The query refers to fan-led efforts to remaster Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
using AI upscaling, most notably "Project Defiant" and similar technical workflows popularized around 2020. Because CBS opted not to officially remaster
due to the high cost of re-rendering CGI originally produced at 480p standard definition
, fans used neural networks to enhance the series themselves. Technical Overview: AI Upscaling (Season 1) i--- Star Trek Deep Space 9 S01 Ai Upscale 1080p- -2020
In 2020, various projects aimed to bring DS9 S01 from its native 480p DVD resolution to 1080p or 4K.
Project Defiant: DS9 1080p+ Upscale Now Available : r/startrek
TLDR: DS9 upscale is here. Skip all the way to the bottom for instructions on where to get it. We've opted to release it in 1080p+ The query refers to fan-led efforts to remaster
| Player | Why | |--------|-----| | VLC | Plays anything, simple | | MPV | Best quality scaling for 1080p → 4K screens | | PotPlayer (Windows) | Advanced sharpening filters if upscale looks soft |
To help you decide if this is the right version for your collection, here is a comparison with other famous releases:
| Feature | i--- (2020) | Euripides (2022) | Original DVD (480i) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Resolution | 1080p | 4K (downscaled to 1080p often) | 480i | | AI Model | Topaz Gaia v2.1 | ESRGAN (HiFaceGAN) | N/A | | Grain Preservation | Moderate (some smoothing) | High (heavier grain look) | Raw (crushed) | | File Size (S01) | ~45 GB | ~150 GB | ~15 GB | | Best For | General watching on a TV | Archiving / Artifact hunting | CRT monitors | Best software (free) | Player | Why |
Verdict: The "i---" release is the "Goldilocks" version. The Euripides upscale is more faithful to film grain but requires immense storage. The i--- upscale is clean, watchable, and efficient.
It is important to note that these fan upscales exist in a legal grey area. They are unauthorized distributions of copyrighted material. CBS/Paramount retains all rights to Star Trek.
However, many fans view these projects as a form of preservation. They argue that without an official release, the show will become unwatchable on future high-resolution screens. The existence of these high-quality 1080p upscales has kept the show relevant and visually accessible to a generation raised on HD streaming.
To be clear: This is not a true remaster. It is a hallucination made by math. But a very good hallucination.