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Resizing images is a common task that many people need to do in their daily lives. It’s essential to know how to change the resolution of an image on a Mac. For example, if you need to send a photo via email, reduce the file size to enable you to send it quickly. This article will guide you through several methods to help you resize an image on a mac.
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The Challenge of How to Change Resolution of Image on Mac
The challenge with changing the resolution of an image comes from balancing the image’s quality and size. Changing the resolution of the image affects the image’s quality, which means reducing the resolution can affect the image’s sharpness, which is why it is essential to keep the image’s quality intact while still reducing its size.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before we get started, there are a few things you should have ready to complete this task. First, you need to make sure the images you want to resize are located on your Mac computer. Secondly, you should have image editing software installed on your Mac, such as Preview or Adobe Photoshop.
Method 1: Using Preview
Preview is a built-in app on mac that can help resize images. Here is how to change the resolution of an image with Preview:
1. Open the image with Preview
2. Go to "Tools" in the top menu and select "Adjust Size."
3. A "Size" dialogue box will appear.
4. Adjust the values in the Width and Height fields to change the resolution of the image.
5. You can also change the resolution of the image by changing the measurement unit from pixels to inches, centimeters, or others.
6. Once you have made the desired changes, click "OK."
7. Save the image with the new resolution by pressing CMD+S.
Pros:
1. Preview is a free built-in app on Mac.
2. It is straightforward to use and won’t require any special technical knowledge.
3. You can preview the result immediately.
Cons:
1. It’s limited in functionality.
2. It may not resize the image with the highest quality possible.
Method 2: Using Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a widely used software among professional photographers and graphic designers. Here’s how to change the resolution of an image with Adobe Photoshop:
1. Open the image you want to resize in Adobe Photoshop.
2. Go to "Image" in the top menu and select "Image Size."
3. A dialogue box named "Image Size" will appear.
4. Check the "Resample" option at the bottom of the dialogue box.
5. From the "Resample" option, select "Preserve Details."
6. Change the resolution value in the "Resolution" section.
7. Once you’ve made the desired changes, click "OK," and save your image.
Pros:
1. Provides advanced control over the image resizing process
2. Supports many image formats
3. Able to maintain image quality with the Preserve Details option.
Cons:
1. Expensive software for just resizing images
2. Steeper learning curve
Method 3: Using Online Image Resizing Tools
There are many free online image resizing tools that you can use to change the resolution of an image. Here’s how to use one of these tools to resize your images:
1. Search for "Online Image Resizer" on your web browser.
2. Upload the image you want to resize
3. Choose the desired image resolution or dimensions.
4. Click the "Resize" button.
5. Download the resized image.
Pros:
1. No software installation required
2. You can resize your images on any device with internet access.
3. It’s free.
Cons:
1. The quality of the image may be affected by the compression algorithm.
2. The internet connection might be slow, and it could take a while to upload or download.
Why Can’t I Change the Resolution of an Image on Mac?
There can be several reasons why you face difficulties in changing the image’s resolution on your Mac. Below, we’ve listed some reasons, along with their solutions:
1.Q1: My image is not opening in Preview. What should I do?
A: The image file format might be unsupported by Preview. Convert the image to a supported file format, such as JPG or PNG, to open it in Preview.
2. Q1: I can’t find "Image Size" in Photoshop. What should I do?
A: "Image Size" might be in a different menu location. Look for it under the "Image" or "Edit" menus.
3. Q1: Why does my image lose quality after resizing it in Preview?
A: The image quality can be affected by the compression algorithm used by Preview. Try using another method to resize the image to maintain its quality.
4. Q1: Why Is My Image Too Large and Taking Too Long to Upload?
A: The image file size might be too large. You can reduce the size of the image by compressing it or reducing its resolution while maintaining the quality.
Additional Tips
1. Always keep a backup copy of your original image to avoid accidentally losing the original copy.
2. It’s better to reduce the resolution of the image than increasing it.
3. Use the "Command + Z" keyboard shortcut to undo any mistakes you make during the resizing process.
5 FAQs about How to Change Resolution of Image on Mac
Q1: Can I change the resolution of multiple images at once?
A: Yes, it is possible, but the method will depend on the software you’re using. For example, in Preview, you can select multiple images and change their resolution in one go by using the "Batch" option.
Q2: How can I resize an image while keeping its aspect ratio?
A: You can use the aspect ratio lock option, which is available in the "Image Size" dialog box in Photoshop and Preview.
Q3: How can I ensure the image quality remains the same after resizing?
A: Use a software with advanced image compression algorithms, such as Photoshop, and select the "Preserve Details" option while changing the resolution.
Q4: How can I change the image’s file size while keeping the quality the same?
A: Use an image compression tool such as JPEG Optimizer or TinyPNG to compress the image file without degrading its quality.
Q5: What is the recommended resolution for an image?
A: It depends on the intended use of the image. Generally, for printing purposes, a resolution of 300dpi is recommended, while for web use, a resolution of 72dpi is ideal.
In Conclusion
Resizing images is a crucial aspect of digital photography. Learning how to change the resolution of an image on your Mac can help you achieve the desired result quickly. You can use different methods, such as Preview, Adobe Photoshop, and online image resizing tools, to resize your images. Ensure you have a backup copy of your original image, keep the aspect ratio lock option on, and remember to use the "Preserve Details" option while resizing the image. Following these tips and the methods described in this article will help you to accomplish this task with ease.