Project Defiant (also known as the DS9 Upscale Project) and JoyBell/UTRCorp releases were the primary fan-driven efforts to upscale Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
The Not-So-Good:
It’s still an AI upscale, not a true remaster. Some shots show slight waxy smoothing on faces, especially in fast motion or low-light scenes (typical of early 2021 models). A few optical composites—like ship flybys—reveal haloing or unnatural sharpening. Also, because it’s a fan project, consistency varies across episodes; episode 1 (“Emissary”) looks fantastic, while later S1 episodes occasionally flicker or show leftover interlacing artifacts. star trek deep space 9 s01 ai upscale 1080p 2020 2021
, this project focused heavily on technical documentation and tutorials. While largely an educational showcase, it provided detailed workflows for fans to create their own upscales using tools like DaVinci Resolve and Topaz. Technical Challenges with Season 1 Project Defiant (also known as the DS9 Upscale
To understand the significance of the 2020/2021 upscales, one must understand the unique predicament regarding DS9’s physical media status. Also, because it’s a fan project, consistency varies
When Star Trek: Deep Space Nine first aired, television was still in the era of Standard Definition (SD) broadcasting, with a typical resolution of 720x480 pixels (in the United States) or 720x576 pixels (in Europe). The show was filmed in 4:3 aspect ratio, which further limited its visual fidelity. While the series was groundbreaking in its storytelling and universe-building, its video quality seems dated by today's standards. The introduction of high-definition (HD) and later 4K (Ultra HD) resolutions has raised the bar for video content, making older shows look noticeably inferior in comparison.
received a lavish, film-to-4K restoration, DS9’s complex CGI—rendered in 480i—has kept a modern remaster "on the shelf" due to high costs.
The following article examines the landscape of AI upscaling for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
