Getting Started with PixelForge

PixelForge Upscaler is a standalone desktop application that upscales, enhances, and converts images individually or in bulk queues entirely offline on your computer.

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1. Download & Installation

Download the official installer for your operating system from the download page:

Windows (Windows 10 / 11)

1. Download the Windows Setup installer (PixelForge-Setup.exe).
2. Double-click the downloaded file to run the setup wizard.
3. Follow the standard installation prompts.
4. Launch PixelForge Upscaler from your Desktop shortcut or Start Menu.

macOS (Apple Silicon & Intel)

1. Download the macOS Disk Image (PixelForge.dmg).
2. Double-click the .dmg file to open it.
3. Drag the PixelForge icon into your Applications folder.
4. Launch PixelForge from your Applications folder, Launchpad, or Spotlight search.

Note for macOS users: On first launch, if macOS asks to verify the application, click Open (or right-click and select Open).

Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch)

1. Download the AppImage (PixelForge.AppImage) or Debian package (PixelForge.deb).
2. For AppImage:
   • Right-click the file, go to Properties > Permissions, and check Allow executing file as program (or run chmod +x PixelForge.AppImage in terminal).
   • Double-click to run immediately without installation.
3. For Debian/Ubuntu (.deb):
   • Double-click to install via your software center, or run sudo dpkg -i PixelForge.deb.

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2. Quick-Start Tutorial (Upscaling Your First Image)

Once the application is running, upscaling a photo takes just a few clicks:

1. Add Your Image:

   • Drag and drop your image directly into the center workspace.
   • Or click the Add Images button in the top dropzone.

2. Select an AI Model / Preset: In the right-hand configuration panel, select the preset tailored to your image:

   • General Photo AI: For real-world photographs, landscapes, architecture, and textures.
   • Anime & Illustration: For clean lines, digital art, vector graphics, and 2D illustrations.
   • Portrait & Face Enhance: For portraits and photos containing human faces.
   • Fast Lanczos3 HD: For instant, ultra-fast resampling without heavy neural computation.

3. Choose Scale & Dimensions:

   • Select 2× or 4× for automatic super-resolution.
   • Or choose Custom and enter your desired Width and Height (toggle Lock original aspect ratio ON to prevent distortion).

4. Select Output Format & Quality:

   • Choose PNG (lossless), JPG, or WebP.
   • Adjust the Quality slider (92% recommended for optimal balance between visual clarity and file size).

5. Upscale:

   • Click the Play icon next to the image in the queue list, or click Upscale This Image.
   • The status badge will show real-time progress.

6. Inspect the Result:

   • Switch to the Before / After Compare tab in the top toolbar to drag the interactive split slider across the image and zoom in up to 3× to inspect fine details.
   • Click Open or Reveal in Folder to access the saved file directly in your file manager.

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3. Supported File Types

PixelForge can import and process:

• PNG (.png)
• JPEG / JPG (.jpg, .jpeg)
• WebP (.webp)
• AVIF (.avif)
• TIFF (.tiff, .tif)
• Bitmap (.bmp)