How to Resize a Pasted Image in GIMP?

To resize a pasted image in GIMP, you'll need to use the Scale Tool or the Scale Image function. Here's a breakdown of the methods:

Method 1: Using the Scale Tool

Paste the Image: Paste the image into your GIMP project. It will typically create a new layer.
Select the Layer: In the Layers panel, ensure the layer containing the pasted image is selected.
Activate the Scale Tool: Choose the "Scale Tool" (Shift + S) from the Toolbox (it looks like a rectangle with an arrow pointing diagonally).
Click on the Image: Click anywhere on the pasted image within the canvas. This will bring up the Scale Tool's options.
Adjust the Size:
- A bounding box with handles will appear around the image.
- Click and drag the corner handles to resize the image. Hold the Shift key while dragging to maintain the aspect ratio.
- Alternatively, you can enter specific width and height values in the Scale Tool options dialogue that appears.
Scale: Once you're satisfied with the new size, press Enter or click the "Scale" button in the tool options dialogue.

This method is useful if you want to resize the entire image layer to a specific dimension.

Paste the Image: Paste the image into your GIMP project.
Select the Layer: Ensure the layer containing the pasted image is selected in the Layers panel.
Go to Image > Scale Image: In the main menu, navigate to Layer > Scale Layer... (or Image > Scale Image to scale the entire image and all of its layers).
Enter New Dimensions: A "Scale Layer" (or "Scale Image") dialog box will appear.
- Enter the desired Width and Height for the image.
- Click the chain icon to lock or unlock the aspect ratio. When locked, changing one value will automatically adjust the other to maintain proportions.
Choose Interpolation Method (Optional): Select an interpolation method from the dropdown menu. The default "Lanczos (Sinc)" typically produces good results, especially for reductions. For enlargements, experiment with different interpolation methods to see which gives you the best visual quality. Options include:
- None: Fastest, but often produces jagged results.
- Linear: A good compromise between speed and quality.
- Cubic: Generally produces smoother results than Linear.
- Lanczos (Sinc): Usually the best quality, but can be slower.
Click Scale: Click the "Scale" button to apply the changes.

Resolution: When scaling images up (making them larger), you may encounter pixelation or loss of quality. Scaling down generally preserves quality better.
Layer Boundaries: If the resized image extends beyond the canvas boundaries, you might need to adjust the canvas size (Image > Fit Canvas to Layers) or crop the image.
Non-Destructive Scaling: If you are concerned about permanently altering the pasted image, consider using a Layer Mask in combination with scaling.