How to Resize Digital Photos

You don't have to be a trained graphic designer to resize your digital photographs. With some simple tricks you can make your wallet-sized image into a size that fits into an 8.5 inch x 11-inch frame. The steps below may vary slightly with different programs, but the basis is the same. The technique below works with most photograph digitizing software.

Increasing Image Size

1. Open the file to be edited.


2. File conversion from bitmap to vector image is very easy. A bitmap file such as jpg or bmp, can be converted by "saving as" a generic vector image format png or gif. For this tutorial, we are using png extension.


3. "Save as" another file_name1.png. Never use your original. If you make an irrecoverable mistake, you can always close without saving, re-open the original file and start over.


4. Choose "Image" from the menu bar. Click on "Image Size" from the list. A dialogue box will open. It may vary from program to program, but the interface is generally the same. 


5. In the drop down menu, choose "PERCENT" and type "150." The measurement should copy to both "width" and "length" boxes. 


6. Click "OK." Your image should have increased in size by 50%. Using this method the image should be as clear as the original. The difference between a bitmap file and a vector file is when the image is increasd from a smaller size the individual pixels "stretch" creating a mottled, unclear image.  This is called "pixelated." Vector files add pixels when file size is increased resulting in much less or no distortion.

Decreasing Image Size

1. Open file to be edited.


2. "Save as" another file_name2.png


3. Choose "Image" from the meu bar.  Click on "Image Size." It will open a dialogue box. 


4. In the drop down menu, choose "PERCENT" and type "50." It should copy to both "width" and "length" boxes.


5. Click "OK." Your image is now 50% smaller than it was before size was increased. Notice how it is still just as clear as the original. When decreasing from a larger file size, a bitmap file decreases pixels retaining clarity.  Also with a vector file, the pixels redistribute according to the percent reduced, in this demonstration by 50%.