Photoshop Elements /

Size & Resolution / Change the Size /

1 - Introduction

How do you change the size of your photographs?

You may want to change the size:

1) For e-mails.

2) For web pages.

3) To make a print.

Preparation

Preserve your original file.

If you haven't already done so, go to Preserve Your Original File.

Image Size Window

Go to Image > Resize > Image Resize.

The Image Size window below will appear.

In The Middle

In the middle, there's the Document Size box.

You can see that the photograph is about 6.6 x 10 inches with a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (ppi).

If you're not familiar with resolution, read Resolution.

Bottom Left Corner

Let's look at the bottom left corner of the window.

There are three check boxes.

Here's what they do:

Checkbox #1 - Scale Styles

You can probably almost always leave this box unchecked.

If you're using layers styles, such as drop shadows, say, on a banner graphic, then check the box.

The layers style will then change along with everything else in the file.

Checkbox #2 - Constrain Proportions

When this box is checked, as you change one dimension, the program will automatically change the other dimension.

In other contexts, the term aspect ratio is used the same way as the phrase constrain proportions is used here.

You'll probably want to have this box checked most of the time.

Checkbox #3 - Resample Image

When unchecked, no pixels are added or discarded when resizing the image.

We'll discuss resampling later.

Let's change a dimension of the photograph.

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