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How to Resize an Image Without Losing Quality

How to Resize an Image Without Losing Quality

Join us in exploring the art of resizing images without losing quality—because your visuals deserve to look their best, no matter their size.

Say goodbye to blurry, pixelated images forever! Learn how to resize images without losing quality and how to quickly determine image resolution.

Discover how to convert inches and centimeters to pixels (and vice versa) and how to use Adobe Photoshop or Shutterstock Create to resize images—all while retaining beautifully crisp quality. 

First, we’ll demystify some of the key terms and techniques related to image resizing, and then we’ll move into the nuts and bolts of how to resize images without losing quality.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  1. What are Pixels?
  2. What is Resolution?
  3. What is DPI? Is it the Same as PPI?
  4. How Do I Find DPI/PPI?
  5. Can I Change an Image Size to Any Size?
  6. How to Preserve Details in Photoshop Using Resampling
  7. How to Resize an Image in Shutterstock Create

License this image via PeopleImages.com – Yuri A.


1. What Are Pixels?

Pixels are the standard unit of measurement for screens. “Pixel” is a portmanteau of “picture” and “element.” You can think of pixels as tiny building blocks of graphic information.

To resize images without losing quality, it’s important to understand how pixels are used to build up a complete image.

Everything you see on a screen is comprised of pixels. On older computer monitors, these pixels were more easily visible because they were less dense.

However, newer computers and mobile devices have the ability to display more pixels in a smaller physical space, resulting in a crisp, smooth appearance.   

You can think of pixels as tiny building blocks of graphic information.

In terms of how to resize images without losing quality, the important thing to remember is that the more pixels you have making up an image, the crisper and better quality the image will appear.

If you enlarge images without careful resampling, the number of pixels in your image will remain the same, creating a blurrier, pixelated result and a lower resolution quality (see below).


2. What Is Resolution?

Simply put, resolution is the relationship between the dimensions of an image and the number of pixels contained within those dimensions. The more pixels, the higher the resolution.

A 3000 x 3000 pixel image could be considered a high-resolution image for digital use, for example, appearing to be large on your screen.

The more pixels, the higher the resolution.

If you were to print this image at 10 x 10 inches, the density of the pixels would be sufficient for a nice, high-quality print. If you printed it at 20 x 20, however, you’d encounter image quality issues because the density of the pixels would be lower.

Therefore, to enlarge an image without losing quality, pixel density must be taken into account when resizing.

Pixel density leads us to another couple of technical terms related to image resampling—DPI and PPI.


3. What Is DPI? Is It the Same as PPI?

It’s essential to understand DPI and PPI if you want to resize an image or photograph without losing quality. DPI—dots per inch—is a printing term that identifies the number of dots of ink in one square inch of a printed image.

PPI—pixels per inch—is the digital equivalent. It refers to the number of pixels within one square inch on a digital screen.

DPI (dots per inch) refers to the number of dots of ink in one square inch of a printed image.

While these acronyms don’t mean exactly the same thing, they’re often used interchangeably. DPI/PPI are important determining factors for print quality. As a rule of thumb, you want a DPI/PPI of 300 for the best printing results, but a slightly lower DPI of, say 275, will just about suffice.

For on-screen use, you can get away with smaller pixel dimensions and still have a good-looking image. This is because printing generally requires a higher DPI for better results.

For example, 72 PPI has been the standard for digital use for years, but the actual pixel dimensions are what’s most important for digital use because display resolution changes across devices.

Websites and digital platforms will list dimension requirements in pixels, because monitor and phone displays are measured in pixels. So, if you’re resizing images to use on the web or looking to resize a photo for Instagram, you should set the units to pixels.

DPI and PPI can be confusing, but they needn’t be. The basic DPI values to know are:

  • For web-based images, choose 72 DPI.
  • For lower-resolution print images, choose 150 DPI.
  • For high-resolution print images, choose 300 DPI.

Dealing with printed designs of various sizes is where this can be a little more complex.

Print requirements will be in inches or centimeters, depending on the system or country of origin, and you may have to be aware of the dimensions and corresponding DPI/PPI recommendations when sending something to be printed professionally.

Use the chart below for common inches to pixels conversions, and vice versa. Need common centimeter dimensions converted to pixels? We’ve got you covered there, too:

Use these handy dimension conversion charts to resize your images from inches (left) and centimeters (right) to PPI and pixel dimensions.


4. How Do I Find My DPI/PPI? 

Before you change image size without losing quality, you can first find the DPI or PPI values of your image. You can easily check the DPI/PPI of any image in Adobe Photoshop.

Simply open your image, and go to Image > Image Size. Toggle the unit of measurement to see the dimensions of your image in inches.

In this example, with 300 pixels/inch (PPI), I can print my image as it is at 40 x 25 inches without having to worry about image quality.

Since dimensions and resolution are relative, the best time to check the effective DPI of your image is when you place it in your design at the size you desire. The exact method depends on the program you’re using.

Check out tip #5 in this article for a quick guide on checking your effective PPI in Adobe InDesign


5. Can I Change an Image Size to Any Size I Want?

To shrink images without losing quality or enlarge photos without losing quality, you will need to follow a suitable resizing process that takes into account the dimensions, resolution, and DPI/PPI of an image.

When you resize an image, you change the dimensions and density of pixels that define its quality. The relationship between resolution and dimension is directly connected.

If you reduce the number of pixels per square inch (PPI) in an image, you’ll effectively increase the dimensions. The dimensions will determine how big the image appears on screen.

You can always make an image smaller without losing quality, but you can’t make an image much bigger before noticing a drastic reduction in quality.

In a digital image, the number of pixels are represented by the DPI (or PPI) and the width x height dimensions. For instance, a 2000 x 2000 pixels image at 72 DPI has 4,000,000 total pixels.

To make the image smaller, I can simply reduce it in size , and it will retain the same level of detail, just in a smaller image.

In Photoshop, this image is currently sized to 2000 x 2000 pixels, with a 72 DPI.

If I reduce the dimensions of the image to 1000 x 1000 pixels, and keep the same resolution of 72, the image quality remains the same, only within a smaller image.

If I want to make that same image bigger than the original size, pixels would have to be created. That means the computer multiplies the pixel count to fit the new dimensions, creating distortion and other effects by using the information in the image to guess at what should be used for the enlargement.

This is due to artificially creating pixels from other pixels, instead of capturing them from the original information.

What About Vector Images?

All of the information above applies to raster images, which are made out of pixels. These rules don’t apply to vector images, which are based on mathematical equations and can be scaled indefinitely!

File types for vector graphics include Adobe Illustrator (.ai), .eps, or .svg.


6. How to Preserve Details in Adobe Photoshop Using Resampling

In order to resize a photo without losing quality, you can resample and resize your image in Photoshop.

Resampling allows you to change the resolution and dimensions of your image separately. It also allows Adobe Photoshop to blend pixels together in your enlarged image in order to maintain a smooth, non-pixelated image.

How to Resize Images in Photoshop Using Resampling

You’ll find the Resample option back in your Image Size popup. Check the box to enable Resample, and explore the enlargement options in the top-half of the drop-down menu next to it.

Adobe Photoshop is set to Automatic, but for our purpose, you’ll want to select Preserve Details 2.0.

After you select Preserve Details 2.0, you’ll see the Noise Reduction slider. Once you’ve changed the dimensions to your new desired size, use the preview on the left side of the window to view how moving the Noise Reduction slider changes the image.

Moving it too low may leave the image looking grainy and pixelated, but moving it too high may result in it being too blurry. Adjust the slider until you find a value that reduces noise without smearing away detail.

Once you’ve struck a balance, click OK and File > Save a copy of your resized image.

If you want a more detailed tutorial on how to change image dimensions, resize images, and optimize resolution for online images, follow this in-depth guide for how to resize images for the web:


7. How to Resize an Image in Shutterstock Create

If you don’t have access to Adobe Photoshop, don’t panic! You can easily resize images without losing quality by using the free online app Shutterstock Create. Shutterstock Create is a free online image resizer, and you don’t have to download anything in order to use it.

Step 1

To ensure a high-quality image, it’s best to first resize your canvas to the dimensions you require. This is the best way to ensure optimum resolution using Shutterstock Create.

Inside the Shutterstock Create app, navigate to the left-hand toolbar. Simply click Canvas > Resize Canvas to type in your new dimensions.

Make sure the Keep Proportions box (the chain icon) is clicked. The chain should appear closed. What this does is automatically update the height of your photo when you modify its width (or vice versa). This helps prevent your image from becoming distorted.

Click Apply to set!

Screenshot of how to resize a blank canvas in Shutterstock Create
Resize the canvas before beginning work on your design.

Step 2

Go to Uploads > Upload to bring in an image from your computer, or go to Images to choose a photo from the Shutterstock library. Place the image on the canvas and scale to fit.

When it comes to resolution, Create takes care of this for you. Simply click Download at the top-right corner of the workspace, choose your file type, then click Download again.

With the image set to the correct dimensions, and by using a high-resolution image in your design, you’ll be guaranteed a crisp and clear resized image result.

Step 3

While you don’t need to know DPI or resolution specifics to make designs in Create, it’s certainly helpful knowledge to keep in your back pocket.

As a rule of thumb, all canvas options you choose will be sized in pixels. If you start with a blank canvas, you’ll notice the pixels mapped out for you. And, if you begin with a template, your specs will also be pre-calculated.

You can begin two ways—either from the Shutterstock Create landing page or from inside the tool after you’ve created or opened a design.

From the landing page, select a blank canvas size from the template options below. Click the right-hand arrow to scroll for more pre-made canvas sizes or, alternatively, type your specs into the Custom size option. Click to open.

Custom size options on Create webpage

If you’re already in the tool, click File > Create new > Blank Canvas. Scroll or search (CTRL or Command + F) “Instagram” (for example) to find your canvas. You’ll see these specs already converted for you.

If you scroll to the Print Sizes category, you’ll notice the inches-to-pixels conversion. You can also create custom canvas sizes by inputting measurements to the width and height box. Simply type your specs into the Create custom box, then hit Make it!

It will look like this:

Inches to pixel conversion in Create's blank canvas options

If you know exactly what you’re creating, you can scroll to Formats and choose your blank canvas from there. Click to open.

Formats option in Create with pixel options

As a general rule of thumb, consider beforehand whether you’ll be using your designs on the web or for print media.

If you want to create a design for print, locate the Settings (gear) icon, and click Show Bleed Marks before you download. Overall, it’s good to have a plan in mind before you get started.

Another quick tip?

  • For web-based images, choose 72 DPI.
  • On lower resolution print images, choose 150 DPI.
  • For high resolution print images, choose 300 DPI.

Remember, uploading an image with the correct dimensions ensures no loss of quality, so it’s important that you choose the right dimensions for the image’s end use.

In Shutterstock Create, you can easily resize images to a range of popular web dimensions:

When you’re ready to download your design, consider whether you wish to save it to the desktop or upload straight to social.

For the former, simply click Download, then Download again (after selecting your file type). Click Publish to upload to your digital platform of choice.

Your work is always auto-saved in our cloud storage anytime you wish to return.

Bonus Tip: Smart Resize Is Available!

One of the best things about Create is its Smart Resize option. Smart Resize, available to Pros, lets you customize your canvas size to multiple platforms at once.

For example, you might want to make your X (Twitter) profile design the same as your YouTube banner and Instagram post. All of these options have different size requirements, but that’s not going to be a headache with the Smart Resize function.

To customize your design to suit all of these platforms at once, simply click Smart Resize, select which outputs you need, then click Copy & resize to set.

This handy resize image tool is crucial for the marketing wizards of the world. Save time and energy by resizing one design for multiple platforms!


Conclusion: How to Resize Images Without Losing Quality

Congratulations. Now you know everything you need to know about how to resize images without losing quality, including the technical terms, how to resample images in Photoshop, and how to resize a photo for Instagram and other online platforms in Shutterstock Create.

You’re ready to both optimize and resize your images to perfection while maintaining crisp resolution and good image quality, whether reducing an image size or enlarging photos.

Go forth and resize your images with confidence!


Take Your Designs to the Next Level with Shutterstock

Need beautiful, eye-catching photography to form the foundation of your next project? We’ve got you covered. With Shutterstock, you’ll have all-in-one access to our massive library, plus the flexibility you need to select the perfect mix of assets every time.


License this cover image via PeopleImages.com – Yuri A.


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