Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on the technology, comparisons and print preparation.
What is Krixel?
Krixel (written "Криксел" in Bulgarian) is a Windows and macOS desktop app that upscales photos and AI-generated images into print-ready, large-format files. It combines AI upscaling (Real-ESRGAN) with full pre-press: you set the exact physical size and DPI, it removes logos and watermarks, and exports a CMYK PDF with bleed for banners, billboards, vinyl and posters. It runs offline, as a one-time purchase from €49.
What AI models does Krixel use?
Krixel uses Real-ESRGAN for upscaling and LaMa for inpainting (logo, watermark and object removal). Both run locally on your GPU — Vulkan on Windows, Metal on macOS. On top of these open models, Krixel adds its own pre-press pipeline: artifact cleanup, exact-size/DPI calculation, CMYK conversion and a print-ready PDF with bleed.
How is Krixel different from Topaz Gigapixel, Magnific or Krea?
Those are pure upscalers — they make an image bigger. Krixel makes a print-ready file. It adds the full pre-press: you set the exact physical size (e.g. 400×200 cm), Krixel computes the DPI and pixels, removes logos/artifacts, and exports a CMYK PDF with 3 mm bleed for the RIP. Choose Topaz for photographic upscaling fidelity, Magnific/Krea to invent new detail in AI art, and Krixel when the deliverable is a print-ready large-format file at an exact size, offline and one-time.
Is Krixel a subscription?
No. It's a one-time purchase with a perpetual license — Solo €49, Studio €99, Print Shop €399 — with no recurring fee and no per-image cost. A free 7-day trial runs on first launch.
Does Krixel upload my images to the cloud?
No. All processing happens locally on your machine. Your images never leave your computer — there is no cloud upload and no account-bound usage metering.
Can I set an exact print size like 400×200 cm?
Yes. You enter the final physical size and a target DPI, and Krixel computes the exact pixel dimensions and upscales to match, then exports a CMYK PDF with bleed.
What file does Krixel produce?
A print-ready CMYK PDF at the exact physical dimensions with 3 mm bleed, ready to load into wide-format RIP software. Inputs can be JPG, PNG, WebP or PDF.
Does it work on Mac?
Yes — macOS 11+ on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) and Intel Macs. AI runs via Metal. There's also a Windows 10/11 build. The download page auto-detects your chip and offers the right DMG (Apple Silicon or Intel).
How do I install Krixel on macOS?
Download the DMG for your chip (Apple Silicon or Intel), open it and drag Krixel to Applications. The current build is not yet notarized, so on first launch macOS Gatekeeper will block it. On macOS Sequoia (15) and newer: try to open Krixel once, then go to System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll to the 'Krixel was blocked' message and click 'Open Anyway' (the old right-click → Open trick no longer works on these versions). On older macOS: right-click (or Control-click) the app and choose Open. You only need to do this once; afterwards it opens normally.
Is there a free trial?
Yes — a 7-day free trial runs on first launch, no card and no account required. After that you activate with a one-time license key.
Who makes Krixel?
Krixel is made by ACE TM, a signage and facade company in Sofia, Bulgaria with 20+ years and 900+ large-format projects. It was built to prepare ACE TM's own large-format prints and is used on its production floor.