Resizing drawings in Photoshop is straightforward and can be achieved using several methods, depending on your needs and desired outcome. Maintaining the original quality is key, especially when dealing with detailed drawings.
Method 1: Using the Free Transform Tool (for proportional resizing)
The quickest method is using the Free Transform tool. This allows you to resize while maintaining the aspect ratio (proportions) of your drawing.
- Shortcut: Press
Ctrl + T(Windows) orCmd + T(Mac). - Resize: Drag the corner handles to resize. Holding down the Shift key while dragging ensures proportional scaling, preventing distortion. Dragging a side handle will resize only that dimension.
Method 2: Using the Image Size Command (for precise control)
For more precise control over dimensions and resolution, utilize the Image Size command.
- Open Image: Open your drawing in Photoshop.
- Access Image Size: Go to
Image > Image Size. - Adjust Dimensions: Enter your desired dimensions in pixels (width and height). Make sure the correct resolution is selected. Consider the following:
- Resampling: Changing the resolution (pixels/inch) affects the file size. Choose a suitable resampling method (Bicubic Smoother for enlarging, Bicubic Sharper for reducing) to minimize quality loss. Adobe's help files provide details on resampling options. Remember that increasing the number of pixels won't add detail—it will simply interpolate existing detail.
- Constrain Proportions: Check the "Constrain Proportions" box to maintain the aspect ratio.
Method 3: Transform > Scale (for object resizing)
If you only need to resize specific elements within your drawing and not the entire canvas, use this method.
- Select Object: Select the layer containing the object you want to resize.
- Transform > Scale: Go to
Edit > Transform > Scale. - Resize: Adjust the size using the bounding box handles. Holding Shift maintains aspect ratio.
Maintaining Quality During Resizing
- High Resolution: Start with a high-resolution image to minimize quality loss during resizing, especially when reducing size.
- Resampling Method: Carefully choose your resampling method to optimize the result for both enlargement and reduction. Experimentation might be necessary to determine the best approach for your specific drawing.
- Understand Limitations: You cannot add detail to an image by increasing its size. Enlarging always involves interpolation which can result in some quality loss.
