Set this to "Best" for the highest quality results.
Part of the (now integrated into the Maxon One ecosystem), Instant 4K is a professional upscaling tool designed to convert lower-resolution video into high-quality 4K footage.
Users can fine-tune "Sharpness," "Quality," and "Anti-aliasing" sliders to achieve the perfect look for specific footage types, such as anime music videos (AMVs) or documentary archives. How to Use Instant 4K in After Effects instant 4k plugin after effects
Create a new composition in After Effects and set the resolution to your target 4K output (e.g., 3840 x 2160 for UHD).
Toggle the effect on and off to compare the upscaled version against the original stretched footage to see the immediate improvement in clarity. Professional Alternatives in 2026 Set this to "Best" for the highest quality results
Go to the Effects & Presets panel, search for "Instant 4K," and drag it onto your video layer. Configure Settings:
Produces significantly higher quality results than the native "Scale" property in After Effects. How to Use Instant 4K in After Effects
Use a setting around 3 to smooth out jagged edges without making the image look soft.
Retooled to be up to 400% faster than its predecessor, Instant HD, making it efficient even for high-resolution renders.
Instant 4K Plugin for After Effects: The Ultimate Guide to Upscaling
