Project Starlight¶

Development line: project:project-starlight · thread project-starlight-public-rollout
Last event: 2025-02-11 · 2 dated since 2025-02-06 · Researched: 2026-09-04 · confidence: high

What it is¶

Topaz's original generative diffusion model for restorers of archival video and low-resolution GenAI clips.

• Resolution upscaling.
• Structural reconstruction.
• Temporal consistency recovery.

The original model runs in the API as Starlight Precise 1 (sl-1) without manual controls, capped at 9 000 input frames. It is not one fixed product but the start of a model family, so choose by specific Starlight variant and run target.

Development line¶

• 2025-02-06 — Topaz Labs publicly referenced Project Starlight. A cloud research diffusion model for video restoration, prioritizing quality over speed and model size.
• 2025-02-11 — Project Starlight appeared in Topaz Labs Experiments. On 2025-02-11, a Project Starlight URL in Topaz Labs' Experiments web application was recorded. The supplied evidence does not preserve page contents, so this entry records the dated experiments endpoint without claiming a precise workflow, eligibility, or feature set.

What changed¶

• 2025-02-06 — Topaz introduced Project Starlight as a cloud research diffusion model for video restoration, prioritizing quality over speed and size.
• 2025-02-11 — The model became available through an experimental web interface. At the time, free previews and paid renders carried different content terms.
• 2025-03-05 — Early access added 4K Starlight renders.
• 2025-03-25 — Topaz prepared the first locally runnable variant of the series.
• 2025-05-13 — Starlight Mini launched for local rendering on Windows with NVIDIA GPUs.
• 2025-09-17 — Starlight Sharp expanded the local and cloud lineup with a more detailed variant.

How to use this¶

Treat the Topaz Labs Experiments route from 2025-02-11 as a dated discovery path. Verify the current experiment page before attempting use, because these links alone do not establish capabilities or access requirements.

1. Decide whether we need a local model in Topaz Video or a cloud model. The documentation lists Mini, Sharp, Fast 2, HQ, and Precise 2.5/2.6, and notes that cloud models also run in Astra. — https://docs.topazlabs.com/topaz-video/project-starlight-series
2. For local rendering, install Topaz Video alongside Neuroserver. All Starlight diffusion models require it. If Neuroserver fails, Topaz advises reinstalling the application in Repair mode. — https://docs.topazlabs.com/topaz-video/project-starlight-series
3. For programmatic processing, submit video to the Video API using the sl-1 model. Set technical parameters as needed and do not exceed 9 000 input frames. — https://developer.topazlabs.com/video-models/starlight/starlight-precise-1

Best practices¶

• Plan the queue by actual duration, resolution, and frame rate. Starlight diffusion runs can take from several minutes to several days. — https://docs.topazlabs.com/topaz-video/project-starlight-series
• Test a short representative clip before a full render when original identity and fine detail matter. Early user samples showed altered facial expressions and artifacts on degraded VHS footage. — https://community.topazlabs.com/t/project-starlight-video-ai-6-1-beta/87108?page=10
• Do not upload sensitive footage to the free preview tier. In February 2025, Topaz separated modes: paid renders were not used for model training without consent, while free previews could be stored, reviewed, and used in research. — https://community.topazlabs.com/t/project-starlight-video-ai-6-1-beta/87108?page=10

Superseded by this¶

• 2025-05-13 — The old rule that Starlight is cloud-only no longer holds for the whole family. Starlight Mini received local rendering on Windows with NVIDIA GPUs, though this does not prove local support for original sl-1.
• 2025-09-17 — The earlier two-model split between Project Starlight and Starlight Mini is obsolete. Starlight Sharp joined the product lineup.

Still unknown¶

• The original experimental URL no longer proves the current interface or pricing tier. Current Topaz entry points lead to Astra, Topaz Video, and the API.
• We have not verified the primary text of the 2025-02-06 X post directly. A dated Topaz Community post from that same day confirms its substance.
• The exact date when Topaz officially renamed Project Starlight to Starlight Precise 1 remains unrecorded. Current documentation confirms continuity, but not the renaming date.

Sources¶

Agent brief¶

• Subject: project:project-starlight, thread project-starlight-public-rollout, 2 dated events 2025-02-06 → 2025-02-11.
• Practical note: Treat the Topaz Labs Experiments route from 2025-02-11 as a dated discovery path for Project Starlight. Verify the current experiment page before attempting use, because these links alone do not establish capabilities or access requirements.
• Confidence: high. Dated supersedes above are the authority for what is obsolete.