Resize Images Without Losing Quality
Resizing always involves some compromise — but with the right approach, the quality difference is invisible. The key factors are: resizing down (not up), choosing the right format, and using a proper interpolation algorithm.
Rules for quality-preserving resizing
- Always resize down, never up — upscaling creates blur
- Start from the highest-resolution original you have
- Use PNG for graphics and screenshots, JPG/WebP for photos
- For photos, target the display size times 2 for retina
- Apply light sharpening after downscaling for crisp results
Format recommendations after resizing
- Photos for web: resize then export as WebP at 85% quality
- UI assets: resize then export as PNG (lossless)
- Email attachments: resize to 1200px wide, export as JPG at 80%
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I resize without losing any pixels?
Only if you resize down to an exact divisor of the original dimensions. Otherwise, interpolation is required and some pixel information is averaged.
Is lossless resize possible?
PNG resizing is always lossy in the pixel sense (fewer pixels), but there is no additional compression artifact. Use PNG output to avoid double compression.