Encountering a message like, “Your Image has a smaller file size than we recommend. Use a higher quality image for better print results,” when uploading photos online can be frustrating. Often, this is due to the image resolution being too low for the intended purpose, especially when printing. While professional photo editing software like Photoshop offers advanced options, you can easily adjust image resolution using built-in tools on your computer like Microsoft Paint on Windows or Preview on Mac. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to change the resolution of your photos using these readily available programs, ensuring your images are better suited for your needs.
Let’s explore how to increase image resolution and file size using these basic tools.
Changing Photo Resolution in Microsoft Paint (Windows)
Microsoft Paint, a standard program on Windows, provides a straightforward way to adjust image resolution. Here’s how you can do it:
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Open Your Image in Paint: Launch Microsoft Paint. Click on File located in the top-left corner, and then select Open from the dropdown menu. Navigate to the image you wish to edit on your computer and open it.
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Access the Resize Tool: Once your image is loaded in Paint, locate the Resize option on the toolbar at the top of the Paint window. It’s usually situated within the “Image” group. Click on Resize.
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Adjust Resolution in Pixels: A “Resize and Skew” window will appear. Ensure that the Pixels radio button is selected. This is crucial for adjusting resolution in terms of pixel dimensions.
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Modify Height and Width: You will now see fields to adjust the Horizontal and Vertical pixels. Increasing these pixel values will effectively increase the image resolution and consequently, the file size. Enter your desired pixel dimensions for height and width. Maintain aspect ratio by checking “Maintain aspect ratio” if you want to resize proportionally. Click OK to apply the changes.
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Save Your Edited Image: After adjusting the resolution, go to File again, and select Save As. Choose your desired image format. For web uploads or general use, PNG or JPEG are common choices. BMP is another option, but typically results in larger file sizes. Saving in a different format or with a new name is recommended to keep your original image intact.
Changing Photo Resolution in Preview (Mac)
For Mac users, Preview offers a similar capability to adjust image resolution. Here are the steps using Preview:
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Open Image in Preview: Locate the image file on your Mac and open it with Preview (the default image viewer on macOS).
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Access Adjust Size Tool: In the Preview menu bar at the top of your screen, click on Tools, and then select Adjust Size from the dropdown menu.
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Customize Resolution: The “Adjust Size” window will appear. From the Fit into dropdown menu, select Custom to gain manual control over resolution settings.
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Set Dimensions and Resolution: You can now adjust the Width, Height, and Resolution of your image. Preview allows you to specify dimensions in inches, pixels, or percentages using the dropdown menu on the right side of the dimension fields. Increasing the pixel dimensions or resolution value will increase the overall image resolution and file size. Enter your desired values.
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Export Your Adjusted Image: Once you are satisfied with the adjustments, click OK. To save the modified image, click on File in the menu bar, and then select Export. Choose your preferred image format from the options provided, such as JPEG, PNG, PDF, or TIFF, and save the file. Exporting is advisable to preserve the original image.
By following these simple steps in either Microsoft Paint or Preview, you can effectively change the resolution of your photos to meet specific requirements, whether it’s for printing high-quality materials or uploading images online. Remember that while increasing resolution can improve image quality to a certain extent, drastically increasing the size of a low-resolution image may result in pixelation or blurriness. It’s always best to start with the highest quality image available. For more in-depth information on image resolution and best practices, you can read this article.
