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Participant
January 17, 2024
Answered

Image sizes for AI generated images | upscaling, allowed?

  • January 17, 2024
  • 5 replies
  • 6228 views

Dear all,

 

I have just submitted my first batch of AI generated images to Adobe Stock.

 

I upscaled them (under 20 mb file size) - using gigapixel ai.

Now, i read/heard someonewhere that upscaling is not allowed/will be rejected?

 

If this is the case, then how can you create an image , from let's say Midjourney, that is big enough (the 4mb - 8mb file size) to submit?

Also i'm wondering, the files i submitted now are more or less 15-20 MP big, they will be rejected aswell? It has to be around 3200 pixels on the long side max then?

Thank you so much,

Joris

Correct answer Abambo

Megabytes are not a sign of quality. Quality is important. Images need to be ar least 4Mp (4 Megapixels) and can't be above 100Mp.

 

Upscaling does not provide more quality and tends to amplify defects in images. The general mantra before generative AI was: "do not upscale". That's probably where your information are from. But also at that time, when you upscaled and the quality was preserved, the asset got accepted.

5 replies

Inspiring
September 26, 2025

AI tools now generate large, high-quality images with little editing, but costs are higher and upscaling may risk rejection, it’s all about balancing cost, time, and revenue.
Now with the "similar content"plague, it's hard to balance this.

Abambo
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 28, 2025
quote

(...) it’s all about balancing cost, time, and revenue.
Now with the "similar content"plague, it's hard to balance this.


By @Edward_St


Buy a camera. Do photos. They are not cheap neither, and they get also rejected with the similar reason. But at least, you can also submit to other databases.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
Evri
Inspiring
January 28, 2025

I'm not a fan of upscalers... They do their job poorly by just smudging and anti-aliasing. 

Does adobe have any plans to generate higher resolutions images? 

daniellei4510
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 28, 2025

Good ones don't. Some, like Gigapixel AI, actually improve upon the original. 

Adobe Community Expert | If you can't fix it, hide it; if you can't hide it, delete it.
Evri
Inspiring
January 28, 2025

Sorry, but you're wrong. I know how upscalers work

Abambo
Community Expert
AbamboCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 18, 2024

Megabytes are not a sign of quality. Quality is important. Images need to be ar least 4Mp (4 Megapixels) and can't be above 100Mp.

 

Upscaling does not provide more quality and tends to amplify defects in images. The general mantra before generative AI was: "do not upscale". That's probably where your information are from. But also at that time, when you upscaled and the quality was preserved, the asset got accepted.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
Jill_C
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 17, 2024

If the file was too large you wouldn't even have been able to upload it. The min/max file size is checked during the upload process. However, I've heard frequently here and in the Adobe Stock Discord channel that it's best not to upscale the image too much, as that can exaggerate some of the inherent AI flaws. Inspect your images very carefully by zooming in at least 100% so that you can detect and fix all errors.

Jill C., Forum Volunteer
Participant
January 18, 2024

Cheers! will do !

daniellei4510
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 17, 2024

That is false. You can upscale AI images and Gigapixel AI is one of the best upscalers. I used to upscale from the default AI dimensions of 1024x(whatever) at 72 dpi up to 30" on the longest side at 300 dpi (I've since scaled down to 24" on the longest side, since any larger was requiring too much editing time to fix errors.

So yes, you can upscale, but be aware that upscaling will magnify and even add imperfections that you will need to fix, regardless of the size you prefer to upscale to.

Adobe Community Expert | If you can't fix it, hide it; if you can't hide it, delete it.
Participant
January 18, 2024

Thanks a lot for the reply! i'll try to keep it at around 3x upscale then.