How to Resize an Image Without Losing Quality: A Beginner’s Guide

Images often require resizing; sometimes the image is too big to upload, and sometimes it blurs out when printed. Resizing fixes these issues by changing the size without removing anything. It's one of the most frequent alterations people do, whether on social media, design work, or general use.

This article will lead you through how to resize an image, discuss what tools can be found on many devices, and provide tips for making your photos look sharp and clear once resized.

Resizing vs. Cropping: What’s the Difference?

If you also confuse resizing with cropping, you are not alone. Cropping slices off a portion of the photo to alter the way it appears or to place it in a frame. Resizing, however, leaves the entire photo but alters its size.

Think of cropping as cutting edges off a picture. Perhaps you have a background and you would like to cut out or isolate someone's face; cropping will isolate it. But resizing does not throw away anything. Rather, it stretches or shrinks the entire picture to fit the new size you desire.

For instance, if you have a picture that is too big to post on a website, resizing will scale down the size without trimming any part of it. Cropping, on the other hand, will shrink either the width or height of the picture by trimming part of it. They both serve a purpose, but if you intend to have the full picture remain whole, resizing is the best action.

What is Resizing?

Resizing refers to the changing of the height and width of an image. This may be to make the file smaller, easy to share, fit to a particular layout, or simply adjust it according to your printing requirements.

Resizing simply changes the number of pixels in an image, either increasing or decreasing them. When you enlarge a picture, you add more pixels to it, which sometimes diminishes clarity. Conversely, when downsizing, you will be destroying pixels, altering the size of the file, and compromising the details.

It is not only about making the photo smaller or larger. The correct resizing involves maintaining the balance between the size of the file, quality, and purpose. As an example, a post on social media does not require the same resolution as a print poster. This is why resizing is one of the most frequent editing procedures, among professional users, to optimize images for web.

How to Resize an Image Online?

Online tools are one of the simplest methods of resizing an image. You do not need to install any heavy software, and most platforms work in your browser. Just upload the image, set the size, and download the resized image. Free online image resizer tools are handy when your device is short on storage or you don’t have enough time to install software. 

Steps to Resize an Image with X-Design 

• Open X-Design AI Editor in your browser.

• Upload a photo from your device.

• In the editing workspace, choose the Resize option.

• Enter the new width and height you want. You can also lock the aspect ratio to avoid stretching the photo.

• Preview the resized image to check if it looks right.

• Once satisfied, click “Confirm” and then “Download” to save the new version. 

How to Resize an Image on Windows?

Windows users have multiple ways to resize images without needing fancy software. Here are two straightforward solutions:

1. Solution 1 - Using Microsoft Photos App

• Launch the Photos app and upload your image.

• Hit the three-dot icon at the top right screen corner and choose Resize.

• Select any option from preset sizes or set custom dimensions.

• Once done, save the image. 

2. Solution 2 - Using Paint

• Open the image in Paint.

• Navigate to the “File” and click “Image properties”.

• Enter the new dimensions (pixels or percentage).

• Save the resized file.

Paint may be basic, but it’s handy when you need quick resizing without extra features.

How to Resize an Image on Mac?

If you are a Mac user, you can also resize an image without installing any additional apps. Wondering how? Let's find out!

1. Using the Preview App

• Open your photo in the Preview app (default on Mac)

• Navigate to the top menu and hit Tools > Adjust Size.

• A small box will appear with designated width and height fields. Fill them.

• Click OK and save your resized photo.

Preview is the quickest way on Mac since it’s already pre-installed and supports most image formats.

How to Resize Images on iPhone or Android? 

Smartphone users don't need to sit in front of a computer or a laptop to get a certain-sized image. They have certain apps, too. Let's have a look at a few of them.

1. Using Photos App (iPhone)

• Open image in the Photos app.

• Tap three bars at the bottom. 

• Now tap on “Crop” and then again tap on the same “Crop” option.

• Choose the aspect ratio or manually adjust dimensions.

• Save the resized image as a copy.

This is quick if you only need simple resizing without downloading extra apps.

2. Using 3rd Party Apps (iPhone and Android)

There are plenty of image resizing apps available on iOS and Android stores that can help you resize images. Let’s take a look at how the X-Design AI image editor app works. The process of resizing using this app in Android and iPhone is the same.

• Download and launch the app.

• Tap on “Photo Editor” 

• Select the photo you want to resize.

• Choose the “Size” option

• Enter new width and height or choose from presets.

• Save the resized version directly to your gallery.

3. Using Google Photos (Android and iPhone)

Resizing images using Google photos is the same in Android and iOS. Just follow these simple steps.

• Open Google Photos. 

• Now choose the image you want to resize

• Tap Edit and it will take you to the editing panel.

• Now click on the “Resizing” option and pick a preset size or adjust manually.

• Save a new copy of the photo.

Google Photos works well since it works on both iPhone and Android, keeping things consistent across devices.

Why Do You Need to Resize Images?

There are several reasons why resizing is important. For instance, large images take longer to upload and can slow down websites. Thus, people optimize images for faster loading and a smooth web experience for their customers.

Another reason is fitting the right dimensions; almost all platforms have some size requirements. For instance, a WhatsApp display photo will not show properly if the image is too large. On the other hand, a website banner should appear wide enough to look professional. Resizing helps you adjust images to these needs without cropping out important parts of your picture.

You may safely add them to a product page, resume or online portfolio. It is useful for ensuring consistency in the creation of a gallery, blog or a social feed that can appear unbalanced.

It is also easier to edit a smaller image and does not require much space on disk. This is time and effort-saving for anyone who has to deal with lots of photographs.

What Are the Best Online Tools for Resizing Images?

There’s no shortage of tools to resize images, but not all of them give you the same results. Some tools are designed for online use only, while others offer more advanced editing options. Your best bet depends on what you need the most, be it speed, batch resizing, or quality maintenance. 

Below we have listed some of the best image resizer tools, starting with X-Design AI Photo Editor. This tool is designed for simple resizing without the extra fuss, but we’ll also mention other platforms that can help when you need different features. 

Some of these tools let you edit images even after resizing. You can adjust the aspect ratio, compress the file, sharpen the picture, and convert it to formats like JPG or PNG to ensure compatibility. You can use these online tools on laptops, tablets, or phones, which makes them versatile options for quick edits.

X-Design AI Photo Editor

X-Design is an online editor that makes resizing simple and easy. The best part? It doesn’t require any installation! Meaning you can enjoy a quicker resizing process without even worrying about storage. X-Design also offers free background remover, image enhancement, object remover, background generation, and several other features.

Additional Features

• Resize images by entering exact dimensions or scaling percentages

• Keeps proportions balanced with aspect ratio lock

• Works directly online without installation

• Supports high-quality exports in PNG or JPG

• Offers other AI editing tools in the same workspace

Fotor Photo Editing Tool

Fotor is another online photo editor that has a simple-to-use resize feature. It's convenient enough to speed up edits but still lets you manage quality. You can rely on Fotor to resize one or multiple images at a time, saving loads of time. Fotor also supports tweaking of brightness, contrast, and sharpness, and filters for an overall improved look. The interface is simple and can be accessed from any device. This is thus beneficial for both non-technical users and small business owners who need rapid editing without installing software.

Additional Features

• Supports RAW image uploads for higher quality edits

• Offers creative templates for social media banners or ads

• Color splash and background blur tools for emphasis

• One-click enhancement options to improve images automatically

• A collage maker for combining multiple images efficiently 

Pixlr Online Editing Tool

Pixlr is an online editor that uses free services and feels like Photoshop Lite. It not only resizes images correctly but also provides more advanced editing options. You can resize by exact dimensions or scale by percentage, and you can batch-resize several pictures. Pixlr also offers layers, filters, and text overlay, so you can resize and edit other aspects simultaneously. It is a great choice for those who desire more control over the output image, whether to use on the web, social media, or for limited printing work.

Additional Features

• Clone and healing tools for removing unwanted spots or objects

• Adjustable brush tools for precise editing

• A history tool to revert edits at any stage

• Overlay and border options for more creative designs

• Templates for web graphics and social media posts

BeFunky Editor

Next up is BeFunky. It can resize, crop, and rotate images without any sort of quality loss. You can use it to adjust the exposure or colors of images. But that’s not all. This impressive tool also offers a collage maker, templates, and stickers to turn a resized photo into a ready-to-share composition in a few seconds. It is both a mobile and online application-based editor, which is flexible for the user who edits on the go. 

Additional Features

• Artistic effects like cartoon, sketch, and oil painting

• Text tool with customizable fonts, colors, and shadows

• Graphic overlays and icons for branding purposes

• Batch image editor for multiple photos at once

• Advanced color correction and exposure adjustments

Canva Editing Tool

Canva is one of the best options for fast image adjustment as well as complete design work. One of its comprehensive tools is Magic Resize, which can resize an image to fit different formats such as a Facebook post, banner, or presentation slide. Also, when resizing, Canva ensures to place your graphics, text, and other photo components in their respective places, rather than compressing or stretching them. 

Other editing possibilities you may wish to experiment with include background erasure, addition of new background, etc. Canva is reliable on both web and mobile. After post-editing, you can export the resized image as PNG or JPG.

Additional Features

• Pre-made templates for slides, posters, and social posts

• Brand kit to help you keep fonts, colors, and logos uniform

• Work together with teammates and edit at the same time

• Huge library of stock images, videos, and graphics

• Animation options for social media or digital presentations

PicResize Online Editing Tool

PicResize is one of the oldest yet most reliable online tools for quick image resizing. It requires no account and works directly from your browser. You simply upload an image, select the desired size, and download the edited image. 

PicResize is a user-friendly platform with support for basic post resizing edits. So, if you are a beginner looking for a fuss-free resizing online tool, we recommend checking this one out. 

Additional Features

• Resize by percentage or set custom dimensions

• Batch resize multiple images at once

• Apply simple filters like grayscale or sharpen

• Rotate and crop images before downloading

• Works instantly online without installation

How to Resize an Image Without Losing Quality?

Resizing can alter the degree of sharpness or detail of a photo. If you make it large enough, it can become fuzzy; if it is small enough to the point where you have called out every detail, it can just as easily be lost. The nice part is that you can modify images without too much loss of quality provided that you remember a few things:

• Keep the aspect ratio locked. Let the width and height scale together. Unlocking it stretches the image and lowers its quality right away.

• Work with the highest-resolution version of the image. It’s always easier to compress a large photo than to enlarge a small one.

• Be careful with enlarging. Pushing an image far beyond its original size usually hurts clarity. Doubling or tripling dimensions often makes it look soft.

• Pick the right format. JPG works well for those with storage issues, matters, PNG is better for sharper edges or transparency, and TIFF is the go-to choice for print.

• Consider AI-based upscaling. Tools like X-Design and similar editors can fill in missing details more effectively than basic resizing software.

• Always save a new copy instead of replacing the original, so you have the untouched file if you don’t like the changes.

Wrapping It Up!

Photo resizing is not really about compression or enlargement but simply ensuring that it looks appropriate wherever it is used. An image that is to be used in a web page, social media image, or print material must remain conversational and clear; otherwise, the effects are lost. 

You do not need any designated software to deal with this. Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android all have designated tools for resizing, and the other online image resizing tools, such as X-Design, Fotor, Pixlr, BeFunky, and Canva, make it a simple matter. When resizing, follow the picture resizing guide, keep the aspect ratio locked, open the best version of the picture, and use a file type that best fulfills your purpose.