Resizing an image for the best quality

baddrico · **Joined:** Feb 20, 2016 **Posts:** 1

GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Intermediate Level

I'm trying to resize an image to 11 x 8.5 in. When I go to print size and put 11 for the width, it automatically puts the length at 7.333. Is there any way I can get the length to 8.5 without losing any quality? Or is it best to use the scaling tool, it seems like I lose quality when I do it that way.

jazzon · **Posted:** Sat Feb 20, 2016 9:09 pm **(#2)**

1 Welcome to the forums!

2 Any time You resize or scale an image, there is the potential for quality issues. First I would make sure you are scaling to a 300 x 300 pixel resolution (the normal professional print resolution), and depending on the image, your choice of interpolation will matter as well. The Lanczos3 interpolation seems to work best for most of what I try to do.

3 To get the sizes to scale independently, which will lead to distortions by the way, simply click the little chain looking thing next to the sizes (to their right on the screen) . Once the links are "broken" you can set each portion independently.

4 A possible solution would be to resize the image a little larger than you need, then crop the image to the desired size. This avoids the distortion problem.

Wallace · **Posted:** Sat Feb 20, 2016 9:56 pm **(#3)**

My best advice would be...
If the image is to small, find or create another image larger, or of the size needed.
Also, the original image quality is most important, but for the most part.
It's always better to scale down a raster image then it is to scale it up.

bilbo9955 · **Joined:** Jul 11, 2010 **Posts:** 349

I have found that the plugin "LiquidRescale" can do a good job in many cases. It doesn't come with GIMP but can easily be installed.