How to Resize an Image: 6 Easy Ways

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Having a reliable image resizer can prove handy on several occasions. Whether you need to edit a photo for a project, create a profile picture for your social media account, or design a logo for your business, being able to resize a picture correctly is essential.

Fortunately, there are many different photo resizers for PC and online services that allow you to change the picture dimensions with just a few clicks.

In this article, we will cover 6 best free image resizers that you can use for your projects. Keep on reading to learn about each of them!

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How we picked picture resizers

For this list, we chose 6 programs and online tools to help you get the job done. The mentioned below utilities that offer:

  • Quick resizing of a photo to the desired dimensions;
  • Free photo resizers to work with your pictures;
  • Understandable interface for comfortable work.
Program OS Price of PRO User experience Rating
Icecream Image Resizer
Windows
$19.95/lifetime
Great
5.0
Image Candy
Web
N/A
Great
5.0
Microsoft Photos
Windows
N/A
Good
4.5
Apple Preview
macOS
N/A
Good
4.5
iLoveIMG
Web
from $5/month
Fine
4.0
Image Resizer
Web
N/A
Fine
3.5

Icecream Image Resizer

Among the many photo resizers, Icecream Image Resizer stands out thanks to its simplicity. The picture resizer allows you to make your images look better. You can optimize them for web use and ensure that any photos or logos used in your projects look crisp and clear.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use the program:

  1. Download and install the image resizer for Windows PC on your computer.
  2. Open the program and click "Add image to resize" to pick the photo that requires resizing.
  3. Select the desired output format from the drop-down menu "Profile". You can also set the size parameters for your image manually.
  4. Hit the "Resize" button to start processing.
  5. When the process finishes, click "Open folder" to go to the file's location on your computer.

Pros:

  • Fast and easy. The free image resizer makes it easy for anyone even without any experience working with photo editors to alter the size of their pictures promptly and precisely.
  • Accurate results. The program uses advanced algorithms to produce high-quality results with no significant loss of quality in the resized images.
  • Compatibility. It supports a wide range of popular image formats, so you can easily resize pictures from any source without worrying about compatibility issues.
  • Customization. You can choose the new image size from presets or enter your specific numbers.
  • Bulk processing. To save time, you can upload an entire folder and resize all photos at once.

Taking advantage of the application, anyone can effortlessly resize images with great accuracy without any hassle. So why wait? Try it today and start taking advantage of all its great features!

Image Candy

Image Candy is a web-based platform with a variety of tools for editing your pictures. Apart from other tools, it offers an online photo resizer.

Here is a tutorial on utilizing this online image resizer for adjusting a photo's dimensions:

  1. Go to the online image editor and choose the "Resize Image" tool.
  2. With the "+Add file(s)" button, upload the pictures you would like to resize.
  3. Pick between two tabs - "Pixels" or "Percents". Choose the desired configurations or enter custom values.
  4. Once you are done, hit "Resize Image". Wait for the processing to finish.
  5. Now, click "Download file" to save the altered image on your device.

Pros:

  • Speed. Resizing pictures online is much faster than downloading additional software or using photo editors that require more steps to complete the task.
  • Free. This online image resizer is completely free to use, so you don't have to worry about spending money on pricey programs or subscriptions for photo editing tools.
  • Convenience. The web-based tool can be used on any device and operating system, making it a cross-platform utility.
  • Functionality. Apart from photo resizer, with the same website, you can compress your image, convert to and from various formats, remove background, and more.

Overall, Image Candy is a great option for quickly and easily resizing the images online. Just upload your picture to the service, select the desired size, and you are done!

Microsoft Photos

In case you don't want to or don't have time to get a third-party photo resizer, there are ways to change a picture's dimensions with a built-in tool. On Windows OS, you can use Microsoft Photos.

Here's how to resize your picture for free with this tool:

  1. Open the app and pick the image you desire to resize.
  2. Click the three dots icon to open the dropdown menu. There, choose the "Resize image" option.
  3. Enter the specific numbers for the Width and Height in pixels or change the picture's dimensions in percentages.
  4. Pick the output quality and the file format. Hit "Save".
  5. Click the tree dots icon again and now go with the "Save as" option. Enter the new name for the resized file and select the folder to store it.

Pros:

  • Built-in and free. The picture resizer comes pre-installed on Windows OS devices and has no hidden cost.
  • Simple. It's a basic program that has a self-explanatory interface, which makes it easy to use.

As you can see, you can resize your image for free with just the elementary editing tools that your computer already has. This method is great if you need to get the job done quickly and do not require additional image customization.

Apple Preview

If you own a macOS device, you are definitely familiar with the Preview. Although basic, the software is a great choice for resizing images. Since the majority of users already employ the application as their photo viewer, it will be easy to locate the image resizer within it.

Follow these steps to resize pictures on macOS:

  1. Open the image you intend to resize in the program.
  2. From the "Tools" menu, select "Adjust Size".
  3. In the new window, choose one of the presets from the "Fit into" list. Alternatively, manually enter the Width and Height numbers. You can choose to enter them in pixels, percentages, inches, and more.
  4. Click "OK" when you're satisfied with your changes. The edits will be applied to the original file.

Pros:

  • Pre-installed. No need to get a third-party image resizer as your computer already comes with this basic utility.
  • Additional functionality. Apart from being a picture viewer and editor, the program also has the ability to open and edit PDF files.

iLoveIMG

iLoveIMG is another great online photo resizer to use if you're not familiar with any image editing software. The tool is available for free with a few limitations (you can upload up to 30 files per task) but is still suitable for a small workload.

Here's the procedure for resizing a picture with the web platform:

  1. Go to the website's main page and choose the "Resize Image" tool.
  2. Click the "Select images" button to upload the pictures from your device.
  3. Pick one of the resizing options - "By pixels" or "By percentage". Enter the desired dimensions or select a preset size option from the drop-down menu.
  4. Hit the "Resize Images" button. After processing, use "Download resized images" to save the file.
Resize a photo online with iLoveIMG

Pros:

  • Fast. Your files are processed immediately and usually do not take long unless the internet connection is very slow.
  • More from the developers. The online image resizer has a sister website to work on files in PDF format, like editing the text.

Overall, iLoveIMG is a convenient tool for resizing images without needing any special skills or equipment. It's a great solution for people who need a simple way to resize their images quickly and easily.

Imageresizer.com

Here is one more method to resize your picture online. If you only need to complete one task and do not mind some little advertisements, try the imageresizer.com. This is a website that does just what its URL address says - offers a photo resizer.

Here is what you need to do to get your picture resized:

  1. Open the main page of the website.
  2. Use the "Select Image" button to add your files to the resizer.
  3. In the "Resize" tap, adjust the settings. Adjust your picture's parameters "By dimensions" or "As percentage". Customize the "Export Settings" if needed.
  4. Now, hit "Resize Image".
  5. When the file is ready, click "Download Image".
Resize the image online - Image Resizer

Pros:

  • Simple. The website's page has only one tool - image resizer.
  • Linked with other services. In the footer, you will find hyperlinks to other photo editing websites. For example, a collage maker.

As you can see, online tools can prove helpful when on the go or in a hurry. With the imageresizer.com you will set the new picture dimensions in no time.

FAQ

What is the difference between image resizing and resampling?
Resizing changes only the dimensions of the image, while resampling adjusts the pixel density, affecting the resolution.
What is aspect ratio, and why is it important?
Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between an image's width and height. Maintaining these dimensions ensures that the picture does not appear stretched or distorted when resized.
What is the maximum I can resize an image to without losing quality?
It depends on various factors, including the resolution of the original photo, the resizing method used, and the intended use. For example, If you're resizing an image for digital display or sharing on the web, you generally have more flexibility compared to printing.
How do I resize photos for social media platforms?
Different social media platforms have specific image size recommendations. You can resize pictures accordingly using templates or guides provided by each platform.
Is it possible to upscale low-resolution images without losing quality?
Technically, yes. While it's challenging, certain AI-powered tools can improve results compared to traditional methods.

Tips on how to resize an image

Remember, each image may have its unique characteristics. The below tips can serve as a general guideline but might require adjustments based on the specific image and its intended use.

  • Maintain aspect ratio. Always maintain the original picture's aspect ratio when resizing to avoid distortion. This ensures the image doesn't look stretched or compressed unnaturally.
  • Use high-quality software/tools. Utilize reputable image editing software or tools that maintain image quality when resizing. Avoid using low-quality or unknown applications that might compromise the resolution.
  • Back up the original. Before image resizing, make a duplicate or backup of the original photo. This preserves the initial quality in case changes don't meet your expectations.
  • Choose the right file format. Select the appropriate file format for the resized image. For example, JPEG for photographs, PNG for pictures with transparency, or GIF for animations. Different formats can affect image quality differently.
  • Consider resolution. Determine the ideal resolution for your purpose. For web use, a lower resolution may suffice, while printing requires higher resolutions for better quality.
  • Avoid excessive enlargement. Enlarging a photo too much can result in pixelation or blurriness due to limited data. Try to resize within a reasonable range to maintain quality.
  • Use interpolation methods. When photo resizing, choose the right interpolation method (e.g., bicubic, bilinear) offered by the software. These methods can affect how pixels are added or removed during resizing, impacting the quality.
  • Preview and compare. Before finalizing, preview the image at different sizes and compare it with the original. This helps ensure the resized version meets your quality standards.
  • Save settings and presets. Save picture resizing settings or presets if you frequently resize pictures with similar requirements. This can save time and maintain consistency across your images.
  • Check the file size. After image resizing, check the file size. Sometimes, reducing image dimensions may not significantly reduce the file size, especially with certain formats. Customize settings if necessary to achieve an optimal balance between quality and file size.

Conclusion

The process of resizing an image is easier than it may seem. By picking any of the suggested methods in this article, you can successfully resize your photos with no problems.

Keep in mind what you want to achieve and what resources you have. You will definitely get perfect results!

Paul Skidmore

Tech Writer and Photography Aficionado

Paul is a self-professed photography and tech nerd and has years of experience working with various editing software. He has a passion for travel and has taken his camera to destinations including Antarctica, Singapore, Indonesia, and Greenland.
7 min read
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