Adobe Super Resolution in Lightroom and Photoshop uses artificial intelligence to increase an image’s pixel count by up to four times. Although it cannot perfectly recover detail that was never captured, it can make lower-resolution images more useful for cropping, editing, and larger prints.
Adobe developed the feature using its Sensei AI technology, trained on millions of photographs. By comparing full-resolution images with smaller versions, the system learned how to estimate detail when enlarging a photo. It then applies those learned patterns to create a higher-resolution version of your image.
The process does generate new pixels, so results will vary depending on the original photo. However, Super Resolution often produces cleaner edges and smoother detail than traditional upscaling methods, with fewer visible artifacts such as jagged edges or excessive softness. It can also perform well with portraits, though it is always worth reviewing faces and other fine details closely after processing.
In Photoshop, Super Resolution is available through Adobe Camera Raw. It is especially useful for RAW files, which offer greater editing flexibility and image-quality potential. However, the feature can also be used with common formats such as JPEG, HEIC, and TIFF when they are opened through Adobe Camera Raw.
In the sections below, you will learn how to use Super Resolution with RAW files in Photoshop, configure JPEG and HEIC files for use with Adobe Camera Raw, and apply the feature in Lightroom.
Using Super Resolution in Adobe Camera Raw Through Photoshop
Start by opening a RAW image in Photoshop. RAW files automatically launch in Adobe Camera Raw, where you can access the Super Resolution feature.
Right-click the image and choose Enhance. You can also use Command+Shift+D on macOS or Control+Shift+D on Windows. The Enhance Preview dialog will appear, providing options for processing the file.
Make sure the Super Resolution checkbox is selected. You may also see the Raw Details option, which improves how RAW image data is interpreted. Use the preview window to assess the result: drag within the image to inspect different areas, or click the magnifying-glass icon to zoom out and then select a specific area for closer review.
When you are ready, click Enhance. Photoshop will display an estimated processing time, although the conversion is often completed more quickly than expected. Processing time depends on image size and computer performance; for example, a 12-megapixel image can be enlarged to approximately 48 megapixels in a matter of seconds or minutes.
To bypass the preview dialog and apply the most recently used Enhance settings, hold Option on macOS or Alt on Windows while selecting Enhance.
After processing, inspect the enlarged image at 100% or higher magnification. Fine-tune sharpening, texture, and noise-reduction controls in the adjustment panel to ensure that detailed areas look natural.
Finally, click Done to save the enhanced version alongside the original file, usually with “-Enhanced” added to its filename. Choose Open instead if you want to continue editing the enhanced image in Photoshop.
Using Super Resolution with JPEG, HEIC, and TIFF Files
To use Super Resolution on JPEG, HEIC, or TIFF files in Photoshop, configure these formats to open in Adobe Camera Raw by default. The Camera Raw Filter found under Photoshop’s Filter menu does not provide access to Super Resolution, so this preference change is required.
Open Photoshop Preferences and select File Handling. Then click Camera Raw Preferences and open the File Management section. Under the JPEG/HEIC options, choose Automatically Open All Supported JPEGs and HEICs. If you also want to enhance TIFF files, select the equivalent automatic-opening option for TIFF images.
After enabling these settings, supported files will open in Adobe Camera Raw automatically, giving you access to Super Resolution and its related adjustment tools. Keep in mind that this changes Photoshop’s usual opening behavior for those image types. If you later prefer images to open directly in the standard Photoshop workspace, return to Camera Raw Preferences and restore the previous settings.
While RAW capture is common on DSLR and mirrorless cameras from brands such as Canon, Nikon, and Sony, modern smartphones increasingly support high-quality RAW formats as well. Examples include Apple ProRAW and Google’s computational RAW technology, both of which can provide more editing flexibility than standard JPEG files.
How to use Super resolution from Adobe Lightroom
For a few months there, it was tough to use Super Resolution if you use lightroom filters for cataloging and modifying your photos. happily, with the June 2021 release of Lightroom, the feature is built-in.
Using Super Resolution in Lightroom is straightforward, though it sits outside the usual editing workflow. In Library mode, select an image and choose Photo > Enhance, or right-click the photo and select Enhance. Lightroom will generate a preview and open a dialog where you can inspect the result, zoom and pan around the image, compare before-and-after views, and see an estimated processing time. When satisfied, click Enhance to create the improved version.
Review the enhanced image closely at high magnification, especially around fine details such as hair, fur, and textured edges. Super Resolution can occasionally make these areas appear overly sharp or introduce unwanted noise, so reducing sharpening may help. Correcting purple and green color fringing manually in the Lens Corrections panel can also reduce visible artifacts.
The shortcut differs between Lightroom Classic and the cloud-based Lightroom app. In Lightroom Classic, use Ctrl+Alt+I on Windows or Control+Option+I on Mac. In Lightroom, use Ctrl+Alt+E on Windows or Command+Option+E on Mac. Lightroom Classic also provides a shortcut to apply your previous Enhance settings directly: Shift+Ctrl+Alt+I on Windows or Shift+Control+Option+I on Mac.
Super Resolution works with both RAW and JPEG files. However, when enhancing a JPEG, Lightroom creates the result as a DNG file. If you need a widely shareable image afterward, export the enhanced DNG as a JPEG.
