AI video upscale and artifact fix checklist
Diagnose common AI video problems (flicker, warping, mushy detail, low resolution) and fix each with the cheapest step first.
1Diagnose before fixing
☐ Watch at 100% size, then frame by frame around problem moments. ☐ Note the type: flicker (brightness/texture pulsing), warping (shapes bending), drift (identity or colour changes), mush (smeared detail), stutter (uneven motion), artefacts at frame edges. ☐ Note when it starts. Many problems begin after the first few seconds, which means the shot is simply too long.
2Fix at generation (cheapest)
☐ Trim: keep only the clean section; most problems are in the last third. ☐ Regenerate with less motion: one camera move, slower speed, lower motion strength. ☐ Simplify the frame: fewer people, hands out of frame, no text. ☐ Switch to image-to-video from an approved still for stability. ☐ Shorter duration, then extend or cut between shots. ☐ Try a higher quality mode if your tool offers one.
3Fix in post
☐ Flicker: apply a deflicker filter or light temporal noise reduction. ☐ Stutter: use frame interpolation (optical flow) or drop to a cinematic 24 fps. ☐ Low resolution: use an AI video upscaler; upscale once, at the end, and check faces and text for invented detail. ☐ Mushy texture: add fine film grain after upscaling; it hides smearing and unifies clips. ☐ Colour drift between clips: grade all clips together with one look. ☐ Edge artefacts: crop or reframe slightly (5-10%).
4Final QA
☐ Watch the full edit on a phone and a large screen. ☐ Check hands, faces, text and logos in every shot. ☐ Confirm export settings match the platform (resolution, frame rate, aspect ratio). ☐ Apply AI-content disclosure labels where required.
Example input
An 8-second clip where the subject's face warps after 5 seconds and the background flickers.
Example output
Diagnosis: warping starts at 5s; background texture flickers throughout. Fix: trim to 0-4.5s; regenerate with 'static camera' and lower motion strength for a cleaner background; apply a light deflicker in post; upscale the final take and add fine grain; QA faces on a large screen.
Troubleshooting
- The upscaler invents odd faces: upscale less aggressively or use a model setting that preserves faces; sometimes the original resolution looks better.
- Interpolation creates wobbly edges on fast motion: interpolate only slower shots.
Known limitations
- Post-processing can hide artefacts but not fix fundamentally broken anatomy or physics; regenerate those shots.
- Upscaler and interpolation features vary by tool; the steps are general, not tool-specific instructions.