how to resize an image on mac

Water 2024

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30-12-2024

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How to Resize Images on Your Mac: A Simple Guide

Resizing images on your Mac is a common task, whether you're preparing photos for social media, shrinking large files for email, or editing images for a project. Fortunately, macOS offers several ways to do this, from simple built-in tools to more powerful image editing software. This guide will walk you through the easiest and most effective methods.

Method 1: Using Preview (For Quick Resizing)

Preview, the default image viewer on macOS, offers a surprisingly simple way to resize images. This method is ideal for quick adjustments without needing extra software.

1. Open the Image: Locate your image and double-click it to open it in Preview.

2. Access the Tools: Go to the "Tools" menu in the menu bar at the top of your screen.

3. Select "Adjust Size": Choose "Adjust Size..." from the dropdown menu.

4. Resize Your Image: A window will appear with resizing options.

   • Width & Height: You can directly enter the desired width and height in pixels, inches, centimeters, or other units. Changing one value will often automatically adjust the other to maintain the aspect ratio (proportions of the image). Uncheck "Constrain proportions" if you want to resize independently.
   • Resolution: This controls the number of pixels per inch (ppi) or dots per inch (dpi). Changing this will affect the image quality and file size. Generally, you shouldn't need to adjust this unless you're preparing for print.
   • Resample Image: This option is crucial for quality. Check this box if you're significantly changing the size. Unchecking it will simply stretch or compress the existing pixels, resulting in a lower-quality image.

5. Click "OK": Once you've entered your desired dimensions, click "OK" to save the changes.

6. Save the Resized Image: Go to "File" > "Save As..." to save the resized image. It's best to save it as a new file to keep the original untouched.

Method 2: Using the Automator (For Batch Resizing)

If you need to resize multiple images at once, Automator is a powerful built-in tool.

1. Open Automator: Find Automator in your Applications folder.

2. Create a New Workflow: Choose "Quick Action" as the workflow type.

3. Add "Get Specified Finder Items": Drag this action from the library into the workflow. This lets you select the images you want to resize.

4. Add "Resize Images": Drag this action from the library. Configure the width, height, and resolution as needed, similar to the Preview method. Remember to check "Resample Image" for best quality.

5. Add "Move Finder Items": This action allows you to specify a destination folder for the resized images.

6. Save the Workflow: Give your workflow a descriptive name and save it.

7. Use the Workflow: Now, you can select multiple images in Finder, right-click, and choose your saved workflow to resize them all at once.

Method 3: Using Image Editing Software (For Advanced Editing)

For more advanced control over resizing and other image editing features, consider using dedicated image editing software like:

• Adobe Photoshop: A professional-grade tool offering extensive features.
• GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program): A free and open-source alternative to Photoshop.
• Pixelmator Pro: A powerful and user-friendly option for macOS.

These applications provide finer control over resizing, allowing for more precise adjustments and advanced techniques like sharpening or blurring.

Choosing the Right Method:

• Preview: Best for quick, single-image resizing.
• Automator: Best for batch resizing multiple images.
• Image Editing Software: Best for advanced resizing and other image manipulations.

By following these methods, you can easily resize your images on your Mac to meet your specific needs. Remember to always save your resized images as new files to preserve your original images.