Topaz Video: GPU-powered AI upscaling, denoising and restoration up to 4K

Updated on October 14, 2026

Topaz Video (formerly Topaz Video AI) is a desktop app for Windows and macOS that upscales, denoises, stabilizes and interpolates video footage using over 20 specialized AI models. Built by Topaz Labs in Dallas, Texas, the software was acquired by Adobe in September 2026 for roughly $340 million according to Forbes, though it continues as a standalone product. A monthly subscription starts at $59/month for Topaz Video alone, with no free tier available.

AI models, workflows and rendering in Topaz Video

Topaz Video ships with a library of purpose-built models. Proteus handles general upscaling, Iris focuses on faces, Nyx targets low-light noise, Rhea is built for 4x upscaling, and Apollo plus Chronos drive frame interpolation and smooth slow motion. The Starlight family, described by Topaz Labs as the first diffusion-based super-resolution techniques model for video that runs locally on a desktop, restores heavily compressed or archival footage with output up to 4K.

The workflow is straightforward. You drop a file into the interface, pick a preset or manually select a model, set output resolution and filter strength, then preview a short segment before committing to a full render. Local rendering is unlimited, which is a key selling point, while cloud rendering for Starlight Sharp, HQ and Fast models consumes monthly credits that expire at the end of each billing period.

Processing times vary widely. Community reports mention several hours of rendering for just a few minutes of footage with Starlight Precise, even on an RTX 5080. Proteus, by contrast, runs much faster on the same hardware.

• Upscale, Denoise, Restore, Stabilize, Slow Mo, Interpolate
• Local models plus cloud-only models (Starlight Sharp, HQ, Fast)
• Second Pass Enhancement stacks two treatments
• Premiere Pro panel and batch export queue

Adobe acquisition and what comes next

Adobe announced the Topaz Labs deal on June 25, 2026, then closed it on September 23, 2026. Forbes put the price at around $340 million; Adobe itself did not disclose the terms. CEO and co-founder Eric Yang joined Adobe's Digital Video and Audio team. Topaz technology, which earned a 2025 Emmy Award, was already integrated into Firefly and Photoshop for image upscaling.

Adobe has confirmed that the Topaz Labs brand and its standalone apps will remain available. The most likely next steps are deeper integrations into Premiere Pro and Lightroom, which would let existing Creative Cloud subscribers access Topaz models without a separate license. Competing video enhancement tools like Vmake Video Enhancer and AI Video Upscale by CapCut operate in the browser with free tiers, but none match the depth of control that Topaz Video provides locally.

Pricing and system requirements

Since Topaz Labs retired the perpetual license in late 2025, every plan is subscription-based. Here are the main tiers listed on the official site (prices may change, check topazlabs.com for the latest).

• Mac Apple Silicon (macOS 13+), 16 GB RAM, 45 GB storage
• Windows 10+, AVX CPU, GPU with 6 GB VRAM (8 GB for Rhea and Aion)
• Starlight Mini locally requires at least 10 GB VRAM on NVIDIA or a Mac M Pro/Max/Ultra with 36 GB (macOS 15)
• Mac Intel and Linux not supported, GTX 10-series GPUs excluded for Starlight models

Frequently asked questions