For Deep Space Nine Season 1, this changed the game. Instead of simply stretching a 480p image to fill a 4K screen—which results in a blurry, pixelated mess—AI upscale models analyze the geometry of the frame. The software recognizes a human face, a Cardassian neck ridge, or the metallic hull of the USS Saratoga and injects realistic texture, sharpness, and depth that was previously invisible. Anatomy of a 4K AI Upscale: Season 1 Under the Microscope
Since 2020, other projects (such as the "AI Upscaled Project" by SpAwN and others) have iterated on the technology, sometimes offering different color grades or file compression methods. However, the 2020 "captainricky" release remains a landmark moment.
: ProRes 422 (to avoid further compression during the process) or PNG sequence. Common Pitfalls
: Reassembling the upscaled image sequences into video files using DaVinci Resolve Notable Community Projects
Thanks to the leaps in AI technology made around 2020, fans can finally see star trek deep space 9 s01 ai upscale 4k 2020 top
Text Interpretation: The AI struggles with text. Screen displays on the computer terminals (LCARS) can sometimes warp into unreadable, alien gibberish if the source text is too blurry.
For decades, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has been the "problem child" of the franchise when it comes to high-definition viewing. While The Next Generation received a costly, labor-intensive official remaster, DS9 was left behind in the standard-definition era. In 2020, a dedicated fan decided to fix that using cutting-edge AI technology, creating what is arguably the definitive way to watch the series today.
Prior to 2020, traditional "bicubic" or "lanczos" upscaling simply stretched the existing pixels and blurred the results. It made the image bigger, but not sharper.
AI works by guessing. Sometimes, it guesses wrong. A distant star might be misinterpreted as digital noise and deleted, or a complex alien control panel might get distorted into gibberish. For Deep Space Nine Season 1, this changed the game
The upscale significantly improves clarity on faces and station details, though it cannot match a professional studio remaster like the clips seen in the documentary What We Left Behind Top 2020 Alternatives for Season 1
However, Paramount chose a more cost-effective method for the 1990s. The 35mm film was transferred to NTSC composite videotape for editing, color grading, and visual effects insertion. This means the master tapes of DS9 exist only in standard definition (480i). To make an official HD or 4K remaster, Paramount would have to find millions of pieces of raw 35mm film, re-edit every episode frame-by-frame, and entirely recreate thousands of CGI and model-based visual effects shots from scratch.
Using AI models (like Artemis or Gaia) that sharpen eyes and skin texture without creating "uncanny valley" faces.
TLDR: DS9 upscale is here for Season 1. Skip to the bottom for instructions on where to get it. Mods, please.. Reddit·r/startrek Anatomy of a 4K AI Upscale: Season 1
As one project leader noted, "Paramount has announced they have no intent to change this... Anyone who wants a better version of the show, therefore, is going to have to create it themselves".
The AI-upscaled version of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's first season is a visually stunning release that offers a great viewing experience. While minor inconsistencies in the upscaling process and unchanged audio might prevent it from being perfect, it's an excellent option for fans and a great way to experience one of the best Star Trek series in 4K.
For years, traditional upscaling algorithms simply stretched the 480i image, resulting in a blurry, muddy mess. The year 2020 served as a turning point due to consumer access to machine learning software, specifically Topaz Video Enhance AI (now Topaz Video AI).