Resizing sounds simple, but Photoshop has a few different tools that do slightly different things, and mixing them up leads to stretched or blurry results. This guide keeps it clear.
Image Size vs Canvas Size
First, know which one you actually want:
- Image Size scales the whole picture up or down. This is what most people mean by “resize.”
- Canvas Size changes the area around your image without scaling the picture, handy for adding a border or extra working space.
How to resize the image
- Go to Image > Image Size.
- Check that the chain link icon between Width and Height is turned on. This locks the aspect ratio so the image never stretches.
- Enter your new Width or Height, and the other value updates automatically.
- Set your units (pixels for screen, inches or centimetres for print).
- Click OK.
Keep quality in mind
Scaling an image down is safe and keeps it sharp. Scaling up is where quality can suffer, because Photoshop has to invent new pixels. To enlarge as cleanly as possible:
- Keep Resample ticked.
- Choose Preserve Details from the resample dropdown, which uses smarter enlargement.
For print, also check your resolution. 300 pixels per inch is the standard for crisp printed work, while screen images only need to match their display size.
Resizing just the canvas
If you only want more space around the image, use Image > Canvas Size instead, set the new dimensions, and choose an anchor point to control which direction the space is added.
Keep going
Resizing is one of the first things every Photoshop user learns. The full Adobe Photoshop course covers image size, resolution and exporting for both web and print, and you can try it free first.