How to resize an image
Enter the exact width and height the destination requires and choose how the picture should fill that box. The image is redrawn at the new dimensions using the browser's own scaling, then saved in the format you choose. Batch mode handles several files with the same settings.
Crop, fit or stretch
- Crop to fill scales the image until it covers the whole box and trims the overflow from the edges. The subject stays correctly proportioned; the edges are lost. This is the right choice almost every time.
- Fit inside scales the image until it fits entirely, then pads the remaining space with a background colour. Nothing is cut off, but the padding is visible.
- Stretch forces the image to the exact box regardless of proportions. It distorts the picture and should only be used deliberately.
Keeping images sharp
- Scaling down almost always looks good. Scaling far up does not add detail — it only stretches the pixels that exist.
- Keep the aspect ratio unless you deliberately want a stretched image. When a fixed width and height are required, the crop-to-fill option trims the overflow instead of distorting the picture.
- Resize from the largest original you have rather than from a copy that was already reduced.
- Save photographs as JPG or WebP, and flat graphics or anything with transparency as PNG or WebP.
Dimensions, resolution and file size
Screen images are measured in pixels; DPI only matters for print. Halving both the width and the height removes about three quarters of the pixels, which is usually the fastest way to make a heavy image light. If the file is still too big afterwards, run it through a compressor as a second step.