I've recently started a new project using the latest AI models to restore and upscale screenshots from some classic HSN and QVC broadcasts.
Just to clarify, I work with stills and screencaps of all qualities—from low-res to high-res—but I am not enhancing the full videos!
Because a lot of these original TV broadcasts are quite old, the source files are usually very low-resolution and full of compression artifacts. Finding the right frames and getting the AI to clean up the noise to bring out crisp details—without making everything look plastic or overly processed—is pretty challenging. It takes a good amount of time to dial the settings in perfectly for these older captures.
I'll be posting the restored images here in this thread as I finish them. In the meantime, I'd love for you to check out another restoration project I recently put together. I upscaled and enhanced some great shots of Rébecca from Pearl TV, and they turned out amazing.
Great work!
One small thing, if you can. Convert the images to JPG before posting. The quality won't be impacted much but the size will be way smaller and easier to download
Great work. QVC & HSN have been the best source of content for a long time, QVC is still putting out great content today.
On the channel it says your last video was 3yrs. ago. Do you plan on adding new content to the channel?
killer wrote: Thu Feb 19, 2026 3:49 pm
Great work. QVC & HSN have been the best source of content for a long time, QVC is still putting out great content today.
On the channel it says your last video was 3yrs. ago. Do you plan on adding new content to the channel?
Thanks! Just to clarify, that channel actually isn't mine. I'm only using their original footage as a source for my upscales. I definitely don't want to take credit for their hard work, so I have no idea if they plan on uploading anything new
nyllover wrote: Thu Feb 19, 2026 2:53 pm
Great work!
One small thing, if you can. Convert the images to JPG before posting. The quality won't be impacted much but the size will be way smaller and easier to download
Good call! Those upscaled files do get pretty massive. I'll stick to JPGs from now on.
So you can do any clip? How about the close up of Lisa Masons feet at 57 seconds?
You got it! Feel free to drop any other requests. Including the link and exact timestamp like you just did is perfect—saves me a ton of time hunting for the source footage. I wish everyone did that!
AnonymousPasser wrote: Fri Feb 20, 2026 4:01 pm
What AI models do you use to upscale?
AI is honestly just the final 10% of a massively tedious pipeline. The actual heavy lifting is rigorous pre-processing—specifically using a VapourSynth/QTGMC script for meticulous deinterlacing and artifact removal, given how dated the source media is. If you just feed raw vintage footage directly into an AI, you'll only bake those structural flaws into the final render. Only after the foundational restoration is completely dialed in do I run it through Topaz and SeedVR for the finishing touches. There's no magic one-click AI model; it's mostly a grueling, manual workflow.
I've been meaning to give you kudos on taking a whirl with these. Unfortunately given the source material, it's a case of turd polishing...but the effort is certainly appreciated!
paradigm88 wrote: Sat Feb 21, 2026 5:43 am
I've been meaning to give you kudos on taking a whirl with these. Unfortunately given the source material, it's a case of turd polishing...but the effort is certainly appreciated!
Haha, thanks! You hit the nail on the head—there's only so much magic the AI can work on source material this rough. Definitely a classic case of turd polishing, but I had fun giving it a shot!
sleepdog wrote: Sat Feb 21, 2026 6:38 am
Haha, thanks! You hit the nail on the head—there's only so much magic the AI can work on source material this rough. Definitely a classic case of turd polishing, but I had fun giving it a shot!
Makes me realize how much our brains still had to fill in when we saw those moments live on television all those years ago!
sleepdog wrote: Sat Feb 21, 2026 6:38 am
Haha, thanks! You hit the nail on the head—there's only so much magic the AI can work on source material this rough. Definitely a classic case of turd polishing, but I had fun giving it a shot!
Makes me realize how much our brains still had to fill in when we saw those moments live on television all those years ago!
Spot on. Makes you kind of miss the days when CRT TVs hid all those imperfections for us!
My faves are Chris Scanlon, Mary Beth Roe, Lisa Mason
