Why Image Quality Suffers During Resizing

When you resize an image, you’re essentially telling your editing software to alter the number of pixels-the building blocks of the image. This can go two ways: you either scale down and remove pixels, or you enlarge and add more pixels.

The issue? Simply adding or removing pixels isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. The image editor needs to either invent data that wasn’t there or discard data that could have been important. This is where things start to break down.

Why Does Quality Deteriorate?

Downscaling (reducing image size) often leads to the loss of details. If the original image has many fine details, reducing its size means the software has to eliminate some of those pixels, potentially blurring or oversimplifying textures. The smaller the final image, the more likely you are to lose sharpness.

Upscaling (enlarging an image) is even trickier. When you enlarge a photo, the software creates new pixels based on what’s already there. This is called interpolation-an algorithmic guess of what those new pixels should look like. If the software isn’t advanced enough, the enlarged image looks blurry or pixelated because those new pixels aren’t accurately capturing the finer details of the original.

How to Enlarge a Photo Without Losing Quality

If you’ve ever tried to enlarge a small image only to end up with a less-than-ideal result, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common challenges people face when working with digital images.

But you don’t have to worry-here are a few reliable methods to enlarge a photo without losing quality.

1. Start with the Highest-Resolution Image Possible

The first rule of enlarging an image without losing quality is to start with the best possible version of the image. The more data (pixels) your software has to work with, the better. If you can access the original file in RAW or another high-resolution format, use it. It gives the resizing algorithm more information to work with and reduces the likelihood of quality loss.

2. Use AI-Powered Tools for Best Results

Traditional methods of enlarging images rely on basic interpolation (guesswork). However, modern AI-powered tools, like ON1 Resize AI, have changed the game. They analyze your image using machine learning and then generate new pixels that match the patterns, edges, and textures of the original image. Instead of just upscaling based on nearby pixels, AI-based tools enhance and refine the image during the process.

• ON1 Resize AI: Specifically designed to enlarge images without losing quality, ON1 Resize AI uses machine learning to add detail and clarity as the image is scaled up. Ideal for enlargements where you need to preserve sharpness, such as for large prints or high-resolution digital displays​.
• Photoshop’s Preserve Details 2.0: Photoshop’s Preserve Details 2.0 is another great option for enlarging photos. It uses advanced algorithms to maintain sharpness and minimize artifacts when increasing image size. You can access it through Photoshop’s Image Size dialog and adjust the “Reduce Noise” slider to refine the results.

3. Don’t Overdo It

While it’s tempting to enlarge an image as much as you want, there are limits to how much you can increase size without noticeable degradation. A good rule of thumb for non-AI tools is to limit enlargements to 2x or 4x the original size. Any larger, and the image can start to lose too much detail, even with the best software.

If you need to enlarge beyond that, focus on using AI-based methods.

4. Use a Gradual Upscaling Approach

Another technique for non-AI tools is to gradually enlarge the image in small increments. Rather than jumping straight to 200% or 300%, enlarge it by 10% or 20% at a time, applying subtle sharpening between steps. This helps avoid significant degradation by allowing the software to manage the changes in smaller stages.

5. Sharpen the Image After Upscaling

Even the best upscaling methods can result in a slight loss of sharpness. After enlarging, it’s a good idea to apply some sharpening to the image to bring back the fine details. But be careful-over-sharpening can introduce artifacts or make the image look unnatural.

6. Avoid Resaving in Lossy Formats

When enlarging an image, avoid saving it in lossy formats like JPEG until you’re done editing. Every time a JPEG is saved, it loses some quality due to compression. Instead, work with lossless formats like PNG or TIFF during editing, and only save the final version in JPEG if necessary.

How to Reduce Image Size Without Losing Quality

Reducing image size is often necessary for optimizing web pages, creating smaller file sizes for faster load times, or meeting upload requirements for various platforms. However, scaling down an image can sometimes lead to blurriness or loss of important detail if not done correctly. Here’s how to do it the right way.

1. Use Bicubic Interpolation for Best Results

Most photo editing software offers several interpolation methods for resizing, and bicubic interpolation is one of the best options for scaling down an image. Bicubic resampling calculates pixel values based on surrounding pixels, offering a more accurate and smoother result compared to simpler methods like nearest neighbor or bilinear interpolation.

• Bicubic Sharper: In tools like Adobe Photoshop, you can choose the Bicubic Sharper setting when reducing an image’s size. This method helps retain details and avoids the softened edges that sometimes come with downsizing. It’s particularly useful for small image reductions where clarity is critical.

2. Choose Tools That Specialize in Downsizing

If you’re serious about reducing image size without losing quality, know that some tools can handle this better than others. Here’s a great option that excels at scaling down images while maintaining clarity and detail:

• GIMP: As an open-source option, GIMP uses several resampling methods, including Sinc (Lanczos3), which is a high-quality option for reducing image size. This method calculates pixel values in a way that avoids harsh edges and helps preserve details.

3. Apply Sharpening After Downsizing

Even when using the best interpolation methods, reducing an image’s size can sometimes result in slight softening. To counteract this, apply a sharpening filter after downsizing.

4. Resize in Small Increments for Greater Control

If you’re dealing with very large files, consider reducing the size incrementally rather than all at once. Downsizing by 10-20% at a time, while applying subtle sharpening between steps, allows you to keep control over how the image adjusts. This method helps prevent significant loss of detail, especially when working with complex images.

5. Adjust Compression Settings

If you need to reduce the file size for web use, tweaking the compression settings can help. For example, when saving as JPEG, you can adjust the quality slider in Photoshop or other software to balance file size and image quality.

For web purposes, aim for a compression setting that keeps the image sharp but brings down the file size.

See the Extraordinary AI Face Recovery Tech in ON1 Resize AI

Our latest Resize AI update introduces a new machine-learning model that identifies small faces in images and automatically enhances them with lifelike detail. This feature is particularly useful for restoring clarity in old group photos or when cropping an individual from a larger image.

Our software can reconstruct facial features with impressive realism, even from minimal detail, adding textures and depth. Check it out in this quick video!

How to Resize an Image Without Losing Quality: Best Practices

Resizing images can be tricky, especially if you want to avoid any loss of detail or clarity. However, by following a set of proven best practices, you can ensure that your resized images maintain the same professional quality as the originals. Whether you’re working on web optimization, print projects, or general editing, these tips will help you resize an image without losing quality.

1. Always Maintain Aspect Ratio

The aspect ratio is the relationship between an image’s width and height. If you stretch or distort this ratio, you’ll end up with a skewed or compressed image. Most editing software will have an option to “lock” the aspect ratio, which ensures the image remains proportional during resizing.

Tip: In Photoshop, you can lock the aspect ratio by holding down the Shift key while resizing, or by checking the “Constrain Proportions” box.

2. Use Non-Destructive Editing Techniques

Non-destructive editing means making adjustments to an image without permanently changing the original file. This is great for resizing because it allows you to go back and fine-tune the process without degrading the original image’s quality. Smart Objects in Photoshop, for example, enable you to resize an image multiple times without losing detail.

Resize First, Edit Second

If your project involves significant editing in addition to resizing (such as color correction, retouching, or adding filters), it’s best to resize the image first. It ensures that your adjustments are made at the image’s final size, avoiding any potential loss of quality when you later resize.

Editing first and resizing afterward can sometimes lead to less precise adjustments and can amplify any quality loss caused by the resizing process.

Experience Effortless, High-Quality Image Resizing with ON1 Resize AI

Resizing images doesn’t have to be a compromise between size and quality. With ON1 Resize AI, you get next-gen technology capable of enlarging photos while maintaining and recovering incredible detail and sharpness.

It’s the perfect solution for photographers, designers, or anyone who needs high-quality results, fast. Why not see the difference for yourself? Try out the full power of Resize AI with a free trial and experience how effortlessly it preserves every detail.

Frequently Asked Questions: How to Resize an Image Without Losing Quality

If you’re looking for more insights or have any questions about resizing images, check out the most common queries and tips we’ve compiled in our FAQ section.

Is it better to resize images before or after editing?

It’s generally best to resize after editing. Performing color corrections, retouching, or adding effects at the final image size ensures the adjustments apply accurately and reduces the risk of quality loss when resizing afterward.

How much can I enlarge an image before losing quality?

Without AI-driven software, enlarging an image more than 2x or 4x its original size can lead to significant quality loss, including pixelation and blurring. With tools like ON1 Resize AI or Photoshop’s Preserve Details, you can achieve larger enlargements with minimal degradation due to their advanced pixel creation methods.

Does resizing an image reduce its file size?

Resizing an image to smaller dimensions typically reduces the file size, but other factors like file format and compression level also play a role. For example, saving as a JPEG can further reduce the file size due to compression, though this may cause some quality loss.