Because DS9 is interlaced (480i), standard deinterlacing methods cause jagged edges and camera judder. The Dione neural network model allowed users to deinterlace and upscale simultaneously, analyzing adjacent fields to reconstruct smooth motion at 60 frames per second (fps) or cleanly converting to 24fps progressive. 3. Gaia Computer Graphics (CG)
Elias posted a clip online with the title:
AI sometimes misinterprets complex textures, resulting in the "plastic" or "dreamy" look on faces. star trek deep space 9 s01 ai upscale 4k 2020 best
However, if you own the original DVDs, you can create your own "best" version:
: Purists who want clarity without AI over-processing. JoyBell / UTRCorp : Resolution : 1080p . Gaia Computer Graphics (CG) Elias posted a clip
For DS9 Season 1, this meant software could finally differentiate between the film grain of the live-action footage and the digital noise of the vintage 1993 visual effects. Key Visual Improvements in Season 1
These 2020-era upscales typically use AI models to specifically address the excessive film grain of the early seasons, aiming to restore the clarity of the underlying film print without creating "waxy" or "plastic-looking" skin textures. For DS9 Season 1, this meant software could
Critics of AI upscaling argue that it invents false data. Indeed, in space shots of DS9 , the AI occasionally smooths stars into unnatural streaks or confuses Bajoran earrings for jagged pixels. But this misses the point. The alternative to the 2020 AI upscale is not a perfect 4K negative (which does not exist for the CGI composites); the alternative is 480i DVD rips or low-bitrate streaming.
Processed via Gaia CG , which was specifically trained on computer-generated imagery. This allowed the smooth hulls of the USS Enterprise -D in "Emissary" or the geometric angles of the Cardassian station to remain sharp, clean, and free of organic-looking artifacts. 3. Color Grading and Grain Injection
Instead of just stretching the image, these AI models were trained on millions of frames to recognize what a human eye, a Cardassian uniform, or a starship hull should look like. For Season 1 of DS9, which often suffered from 90s "softness" and tape noise, AI upscaling finally provided a way to sharpen the image without losing the cinematic feel of the original film stock. The "Season 1" Challenge
The subreddit r/PlexDataHoarder or r/startrek occasionally have threads dedicated to these projects.