To resize an image in Photoshop, choose Image, then Image Size. Enter a new Width and Height, keep the Constrain aspect ratio icon on so the picture isn't distorted, set the Resolution for where it's going and click OK. Tick Resample if you're changing the pixel count.
Image size is one of those topics that sounds technical and then turns out to be one dialog box with a few traps. The question isn't really how to resize. It's whether you should change the pixels or only the print size. Here's the quick method, what Resample does, and the settings to use for web and for print.
Resize an image in Photoshop
- Open the image and choose Image, then Image Size.
- Enter your new Width and Height, and pick a unit from the dropdown beside each box.
- Click the Constrain aspect ratio icon so the two values stay in proportion.
- Set the Resolution to suit where the image is going.
- Tick Resample if you want Photoshop to calculate new pixel information.
- Click OK.
What to set for web and for print
| Destination | Resolution Adobe suggests |
|---|---|
| Screen and web | Typically 72 to 96 PPI |
| 300 PPI for best quality |
That's straight from Adobe's guidance. For a website image, the pixel dimensions matter far more than the PPI value, because screens show pixels. For print, the combination of pixel dimensions and PPI decides how big the picture can be on paper before it goes soft.
Resample on or off?
This is the setting that causes the confusion, so it's worth understanding. Adobe explains that pixel dimensions, resolution and physical size are three connected values, and you can't set all three independently. Change one and another has to move.
| Resample | What happens | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Pixel count stays the same. Only the link between resolution and physical size changes | You want a different print size without altering the picture data |
| On | Photoshop adds or removes pixels | You need a smaller or larger pixel size, such as a set width in pixels |
With resampling off, nothing is added or removed. Make the print size smaller and the resolution number rises, because the same pixels are packed into a smaller space. That's why it's the safer option for print adjustments.
Making an image bigger
Shrinking a picture throws pixels away, and it usually looks fine. Enlarging is different, because Photoshop has to invent the missing pixels, so a big enlargement looks soft or blocky. If you must enlarge, do it in a single step and don't enlarge a picture that has already been shrunk. Where you can, start again from the largest original you have.
Resize or crop?
People often resize when they really want to crop. If the picture is the right size but the framing is wrong, use the Crop tool: drag the handles around the part you want and press Enter or Return. Resize changes the whole picture. Crop removes part of it.
Keep the proportions
The small chain icon matters. With the aspect ratio constrained, typing a new width updates the height automatically. Without it, you can stretch a picture into a different shape, and faces and logos look wrong instantly. If you need a different shape rather than a different size, crop.
Always keep the original
- Save the full-size original once, somewhere safe.
- Save resized versions under new names, such as photo-web and photo-print.
- Don't resize an already-resized file again and again, because each round loses quality.
- Check the final pixel size in the Image Size dialog before you export.
Quick sizes checklist for web
- Decide the largest space the image will fill, then size to that width.
- Use the smaller PPI Adobe suggests for screens.
- Export and check the file isn't too heavy for the page.
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A simple example
Suppose you have a big photo from your camera and you need it for a blog post. Open Image Size and look at the current pixel dimensions. Decide the width the post needs, enter it with the aspect ratio linked and let the height follow. Resample is on because you're reducing the pixel count. Export and check the file. If the same photo is also going on a printed flyer, go back to your large original, not the web copy, and set the print size at 300 PPI from there. Two destinations means two files.
Why the picture looks soft after resizing
- You enlarged a small picture, so Photoshop had to create pixels that weren't there.
- You resized several times in a row, and each round loses a little quality.
- You changed only the PPI value with Resample on, which can add or remove pixels when you only wanted a different print size.
- The original was low resolution to begin with, and no setting can fix that.
My verdict
Use Image Size, keep the aspect ratio linked, aim for 72 to 96 PPI on screen and 300 PPI for print, and switch Resample on only when you need to change the pixel count. Never enlarge more than you must.
Frequently asked questions
How do I resize an image in Photoshop?
Choose Image, then Image Size, enter new Width and Height values with the aspect ratio linked, set the Resolution and click OK.
What resolution should I use?
Adobe says screen and web images typically use 72 to 96 PPI, and print images need 300 PPI for best quality.
What does Resample do?
It lets Photoshop add or remove pixels. With it off, the pixel count stays the same and only resolution and physical size change.
How do I resize without stretching?
Click the Constrain aspect ratio icon in the Image Size dialog so width and height stay in proportion.
Is resizing the same as cropping?
No. Resizing changes the dimensions of the whole picture. Cropping removes part of the picture.
