How to Enlarge a Picture Without Losing Quality?

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Contributor, Benzinga
September 17, 2021

High-quality images are a necessity to create an everlasting impression and attract potential clients. Hence, when you showcase your products or services online, make sure your enlarged images are not pixelated, stretched, blurred or compressed. 

To obtain high-quality images with better resolution, you can use a few simple tools. Learn about ways to enlarge pictures without losing quality using these tools now.

Why Is High Quality Important for Pictures? 

The brain transmits 90% of the data from visual content. Viewers can relate better to an image than to a paragraph of words. By using high-quality photos, you can entice and attract consumers even more towards your business. Here are a few more reasons to consider high-quality images.

  • High-quality images appeal to audiences on all platforms like smartphones, tablets and desktops, boosting your reach.
  • Uploading relevant and high-quality images on your website will boost your website traffic and its organic ranking. Consequently, it will enhance your online visibility.
  • High-quality photos are pleasing to the eye. They can influence am undecided potential buyer to choose your brand over your competitor's and increase the likelihood of a call or a sale. 
  • Product images are now a determining factor in the way consumers look at your brand. A picture with good quality will leave a lasting impression on the audience.  
  • A collection of high-quality, real-life photos on a website proves that the services or products are up to the industry standard both in quality and appearance. 
  • Images with better quality are more likely to be liked and shared on social media, helping you increase your online visibility. 

Steps to Enlarge Image Without Losing Quality

Before you move towards learning the steps to enlarge images, it is essential to understand how resizing impacts the quality of the image. 

Technically speaking, resizing alters the basic pixel information. 

For instance, when an image's size is reduced, any unnecessary pixel information is removed. Similarly, when you enlarge a picture, new matching pixels are added to the original pixels that can result in blurry images. So, the essence of image enlargement is to achieve better results by maintaining high resolution without losing quality.

Considering this, let us learn the steps to enlarge images using the 3 most common image editing tools.  

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) Photoshop is one of the most widely used image editing tools available in the market. Its advanced features and user-friendly interface appeal to beginners and professionals. Follow the steps below to enlarge images using Photoshop now.

Step 1: Select image.

Select the image you want to resize in Photoshop, then go to the Image menu and select Image Size. You can also choose the shortcut Alt+Crtl+I.

Step 2: Define metrics.

In the new window, click on the link symbol. This symbol indicates that the resize will constrain the proportions of the photo. Choose Percent for Width. Photoshop will automatically assign a percentage value to the Height field if the proportions are linked correctly. Once done, set the DPI in the Resolution box.

Step 3: Specify sizes.

For enlarging the photo size:

  1. Increase the value in the Width field, letting Photoshop set the Height value automatically.
  2. Check the Resample box and select Automatic.
  3. Click OK.

Check the result in the Photoshop preview window by dragging the image in the preview window. Continue the steps above until you have the desired results.

Alternatively, you can skip a few of the initial steps using the Alt+I followed by the Alt+E shortcuts key to resize images in Photoshop. These shortcuts will take you directly to the Image Size dialog box. Then, follow the rest of the workflow to enlarge images in Photoshop effortlessly.

GIMP

GIMP is another powerful image editing tool that comes second to none. Created as an open-source image editing tool for Debian-based systems, GIMP has become a reliable tool for people who require advanced image editing features. The steps below show how you can enlarge an image using GIMP.

Step 1: Select image.

In GIMP, navigate to File > Open and select the image you want to resize. You can choose an image in either of the following file formats — PNG, JPG, GIF, WEBP, TIFF and BMP.

Step 2: Specify sizes.

To enlarge the image, go to the Image menu and select Scale Image.  In the Scale Image dialog box, choose Pixels and enter the Width and Height values for the enlarged image. Then continue entering desired values into the X resolution and Y resolution boxes.

Step 3: Choose methods.

Choose the interpolation method that will create new pixel information in GIMP. For this example, select Cubic interpolation.

Step 4: Export result.

Click on the Scale button, then save the image using the Export option. You can find the export option by navigating to the File> Export menu.

Enlarging images in GIMP is easy and gives satisfying results. However, to maintain better image quality, keep enlargements to the minimum.

Online Image Editors

Step 1: Select image editor and image.

To enlarge an image online, upload the picture from your device to the homepage of the image editing website. Most websites offer at least 2 methods to upload the image — upload the image using file explorer or drag and drop it. Choose the method that is the most convenient for you. 

Step 2: Define sizes.

A new dialogue box will open to set the resolution of the images. Enter the desired Width and Height values in pixels.  

Step 3: Compare.

After applying the new size:

  1. Download the final image on your device.
  2. Check the quality of the picture by enlarging it.
  3. Continue the steps above until you have the desired results.

Enlarge to a High-Quality Image for Better Performance

We often need to enlarge the image when we want it to fit entirely on the viewer's screen. In doing so, we might lose the image quality, which impacts the user's impression and your brand's reputation. Using appropriate tools, you can minimize the loss of image quality.

The tools suggested above are designed to refine the color distribution on your photo to achieve a much higher picture resolution. It will improve the quality of enlarged images, help you get better audience attention and grab more consumer interest in your product or services. Start enlarging your pictures now.