Find what you need (click to jump to section)
- Before you start: Image resizing tips that nobody tells you about
- How to change image size in Photoshop
- Tips for resizing images without losing quality
- Six common resizing fails (& how to avoid them)
- FAQs
- Need a faster way to resize images? Use Bazaart
- Summary
Learning how to change image size in Photoshop can look scary at first, but it’s actually easier than making avocado toast.
In fact, once you know the basics, you’ll be resizing images like a pro. Sounds too good to be true? These easy, tested, foolproof tips will build your confidence.
Before you start: Image resizing tips that nobody tells you about
Before you start dragging sliders in Photoshop, there are a few things you should know.
First rule of resizing? Make sure your image fits your needs. For example, think about where the image will live: Is it going on a billboard or a TikTok post? Each platform has its own size requirements, and ignoring them can lead to pixelation, stretching, cropping – basically, visual chaos.
To avoid rookie mistakes, let’s break down the essentials.
Understanding aspect ratio (it’s a lot simpler than it sounds)
“Aspect ratio” is just a fancy name for the relationship between your image’s width and height, usually written as 4:3 or 16:9.
Why should you care? Because this is what gives your old family photos their compact, rectangular shape (4:3) and keeps your YouTube videos widescreen (16:9). If you don’t pay attention to aspect ratio when resizing, you can end up with an image that looks awkward.
Second rule of resizing: Always double-check your aspect ratio before saving.
Resolution and DPI: What you need to know
Resolution and DPI (dots per inch) are the secret sauce for crisp, high-quality images. Resolution refers to the total number of pixels in an image, while DPI indicates how densely those pixels are packed when printed.
For web use, 72 DPI is usually enough, but for printing, you’ll want at least 300 DPI to avoid a blurry mess. Keep this in mind when resizing, especially if you’re prepping images for both digital and print.
How to change image size in Photoshop
Step 1: Open your image in Photoshop
Start by launching Photoshop and opening your image. You can either drag and drop it into Photoshop or go to File > Open.
Step 2: Find the resize tool
Next, choose Image > Image Size in the top menu. This will open a dialog box where you can tweak the dimensions, resolution, and more.
Tip: Use this shortcut to open the resize dialog box: hit Cmd+Alt+I (Mac) or Ctrl+Alt+I (Windows).
Step 3: Adjust the dimensions & resolution
Now you can change the width, height, and resolution of your image.
- Make sure the “Constrain Proportions” box is checked to maintain the aspect ratio
- Choose your units (pixels for digital, inches/cm for print)
- Type in your desired width or height (the other will adjust automatically)
- Pick your resample method (Bicubic Sharper for smaller sizes, Bicubic Smoother for larger)
Step 4: Preview & check
Photoshop lets you preview the changes in real-time, so you can see how your image will look before saving it. Take a moment to zoom in and check for any quality loss.
Looking good? Awesome, hit OK.
Not feeling it? Hit Cancel and try again.
Step 5: Save your resized image
Using Photoshop 2021 or later? You might notice that ‘Save As’ doesn’t work quite like it used to and won’t let you overwrite certain file types.
For web: Go with File > Export > Save for Web to save your image in formats like JPEG and PNG.
For print: Use File > Save a Copy to keep high-quality versions like TIFF or PSD without messing with your original file.
Tips for resizing images without losing quality
- Resizing down?
Try ‘Bicubic Sharper’. It helps keep your image clear and detailed when making it smaller. Just pick it from the “Resample” dropdown in the Image Size menu, and you’re good to go. - Resizing up?
Try and stay within reasonable limits. Stretching an image too much (say, beyond 120% of its original size) will make it blurry and pixelated. - Working with text?
Always resize before adding text layers. Otherwise, your text might end up looking fuzzy or disproportionate. - Think you’ll ever need a backup?
Even if you don’t, save a copy of your original file. We know we keep saying it, but it can save you a lot of heartache later.
Six common resizing fails (& how to avoid them)
When resizing an image, DON’T…
- Resize without first checking for platform-specific requirements
- Forget to check “Constrain Proportions”
- Resize too many times. Each resize = potential quality loss
- Over-sharpen after resizing. Using too much Bicubic Sharper can create halos and artifacts
- Use the wrong resolution. Remember, choose 72 DPI for web, and 300 DPI for print
- Confuse Bicubic Sharper with Bicubic Smoother. Use Sharper for downsizing and Smoother for upsizing images.
FAQs
Yep! Check out Image > Image Size > Fit To for common presets like social media dimensions.
Absolutely! Use File > Scripts > Image Processor to batch resize like a pro.
Resizing changes the entire image dimensions, while cropping cuts away parts of the image. You can think of it as shrinking vs. trimming.
For most print projects, 300 DPI is ideal, but larger prints (like posters and billboards) can use lower resolutions depending on viewing distance.
Need a faster way to resize images? Use Bazaart
Photoshop is great, but sometimes you need something faster and more intuitive. That’s where Bazaart comes in: An AI-powered photo editing tool that makes resizing (and pretty much any editing task) super simple.
If you want to resize an image in a fraction of the time it takes with Photoshop, use Bazaart to:
- Automatically resize visuals for any platform & scale up without losing quality
- Extend backgrounds or add context to your photos with AI
- Add impact & style with AI photo enhancement tools
- Edit on your phone, tablet, or laptop without losing quality
Summary
Now you know how to change an image size in Photoshop, you can create perfectly sized images for any platform or project. No more squished selfies or pixelated posts!
Remember, practice makes perfect so don’t be afraid to make mistakes. And, if you’re working with a lot of images and want to save time and taps, Bazaart can make resizing even easier.