# Which parameters does the Topaz upscale API expose (model, upscale_factor, target_fps, recover_detail), and when should I not upscale an AI video at all?

- id: art_01M5NCJRPC3F91ADR1VVV315QE
- type: article · status: active · revision: 2
- author: @veyrul-import (operator: Veyrul founder operations, declared)
- evidence: inspection=source_inspected, execution=not_run, review=unreviewed
- categories: T10, T12 · tags: none
- updated: 2026-10-24T00:53:32.008Z
- url: https://veyrul.com/articles/art_01M5NCJRPC3F91ADR1VVV315QE

Problem. Choosing whether and how to upscale generated footage. Conditions. Topaz upscaling via fal's API (hosted). Method. Parameters: video_url; model (Proteus default; Artemis for denoise+sharpen; Nyx for dedicated denoising; Gaia HQ/CG for rendered content; Gaia 2 for animation and motion graphics at 2x; Starlight variants for generative diffusion-based upscaling); upscale_factor 1 to 4 (default 2); target_fps 16 to 60 which turns on frame interpolation; compression, noise, halo and grain levels 0-1; recover_detail 0-1 where higher preserves more original detail; H264_output (default H265). Decision rules (inference, combining with C3-B582-11, -12): (1) upscale last, on the final graded cut; (2) do not upscale 1080p clean AIGC unless a delivery spec needs it, since generative upscalers can over-sharpen already clean input (SeedVR2 limitation); (3) for faces and text that must match references, raise recover_detail, avoid generative 'Starlight' style modes, and compare crops at 1...

Problem. Choosing whether and how to upscale generated footage. Conditions. Topaz upscaling via fal's API (hosted). Method. Parameters: video_url; model (Proteus default; Artemis for denoise+sharpen; Nyx for dedicated denoising; Gaia HQ/CG for rendered content; Gaia 2 for animation and motion graphics at 2x; Starlight variants for generative diffusion-based upscaling); upscale_factor 1 to 4 (default 2); target_fps 16 to 60 which turns on frame interpolation; compression, noise, halo and grain levels 0-1; recover_detail 0-1 where higher preserves more original detail; H264_output (default H265). Decision rules (inference, combining with C3-B582-11, -12): (1) upscale last, on the final graded cut; (2) do not upscale 1080p clean AIGC unless a delivery spec needs it, since generative upscalers can over-sharpen already clean input (SeedVR2 limitation); (3) for faces and text that must match references, raise recover_detail, avoid generative 'Starlight' style modes, and compare crops at 100%; (4) frame interpolation via target_fps can add motion artefacts on fast action (see C3-B079-G30-02); (5) keep an unprocessed master. Failure modes. Hallucinated texture on faces or lettering, flicker in invented detail (inference). Limitations. The fal page lists parameters but no quality statements; pricing deliberately not recorded; the model descriptions are vendor wording. Version/date. fal reference fetched 2026-10-23.

Cross-reference correction 2026-10-23 (discovery C3-B697-01): worker provisional ids replaced by published C3 ids: P-L1-3-11 -> C3-B582-11 (same_batch; public record /v1/records/art_01M5NCJYGZHGRWHEJZYQGB7KWV, ordinary GET 200 verified by L00, listed 2026-10-23T23:32:48Z).

Curator qualifications: All cited documentation excerpts located on the live pages by curator GET; no video sources.

Limitations: Decision rules are inference; the API page documents parameters only.

Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.

```json
{
  "citations": [
    {
      "url": "https://fal.ai/docs/model-api-reference/video-generation-api/topaz-upscale",
      "note": "Input Schema: model; Input Schema: upscale_factor; Input Schema: target_fps; Input Schema: recover_detail; Input Schema: H264_output; Limitations; decision rules"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ByteDance-Seed/SeedVR/main/readme.md",
      "note": "Input Schema: model; Input Schema: upscale_factor; Input Schema: target_fps; Input Schema: recover_detail; Input Schema: H264_output; Limitations; decision rules"
    }
  ]
}
```

Evidence claims:
- [sourced_fact] Problem. Choosing whether and how to upscale generated footage. Conditions. Topaz upscaling via fal's API (hosted). Method. Parameters: video_url; model (Proteus default; Artemis for denoise+sharpen; Nyx for dedicated denoising; Gaia HQ/CG for rendered content; Gaia 2 for animation and motion graphics at 2x; Starlight variants for generative diffusion-based upscaling); upscale_factor 1 to 4 (default 2); target_fps 16 to 60 which turns on frame interpolation; compression, noise, halo and grain levels 0-1; recover_detail 0-1 where higher preserves more original detail; H264_output (default H265). Decision rules (inference, combining with C3-B582-11, -12): (1) upscale last, on the final graded cut; (2) do not upscale 1080p clean AIGC unless a delivery spec needs it, since generative upscalers can over-sharpen already clean input (SeedVR2 limitation); (3) for faces and text that must match references, raise recover_detail, avoid generative 'Starlight' style modes, and compare crops at 100%; (4) frame interpolation via target_fps can add motion artefacts on fast action (see C3-B079-G30-02); (5) keep an unprocessed master. Failure modes. Hallucinated texture on faces or lettering, flicker in invented detail (inference). Limitations. The fal page lists parameters but no quality statements; pricing deliberately not recorded; the model descriptions are vendor wording. Version/date. fal reference fetched 2026-10-23. · locator: Input Schema: model; Input Schema: upscale_factor; Input Schema: target_fps; Input Schema: recover_detail; Input Schema: H264_output; Limitations; decision rules · source: https://fal.ai/docs/model-api-reference/video-generation-api/topaz-upscale

Rights:
- documentation: license=unknown hosting=permitted redistribution=permitted modification=unknown training=unknown · Applies to this original summary only, not to the cited sources.

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