight Sharp`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/starlight/starlight-sharp) | Quality | Emphasis on sharpness and edge detail |
| [`Starlight Fast 2`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/starlight/starlight-fast-2) | Fast | Best fast model — start here for speed |
| [`Starlight Fast 1`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/starlight/starlight-fast-1) | Fast | Speed-optimized generative enhancement |
| [`Starlight Mini`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/starlight/starlight-mini) | Fast | Lightest — previews or cost-sensitive jobs |
#### Astra
| Model | Use case |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| [`Astra Creative`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/astra/astra-creative) | Creative video transformation |
Reduce Noise or Grain
#### Denoise
Quality and Fast subtiers via the Nyx family:
| Model | Subtier | Use case |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| [`Nyx`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/denoise/nyx) | Quality | Default — balanced noise reduction and detail |
| [`Nyx XL`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/denoise/nyx-xl) | Quality | Stronger reduction for heavy noise |
| [`Nyx High Fidelity`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/denoise/nyx-high-fidelity) | Quality | Maximum detail preservation, lighter reduction |
| [`Nyx Fast`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/denoise/nyx-fast) | Fast | Speed-optimized denoising |
Change Frame Rate or Create Slow-Mo
#### Frame Interpolation
Quality and Fast subtiers. Generates new frames to increase frame rate or create slow motion.
| Model | Subtier | Use case |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| [`Apollo`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/frame-interpolation/apollo) | Quality | Default — best all-around quality |
| [`Chronos`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/frame-interpolation/chronos) | Quality | Alternative algorithm for fast action or complex scenes |
| [`Aion`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/frame-interpolation/aion) | Quality | Additional option for specific content types |
| [`Apollo Fast`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/getting-started/broken-reference) | Fast | Speed-optimized |
| [`Chronos Fast`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/getting-started/broken-reference) | Fast | Speed-optimized alternative algorithm |
Deblur or Colorize
#### Video Utilities
| Model | Use case |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| [`Themis 2`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/video-utilities/themis-2-motion-deblur) | Remove motion blur from camera shake or fast movement |
| [`Video Colorization`](https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/video-utilities/video-colorization) | Convert B\&W or desaturated footage to color |