How to resize an image in paint?

Knowing how to resize an image in Paint is a handy skill for anyone, especially if you are a graphic designer or work with images on a regular basis. 

From social media platforms to websites, high-resolution images are crucial to building quality content and the trust of your audiences. Resizing images using Microsoft Paint is one of the easiest ways to adjust any image for different platforms. 

In this article, you will learn how to resize an image in Paint 3D. We will also touch on how to change dimensions and the use of AI. We’ll also touch on how to shrink a picture in Paint without sacrificing the quality.

So, if you’ve ever wondered how to change the dimensions of a picture in Paint or just want to reduce pic size in Paint, you’re in the right place!

Understanding Image Resizing

So, what exactly does it mean to resize an image? It usually refers to the change of the physical dimensions of the image, like making it wider or narrower, taller or shorter. The two most common methods of image resizing are resizing and resampling.

During resizing, we simply change the height or width of the image. You can simply change it by stretching out or shrinking the pixel size. On the other hand, resampling refers to changing the number of pixels. You can add extra pixels by upscaling or remove pixels by downscaling. 

While resizing affects the image size, resampling affects the image quality, interfering with information by changing the pixel count. Resampling sometimes leads to a loss of image quality when it comes to enlarging an image significantly. 

Let’s see how image resizing affects resolution, aspect ratio, and image clarity:

• Resolution: Simply put, resolution refers to the density of the total pixel count per inch (PPI) or dots per inch (DPI) of an image. When you resize an image without resampling, the total number of pixels remains the same. When you enlarge an image with the resizing method, the pixel size is increased to cover more areas. This is why it often results in blurry images. Because the covered area doesn’t have enough information/pixels to fill. 
• Aspect Ratio: Aspect ratio tells you how much your image is wide compared to the height (e.g., 4:3, 16:9). It preserves the fundamental structure of your image and prevents distortion. To understand it better, you can read about image distortion. If you want to prevent your image quality from deteriorating, you must maintain the aspect ratio during the resizing process. 

Image Clarity: As mentioned earlier, resizing can directly affect how clear your image looks. Image clarity represents the sharpness, details, and distinct edges present in an image. Upscaling or downscaling often hampers a clear image as it interferes with the pixels. Proper resizing methods can keep you away from such issues. 

So, when do we need to resize an image?

In most common cases, we resize images to reduce them, adjust them to certain platforms or documents, or make them fit for a certain type of digital printing. Here we will see the reasons:

• Size reducing: Smaller images use up less storage space and are quicker to upload in apps or email.
• Meeting requirements: Every platform has specific requirements for image size. It depends on the type, like profile pictures, cover photos, or image posts.
• Adjusting to documents: When you are using images for documentation or a presentation, the images need to fit accordingly.
• Preparing images for printing: Magazines, banners, and newspapers have different standards for images.

Now we will talk about our main dish, one of the easiest methods— resizing images in Paint.

How to Resize an Image in Paint

Microsoft Paint is a classic, built-in tool on Windows that can be used for image editing, including resizing. Let’s check the straightforward process of how to resize photos on Paint :

1. Open Microsoft Paint. Click the Windows button, then type “Paint” in the search bar. It will pop up, and then click open. 
2. Now, click on File, then Open, and select an image. Navigate to the location of the image you want to resize, select it, and click “Open.”
3. Go to the “Home” tab. You’ll see the “Resize” button in the “Image” group, usually represented by a rectangle with arrows pointing inward.
4. A “Resize and Skew” window will pop up. Here, you have two main options for specifying the new size:
   • Percentage: This option allows you to scale the image by a percentage of its current size. For example, entering “50” in both the “Horizontal” and “Vertical” boxes will reduce the image to 50% of its original width and height. This is a quick way to proportionally shrink a picture in Paint.
   • Pixels: This option lets you set the exact width and height of the resized image in pixels. This is useful when you need specific dimensions.
5. Maintain aspect ratio:. The “Maintain aspect ratio” checkbox is selected by default, but do not forget to keep it in check. Otherwise, as we discussed before, your image quality will be lost and show pixelation. You can keep it unchecked depending on how you want to adjust the width and height. 
6. After you receive your desired dimensions or percentage, click “OK” to confirm. Go to “File” > “Save As” and choose a new name or file type to save the resized version. 

It is wise to save the logos or graphics in PNG file format and JPEG for larger ones. 

How to Resize an Image in Paint 3D

If you are using Windows 10 or a more updated version, Paint 3D offers a more modern interface and some additional features for you! . Here’s how to change the dimensions of a picture in Paint 3D:

1. Search for “Paint 3D” in the Windows search bar and open the application.
2. Now you will see a welcome screen. Click “Menu” in the top left corner, then “Open,” and select “Browse Files” to select the image you want to resize.
3. After opening your image, look for the “Canvas” option. You will see it in the top menu bar. 
4. Look at the right side to find “Canvas settings”. Now, turn on the  “Lock aspect ratio” toggle to avoid image distortion.
5. Under the “Resize” section, you’ll see “Width” and “Height” options. Enter your desired new dimensions if you want to. Now, here is the magic of locking aspect ratio! As we locked it in the previous step, your image will automatically change the other value proportionally to adjust your entered dimension. 
6. You can also resize the image by clicking and dragging the white circles (handles) at the corners of the image. Dragging a corner will resize the image proportionally if the aspect ratio is locked.
7. Once you get the desired result, click “Menu” in the top left corner, choose “Save As,” and pick a suitable file format (like JPEG or PNG), then enter a new name for the resized image and click “Save”.

Maintaining Image Quality While Resizing

As we need to go through image resizing now and then, it is important to do it with the minimal loss possible. Here are some effective tips:

• Maintain a standard size: Too large files have a high chance of pixelation and blurriness, as the software tries to fill the defined space by guessing it. We recommend starting with a larger image size and shrinking a picture in Paint or Paint 3D.
• Maintain aspect ratio:  Many designers ask a common question, “How to change the dimensions of a picture in Paint?”. The secret key is the aspect ratio. Locking the aspect ratio prevents unusual stretching or squishing. It keeps a constant flow after the upscaling or downscaling processes that preserves the original picture quality.
• Choose an appropriate format: JPEG is a good choice for colorful images in smaller file sizes. Besides, the PNG format works well with transparent backgrounds. Although it can result in larger files.
• Resize in smaller increments: If you need to reduce the size of a handsome ratio, follow a few steps to resize. It will help to keep better image details, while a single action sometimes backfires with less clarity.

Use AI for Resizing Your Images

AI tools like PIXI AI have powerful algorithms to analyze your image for the mentioned resizing criteria. It fills the image area under development with more pixels to improve the picture quality. 

So when you upscale an image, convolutional neural networks (CNN), which are like the powerhouse of AI, automatically learn image patterns and textures. Furthermore, CNN can predict and detect complicated objects and edges. 

This technology enables AI to transform a low-resolution input into a high-resolution image with almost zero data loss. That means? AI tools come in handy for large-scale image processing. 

Additionally, you can use PIXI AI to generate realistic motions and convert them into any file type, even for interior design. It allows you to generate real-time images in a minute as you instruct via a prompt.

Conclusion

Congratulations! Now, you know all about how to resize an image in Paint. Overall, it’s a straightforward process. You can easily shrink a picture in Paint and Paint 3D. You can change the dimensions of a picture in Paint or reduce the file size to fit specific requirements. Check the ratio to avoid distortion and be mindful to prevent potential quality loss in the image enlargement process. 

If you are a professional and looking for high-quality image transformation, including image resizing, use AI-powered tools like PIXI AI. It will save your time and add a pro touch to your image. AI-powered tools can optimize your image for multiple platforms.  Thanks a lot for being with us. We’ll be back soon with another topic. Stay tuned!