Proper Resizing in PS Elements – Understanding Image Size

This is part two of resizing in Adobe Photoshop Elements (PSE). Here we will look at resizing up (making your image bigger) and resizing for print. Check out part one on Resizing for Online Sharing.

As mentioned in part one sizing for the web is easy. You don’t need to start with as high of a quality image and sizing your image down or keeping the size small will make imperfections in the image less noticeable. Plus the limited resolution of computer monitors enable you to keep the resolution low.

Sizing your image for print is a different matter. You need a higher resolution and you will see imperfections on a hard copy print. If you want to make your image larger and print the image then you really need to understand the basics of how the image size, resolution and resampling work together.

Resizing has two components to it – the size of the image and the resolution (as mentioned in part one). If you change the size of your image while constraining your resolution – no damage is done to your image. If you change the size of your image independent of your resolution then damage occurs. Adobe “Resamples” your image when changing the image size independent of the resolution. Your image can become softer (not as sharp) and/or pixelation can occur.

After editing a portrait from a recent baby shoot in Photoshop Creative Suite, I opened it in PSE. Here the Resample box is not check. The bracket connecting Width, Height and Resolution means if you change one value PSE changes the other two accordingly. Adobe doesn't Resample so no damage is done. You could change the values as many times as you want without damaging the image.

How far you can go with the Resampling will depend on the image file quality.

Once you do your editing at a high resolution (between 200-300 ppi), you will make your image as large as you need it at the resolution you need to print it. If you can get the image big enough, while keeping the size and resolution constrained, you don’t need to Resample the image. No damage, no problem.

If I want to print a 12 x 12 inch print or smaller then this will do. I can easily print at 300 ppi. If I lower the ppi the image size (Height and Width) will increase.

If you go to the minimum resolution you can get away with for printing and the image is still too small – you have a bit of a problem. You now have to make the image bigger while keeping the resolution unchanged. This is easy. You have but one option. Adobe will “Resample” the image.

I decided I want a 30 x 30 print. Here I lowered the ppi to the lowest I would attempt printing. This brought my image size up to just over 28 x 28 inches. Not big enough. I will have to Resample the image larger. This will damage the image, but it was shot on a good gear and doesn't have to go much bigger.

In PSE you have several options for how to Resample your image. This is where you will minimize the damage. That’s all you can do – just minimize the damage.

Choose “Bicubic Sharper” in the box beside the Resample option. This Resampling option does a cleaner job of Resampling the image when you’re making the image larger.

Since I had already changed the Resolution without Resampling, I check the box beside Resample Image. I kept the Constrain Proportions box checked. If I change the Height or Width Adobe will change the other but not the Resolution. I adjust the Width to 30 and the Height followed. Just under the Resample option I chose Bicubic Sharper from the drop down menu.

This is the simplest way to resize up. I hit the highlights on understanding how image size and resolution affect your image.

You will be limited on how big you can make any particular image. The resolution of your camera and quality of your camera are just two things that will affect how big you can go. You’ll be able to go larger with images shot on a DSLR, because of the larger and better sensors and physical pixels, than point and shoots. Images which have been cropped significantly won’t be able to be enlarge very far  (reduced resolution). Images with a lot of noise will be limited too.

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