How to Resize an Image in Photoshop without loosing Image Quality!

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In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to use smart objects in Photoshop to scale and resize images without losing quality. We will discover the distinction between resizing a pixel-based image and resizing a smart object. We will also discover why objects always appear to be more beautiful. At the end of this tutorial, I’ll also include a tip to ensure you always get the best results.

I’ll be working with Adobe Photoshop CC. Any other recent Photoshop version will also work. Let’s get started to see why resizing an image as a smart object is advantageous. We quickly set everything up so that we can see a side-by-side comparison of resizing a normal image versus resizing a smart object.

Image Resizing

We have taken a smaple image to continue with this tutorial

If we look in the layers panel, we can see that the image on the background layer requires two copies, one for the normal pixel version and one for the smart object. To make the first copy, navigate to the layer menu in the menu bar, select new, and then layer via copy. A copy of the image appears above the original in the layers panel. Use the keyboard shortcut to make a second copy. Use ctrl J on a Windows PC or command J on a Mac this time. A duplicate appears above the others. Let’s rename our duplicates so we can tell which is which.Double-click on the top layer, layer 1, and copy and rename it smart object. To accept it, on a Mac, press Enter or return. Then, double-click on the name layer one below it, rename it pixels, and press enter again. We no longer require the image on the background layer. So let’s make the background white. To select the background layer, click on it. Then select fill from the Edit menu. Set the contents option to white in the fill dialog box, then click OK.

Duplicate Layer in Photoshop

More canvas space is required to fit both image versions side by side. Select canvas size from the image menu. Set the width to 200 percent and the height to 100 percent in the canvas size dialog box. Leave the relative option unchecked and select the square in the middle left of the anchor grid. This will move all of the extra space to the image’s right. To close the dialog box, click OK.

Select the move tool from the toolbar to move one of the images into the new space. To select the smart object layer at the top of the layer panel, click on it. Then, click and drag the image into the new space on the right. On the left is the image that will remain pixel-based, and on the right is the image that will be converted to a smart object. Finally, in the layers panel, select the smart object layer to convert the image on the right into a smart object. Select convert to smart object from the list by clicking the menu icon in the top right corner of the layers panel. Photoshop converts the layer to a smart object and the smart object icon appears in the layer’s thumbnail. Now that we have our document set up.

Smart Object Converting

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When we resize a smart object, the pixels on the object become corrupt. To resolve this issue, we will first scale both versions down to make them smaller, then enlarge them and compare the results. Let’s begin with the pixel version on the left. I’ll select the pixels layer by clicking on it to scale and shrink the image. I’ll use the free transform command in Photoshop by going to the Edit menu and selecting free transform.

Photoshop Tutorial

Let’s reduce the image’s width and height to 10% of their original dimensions. It is simpler to enter it in the options bar. Increase the width to 10%. Because the width and height are linked, the height value is automatically set to 10%. The pixel version on the left is now significantly smaller.

Scale to 10% Photoshop

Let’s repeat the process with the smart object on the right. I’ll select the smart object in the layers panel by clicking on it. Then I’ll return to the Edit menu and select free transform. The free transform handles appear this time around the smart object on the right. I’ll link the width and height fields in the options bar, then reduce the width value by 10%. The height value will change in tandem. I’ll hit Enter. Both versions of the image have now been scaled down to the same size, and they look exactly the same at this size.

Photoshop Tutorial

We have now reduced the size of the images. What happens if we try to enlarge them? We’ll begin by reducing the width and height by 10% to 50% of their original size. To do so, I must increase the width and height from 100% to 500%. But, before I exit the free transform, we can see what’s going on. Instead of adding new detail to the image, Photoshop simply enlarges the pixels from the smaller version. In fact, the pixels are quite visible. I’ll press Enter or return to exit the free transform.

At this point, Photoshop tries to clean up the image and blend the pixels together. But the result looks very soft and blurry. It’s not something you would want to use.

Photoshop Tutorial

Let’s see how it compares when we upscale the smart object. In the layers panel, I’ll select the smart object. Then I’ll return to the edit menu and select free transform once more. The free transform handles appear this time around the smart object on the right. We can already see a difference in the options bar between the pixel version of the image and the smart object.

After resizing the pixel version, Photoshop reset the width and height values to 100%. However, the smart object still has a width and height of 10%. Unlike the pixel version, Photoshop remembers the original size of the smart object and recognizes that we are currently viewing it at a different size. I’ll increase the width and height by 10% and 50%, respectively.

Photoshop Tutorial

But, unlike the pixel version, where I had to enter 500%, the smart object makes it much easier. Simply set both values to 50%. To upscale the image on the left, Photoshop simply increased the size of the remaining pixels from the smaller version, resulting in a blocky image. However, the smart object on the right appears to be much more appealing.

In fact, it looks exactly like the original, only smaller. I’ll press Enter and return to exit the free transform. And this time, Photoshop doesn’t need to clean up the image because the smart object is already perfect. So, what makes the smart object stand out from the Pixel version?

It’s due to the way smart objects operate. A smart object is simply a container that contains something. It is holding our image in this case. When we scale a smart object to make it bigger or smaller, we are changing the size of the container rather than what is inside. When we make the container smaller, the image inside it appears smaller; when we make the container larger, the image inside it appears larger.

Regardless of how many times we resize a smart object. Because it has no effect on the image inside, the smart object always looks great.

That’s how to use smart objects in Photoshop to scale and resize images without losing quality.

Photo Resizing in Photoshop

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