If you need to edit your projects faster than you can imagine, knowing how to enlarge an image in Photoshop is exactly the next skill you should incorporate into your list of
skills
as a content creator.
We know that not everyone is an expert in graphic design or dreams of being the mastermind behind the next Times Square banner ad.
but who hasn’t needed to enlarge an image in photoshop?
Whether you want to create birthday invitations or a social media ad campaign, this tool will give you more than one solution.
The trick is to know the simplest Photoshop techniques, in order to detect which option best suits your editing style. We will explain step by step
the best alternatives you have for changing the dimensions of an image in Photoshop
and you will see how easy this task becomes.
all set to get started?
Make sure you have your battery charged and get ready to learn a new skill in your favorite graphic design software.
how to enlarge an image in Photoshop from the menu bar?
has it ever happened to you that you are working on a project and you get the surprise that your image is not big enough for your composition? Finding a solution to this problem is very simple, you just have to use Photoshop to get the size you are looking for.
To change the dimensions of an image from the menu bar, you must follow the following steps in Photoshop:
First, open your image in the Adobe program.
Go to option
Image
in the menu bar and select
Image size.
Decide in which
Unit of measure
you prefer to resize your image.
If you want to keep the ratio between height and width, remember to activate the option
Restrict proportions.
To allow the number of pixels to be adjusted automatically, do not forget to select the option
Resample.
If you want to print this design, we recommend that before resizing the image in Photoshop you go to the option
Adjust to.
Once inside, select
Auto Resolution
and set a resolution type or quality.
Then, increase the corresponding number to
Width
and you will see that the dimension of
Height
dimension is automatically adjusted.
The new file size will be displayed at the top of the pop-up window.
Finally, click on Ok.
you’ve learned how to resize an image in Photoshop using the menu bar!
:
Some considerations to take into account
When using this Photoshop feature,
remember to check the box that links the image dimensions.
Otherwise, what will happen is that your image will only change in relation to the width and not the height, or the other way around.
As for the resolution number,
ideally it should be higher than 200.
However, if it is for printing, it is advisable that it be 300 pixels/inch.
Finally, if your design includes any
type of layered styling
don’t forget to adjust this point in the resizing. To do this, select the
Change
style scale in the gear icon.
Keep these recommendations in mind to get the best results in your composition. That’s all! It’s pretty easy, isn’t it? That’s because you haven’t seen the other alternatives we have for you yet.
how to resize an image in Photoshop from the toolbar?
As you might suspect, Adobe Photoshop has several ways to resize images. The idea is that
you know as many as possible and choose which is the best option for you.
Besides, after seeing them, you will realize that some are more useful than others, depending on the context.
Now let’s see how to enlarge or shrink an image in Photoshop from Tools
:
Move Tool
what if you don’t have the exact size in mind?
Well don’t worry, now we will show you a Photoshop tool you need to know to make a size change: Move.
With this option you will learn how to enlarge an image in Photoshop with just three clicks.
really! Just three.
These are the steps you must follow in the program:
First,
click on the Move tool
(or you can type the letter V on your keyboard).
Then, you will have to
drag the image from the corners to enlarge the image to the size you want.
Finally, it gives
click on the check
at the top.
:
Scale by Content Tool
In case your interest
is not only to change the dimension of an image in Photoshop, but also to modify its meaning,
this is your ideal tool.
While many designers change the scale of an entire image using the path:
Transform – Scale
the element in the center is likely to be distorted. Likewise, others apply the
Proportional Enhancement or the Fill and Scale Zones effect
. However, the photograph will not be exactly the same as the original.
Imagine you have a
photograph with a landscape in the background and an element in the center,
but you need it to be horizontal for a promotional banner on a website.
how to resize this image in Photoshop?
it’s very simple! Here are the steps you need to follow using the Scale by Content tool:
Choose an image where the main element is clearly distinguishable from the background.
Double-click on the image and
collapse the background layer.
Adjust the canvas size
to determine the expected size of the final image.
Go to
Edit
and then apply the
Scale by Content tool.
It will display a
frame
around the image you are working on will be displayed. You can change its size
by dragging the slider points.
Photoshop will only change the content of pixels that do not integrate the main element.
cool, isn’t it?
As you can imagine, if you want to apply this tool to images that have a central element that does not easily stand out from the background, there is a solution. To change the size of these photos, what you must do first is to
select the element manually with the Lasso tool
. Make sure to save it as a
Selection.
: Pexels
you already know more than one option to enlarge an image in Photoshop!
Now let’s look at some key points you can’t overlook if you want to maintain quality in your designs.
how to enlarge an image in Photoshop without distorting it?
did you manage to change the dimensions of your image but noticed that it didn’t look exactly as you expected?
no problem! The solution to this issue is quite simple and you will only have to activate a small button so that it won’t happen again with any other image (or, at least, not by accident).
When you’re enlarging your image from the menu bar, don’t forget to
check the Constrain proportions option
the button that looks like a chain. If you make sure that this tool is checked, you will be able to keep the proportion of your image and
will not be distorted.
Now, if you are working with the Move tool on the toolbar, you will need to do the following
hold down the Shift key while dragging
the layer from a corner. You will notice that, you will enlarge the layer both in height and width. you’ll see that it’s very simple and will really make a difference!
: Pexels
how to enlarge an image in Photoshop without losing quality?
If you are designing an image for your own project, you should be concerned about making it look as good as possible. That’s why you should
take into account the resolution of the image
when making these changes in the program. We leave you with the following tips:
Remember
not to enlarge the image to a dimension that doubles its size
size, as this may cause the image to be pixelated.
In case you need to change the pixel dimensions of an image in a more detailed way,
you can do resampling.
You can access this option via the
Image Size
button and then click on the
Resample.
There are several types of resampling that you should take into account when resizing or enlarging an image in Photoshop:
Automatic:
the program chooses the resampling method depending on the type of document and whether it upscales or downscales the document.
Preserve details (enlargement):
activates a Noise Reduction slider to smooth noise when scaling up the image.
Smoother bicubic (enlargement):
serves to enlarge images based on bicubic interpolation but designed to produce smoother results.
Bicubic plus focused (reduction):
ideal for reducing the size of an image based on bicubic interpolation with enhanced focus. This method maintains the detail of a resampled image.
Bicubic (smoother gradients):
is the most accurate method although slower. It is based on an examination of adjacent pixel values.
By approximation (defined edges):
is the fastest but least accurate way to reproduce the pixels of an image. This method preserves sharp edges and produces a smaller file size for artwork containing unsmoothed edges.
Bilinear:
is a method that adds pixels by calculating the average of the color values of adjacent pixels. It produces average quality results.
:
why use Photoshop to enlarge an image?
One of the biggest reasons why it’s super convenient to have handy
all the software of this content editing package,
is that you will be able to combine different functionalities when creating your next design. When it comes to Photoshop, the possibilities are endless. However, you can also use it for simpler tasks such as changing the dimensions of an image.
Adobe Creative Cloud offers the tools par excellence for design and audiovisual editing, thanks to its wide variety of programs such as Illustrator, Indesign, Lightroom, Adobe XD, Premiere Pro and After Effects, among others.
The best software for working with photographs is definitely Adobe Photoshop.
According to Adobe, another great feature that makes this program the ideal program for working with images is that
works on a bitmap basis,
that is to say, it reads all the content of the photograph according to its pixels. When we design in Adobe Photoshop, we do not modify the shapes, but the pixels of the images.
This point is key to understand why Photoshop is the right tool to modify both the size of photos and their composition. At
scanning the images as a set of pixels, we can
it brings more subtlety to the editing process. In addition, it is very important to note that, being an intelligent software, it does not lose quality when the number of pixels that make up the image varies.
do you still have any doubts about using this editor in your next designs?
Here are some uses of Photoshop beyond editing the size of an image.
pexels
what other uses can you complement Photoshop?
As we mentioned before, learning how to enlarge an image in Photoshop is just one of the different uses that we can give to this software. With this Adobe program you can
perform other functions
such as cutting out the hair of your favorite character from your series, making logos for your business and even changing the color of an image.
Although this tool is a bit more complex than its main competitor, Lightroom,
it is also more complete.
In addition to changing the dimensions of an image, in Photoshop you have the great advantage of
working in layers.
That is to say that you can get to
instances of editing much deeper than a simple color retouching.
Thanks to Photoshop, you can not only resize a photo, but also change the size of a photo:
Create visual montages and turn your photos into works of art.
Add or remove elements that appear in the original photo.
Apply filters and retouching to the image.
Create texture and 3D effects thanks to its large number of brushes. Here is a pack of downloadable brushes for you to try in your next designs.
: Adobe
Selection and cutting tools
Retouching tools
Painting tools
Typographic tools
Drawing tools
The Layers panel
Advanced Photomontage
Additional Photoshop CC features
Some Photoshop tips for beginners
Now that you know how to enlarge an image in Photoshop, keep the following tips in mind
tips for your composition to get the best results.
They will definitely help you when changing dimensions or making other changes to your canvas:
If you want to enlarge the image and you notice that you don’t have space, remember that you also have the
option to change the dimensions of a canvas.
This can be done in two simple steps: first go to the image you are editing and then select Canvas Size.
Note that you can keep the quality and size of your original image just by duplicating the layer.
Work on the copy and hide the original version in case you need it later.
In case you are working with a background layer, remember to
unlock it by clicking on the lock
that appears on the right side of the screen.
: Pexels