Snip for Mac · Guide
How to upscale an image on Mac
Preview can make an image bigger with Adjust Size, but it only stretches the pixels, so the result looks soft. To increase image resolution and keep edges sharp, use Snip — an AI image upscaler for Mac that runs locally, even offline. Upscaling ×2 is free within 3 edits a day; PRO adds ×4, custom sizes up to 8192 px and batch processing.
Make an image bigger in Preview
Preview comes with every Mac and can change an image’s pixel dimensions. It’s fine when you need a bigger file, not a sharper one.
Open Adjust Size
Open the image in Preview and choose Tools → Adjust Size. To keep the original file, choose File → Duplicate first.
Enter a bigger size
Choose percent and enter 200, or type a new width in pixels. Keep Scale proportionally and Resample image turned on.
Save
Check Resulting Size, click OK and save the image.
Where Preview stops
- Resampling spreads the existing pixels over a larger area. Edges and textures get soft, and blur or JPEG artifacts grow along with the image.
- Changing Resolution (pixels per inch) with Resample image turned off doesn’t add pixels — it only changes the print size.
- Photos on Mac can sharpen and add definition, but it can’t increase resolution.
Upscale an image with Snip
Snip is free to download. Upscaling ×2 with the Fast model counts as one of the 3 free edits a day; the Natural and Sharp models, ×4, custom sizes and batch processing are part of PRO.
Open the image
In Snip, choose Enhance Quality and drop a photo into the window, paste one with ⌘V or press ⌘O. PNG, JPEG, HEIC, TIFF, WebP and other common formats work.
Pick a model
Fast is the quickest and free. Natural is best for photos, and Sharp gives crisper, more faithful detail — both come with PRO.
Set the output size
Choose ×2, ×4 or Custom and enter the longest side in pixels. Before you start, Snip shows the final size and the approximate file size.
Enhance
Click Enhance or press ⌘↵. Large images are processed piece by piece, so keep Snip open until it finishes. Drag the divider in Split view to compare before and after.
Export
Export as PNG, JPEG or HEIC, copy the result with ⌘C or drag it into another app.
A local AI upscaler
Online upscalers upload your photo to their servers. Snip’s upscaling models are included in the app and run on your Mac, so photos never leave it and the upscaler works without an internet connection.
In Settings → Shortcuts, you can assign a shortcut to Enhance Quality that captures any part of your screen straight into the upscaler. The first capture asks for the Screen Recording permission.
What upscaling fixes well
- Small images you need bigger for print, a presentation or a large screen
- Old low-resolution photos and scans
- Photos that lost quality after compression in messengers and on social media
- Slightly soft shots that need crisper edges
What it can’t fix
- Heavy motion blur or a completely out-of-focus shot can’t be fully restored.
- The AI predicts detail, so small text, distant faces or license plates may come out different from reality. Don’t use upscaled images as documents or evidence.
Upscale many images at once
In Enhance Quality, drop several photos or a whole folder into Batch Mode. Snip upscales them with the same model and output size, then saves the results to a folder or a ZIP archive as PNG, JPEG or HEIC. You can regenerate selected images or retry the ones that failed. Batch processing is part of PRO.
Preview or Snip?
Preview is enough when you only need bigger dimensions. Snip is for a bigger image that still looks sharp.
| Feature | Preview | Snip |
|---|---|---|
| How it enlarges | Resamples the existing pixels | AI models rebuild detail |
| After enlarging | Softer the bigger the image gets | Sharper edges and textures |
| Sizes | Any size in pixels or percent | ×2, ×4 or custom, up to 8192 px |
| Many images at once | Several images open in one window | Whole folders with PRO |
| Runs on your Mac, offline | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Free, part of macOS | ×2 free within 3 edits a day; PRO from $9.99 a month |
Questions about upscaling images on Mac
How do I increase the resolution of an image on Mac?
In Preview, choose Tools → Adjust Size and enter a larger width with Resample image turned on — the image gets bigger, but not sharper. For a sharper result, open it in Snip’s Enhance Quality, choose ×2 or ×4 and click Enhance.
Is there a free image upscaler for Mac?
Yes. Snip upscales images ×2 with the Fast model for free, within 3 edits a day. ×4, custom sizes, the Natural and Sharp models and batch processing are part of PRO. Free open-source upscalers such as Upscayl also run on your Mac with no daily limit; they come as a separate download and take more setup.
Does Snip upscale images offline?
Yes. It’s a local AI upscaler: the models are included in the app and run on your Mac, so photos aren’t uploaded and upscaling works without an internet connection.
How big can an upscaled image be?
Up to four times the original size and no more than 8192 px on the longest side — about 50 megapixels for a 4:3 photo. Images larger than 4096 px are scaled down to 4096 px before enhancing, so upscaling works best on small and medium-sized images.
Can Snip unblur a photo on Mac?
It sharpens slightly soft photos and cleans up compression artifacts while it upscales. Heavy motion blur or a shot that’s completely out of focus can’t be fully fixed.
Why does Preview make my image blurry when I enlarge it?
Preview resamples the image: it spreads the existing pixels over a larger area and blends the gaps, so no new detail appears. Changing Resolution with Resample image turned off doesn’t add pixels at all — it only changes the print size.
Does it work on Intel Macs?
Yes. Snip runs on Macs with Apple silicon and Intel processors with macOS 15.6 or later.