To resize an image, click Edit in the ribbon and click the Resize tool in the palette.

resize

The Resize Image dialog will display.

resize image

Width and Height

Type or use the arrow buttons to adjust the size for Width and Height. If Maintain aspect ratio is checked, changing one entry will automatically adjust the other entry to keep the appropriate proportions. Keep this checked for the highest quality resizing.

Units

The Units drop-down lets you select from inches, centimeters and pixels.

Type a new value for Resolution to adjust the size. Remember that if you make a change to the resolution, this will change the size of the image on your computer display because EQ8 shows the image pixel-for-pixel. The rulers will re-scale to reflect the change. If you have Pixels selected for Units, when you change the Resolution, the entries for Width and Height in pixels will adjust automatically when you click OK.

Resampling

Resampling is a mathematical technique used to create a new version of the image with a different width and/or height in pixels.

Normal – Images with 256 colors or less will automatically be set to Normal.
Linear and averaging – This option is good for increasing and decreasing the size of an image.
Bicubic and averaging – This option is the best option when increasing the size of an image. It helps prevent jaggedness.

When images are increased in size, the number of pixels increases, but the original information is the same so the new image cannot increase in detail. It can only rely on the information in the original image. As a result, images normally become softer, the more they are enlarged, since the amount of information per pixel goes down. Increasing an image size involves interpolating between the existing pixels to obtain an estimate of their values at the new pixel locations.

When images are decreased in size, information in the original image has to be discarded to make the image smaller. Reducing the size of an image can make a soft image appear sharper even though it contains less information than the original. Decreasing an image size involves computing a weighted average of the original pixels that overlap each new pixel.

Note: If you decrease the size of an image and then increase the size, you will not get all the original image detail back.

Recommendations


Here are some suggestions to help give you better results if resizing.

  • If you’re preparing an image to print on fabric, check your compression quality settings in Image Options. Set it to a higher compression quality to keep your image crisp and clear.
  • Always resize last. Do all other manipulations first, then make your last step to resize.
  • Resize only once. If you resize and it’s not what you want, undo it and try again.
  • Avoid increasing the size by more than 125% otherwise the image will become blurred.
  • When increasing the size, be sure to select Bicubic in the Resampling entry.
  • Ensure Maintain aspect ratio is checked otherwise you’ll have distortion.
  • Don’t use resize if your goal is to make the image appear larger on your computer screen. Use zoom.
  • Don’t resize at all if the file opened is GIF format.
  • If you’re making an image for the web, you’ll want to use Pixels for Units, so that your image will appear the same on various displays.
  • If you’re making an image to print on fabric as part of a quilt or craft project, you’ll be more comfortable with using Inches or centimeters for the dimensions.