Each frame (approximately 45,000 frames per episode) was fed into Topaz Video Enhance AI. The key model used was "Gaia" or "Artemis," tuned specifically for live-action content. The AI was trained on millions of pairs of low-res and high-res images to:
The "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1 AI Upscale 4K 2020" project stands as a triumph of fan restoration. It transforms a blurry relic of the 90s into a vibrant, modern viewing experience. While it will never fully replace a proper studio remaster sourced from the original negatives (which would cost millions), for the foreseeable star trek deep space 9 s01 ai upscale 4k 2020
In 2020, two major fan-led initiatives, and the Deep Space Nine Upscale Project (DS9UP) , gained significant traction for using AI to upscale Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) to 4K resolution . These projects emerged because Paramount declined a formal HD remaster due to the prohibitive costs of recreating the show's complex CGI. Key 2020 AI Upscale Projects Each frame (approximately 45,000 frames per episode) was
Paramount/CBS (at the time) did nothing to take it down. Why? For the same reason they didn’t remaster the show: money. Shutting down a niche fans project would generate bad press and highlight the studio’s own failure to deliver a HD product. Meanwhile, the AI upscale acted as free advertising; fans who watched the 4K fan version often went on to buy official DS9 merchandise or subscribe to Paramount+ (where the SD version still lives). It transforms a blurry relic of the 90s