How to resize an image the right way
What size to choose for screens and print, how DPI works, and how to hit an exact size without squashing the picture.
Decide where the image will be used
For websites and email, the longest side rarely needs to exceed 1600 to 2000 pixels. For phones and social media, use the platform's size. For print, multiply inches by 300 to get pixels.
Same shape or different shape?
If the new size has the same proportions as the photo, nothing is cut. If not, crop to fill (best for profile pictures and thumbnails), add borders (best when nothing may be cut, such as artwork or documents), or stretch only for patterns and backgrounds.
Get the file size right
Upload forms often limit photos to 100, 200 or 500 KB. Reduce the pixel size first, then set the limit; quality drops far less on a smaller image.
Common mistakes
- Enlarging a small image and expecting more detail.
- Typing both width and height without choosing how to handle a different shape.
- Changing DPI alone: without changing pixels it only changes the printed size.
- Saving photos as PNG, which makes them much larger than JPG.