Free resize image without losing quality

How To Resize an Image on Mac Without Losing Quality 'Free'

Resizing images can be a necessary step in photography, especially when sharing photos online or across different devices with varying screen resolutions and storage space constraints.

Fortunately, there are several ways to resize your image without losing quality using free methods available directly within macOS. In this article, we'll cover two straightforward approaches: resizing an image by changing its dimensions using Preview's built-in tools and reducing the file size of a photo while maintaining its original resolution for optimal online sharing.

Method 1: Resizing Images Using Preview

Preview is Apple's default image viewing software that comes pre-installed on Macs. It offers a range of features beyond just previewing images, including basic editing capabilities like cropping, rotating, and – most importantly for this guide – resizing your photos to any desired size without compromising quality.

Here are the step-by-step instructions:

1. Open Preview by double-clicking on an image file (such as .jpg or .png) in Finder.

2. Select 'File' from the top menu bar and then choose 'Export...'

3. In the subsequent dialog box, you'll see several options at the bottom left-hand side of the window:

* For saving your resized image with its original resolution but smaller file size (ideal for web sharing), select JPEG or WebP under 'Format'.

* To save as an editable layer-compatible format like PSD or TIFF instead, choose either from here.

4. In both cases above - whether you're looking to compress the overall size of your photo while keeping it at its current resolution OR if wanting something more flexible where perhaps later down the HD quality could easily be restored again without any noticeable difference whatsoever only when zoomed way beyond normal viewing capabilities because let's face facts most people won't notice much past full-screen anyway!, use these settings:

* Set 'Resolution' to 72 dpi (dots per inch).

5. Click on the blue 'Export' button at the bottom-right corner of the dialog box.

Your resized image will now be saved in a new location, ready for sharing online or using within other applications without any loss of quality compared to its original size and resolution.

Method 2: Using third-party software

If you prefer not to use built-in Mac tools like Preview, there are several free alternatives available on the internet that offer more advanced features. Some popular options include:

* GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program): A powerful open-source raster graphics editor similar to Adobe Photoshop.

* ResizeJ: An easy-to-use image resizer and optimizer.

To use these third-party software solutions, simply download and install them from their respective websites, then follow the program-specific instructions for resizing your images. Keep in mind that while these alternatives often offer more features than Preview's built-in tools, they may also introduce additional system resource usage or potential compatibility issues depending on your Mac model and operating system version.

Resizing an image doesn't have to be a complex task; with the right knowledge of macOS' native applications like Preview combined with some basic understanding of photo editing principles, you can easily reduce the size of your images without sacrificing quality. Whether it's for sharing online or simply freeing up space on your Macbook Pro/Air running High Sierra (or later), these simple steps will help ensure that every picture looks its best – regardless of resolution!

Free resize image without losing quality