A small photo, saved with few pixels, often doesn't work for what you need afterward: printing larger, using as a cover, putting on a banner. Increasing resolution is how you make an image grow in size — but doing it without turning it into a pixel mosaic requires the right technique.
What actually happens when you increase resolution
When an image is enlarged, the software needs to "invent" new pixels between the existing ones. A simple resize does this bluntly, stretching the original pixels and leaving jagged edges. More advanced resolution-increasing tools calculate these new pixels smoothly, preserving contours and reducing the blocky effect.
How to increase resolution while preserving quality
- Always start from the highest resolution original available — never from an already reduced copy.
- Open ImageTools' Resize Image tool and upload the photo.
- Set the desired new size, avoiding enlargements much beyond 2x to 3x the original size.
- If you notice a loss of sharpness after enlarging, apply the Sharpen Image tool to enhance the contours.
💡 Tip: increasing size in smaller steps (for example, two 1.5x enlargements instead of one 2.25x jump) tends to preserve more detail than one big single jump.
How much enlargement is worth it
| Enlargement | Expected result |
|---|---|
| Up to 2x the original size | Good quality preservation, few visible losses |
| 2x to 4x the original size | Noticeable loss of sharpness, helps to combine with sharpening |
| Above 4x | Result tends to look soft or blurry, even with good tools |
Common mistakes when enlarging an image
- Starting from a compressed copy: enlarging an image that's already gone through multiple compressions also amplifies the compression artifacts.
- Enlarging too much at once: big jumps in size make the result worse than gradual enlargements.
- Forgetting to sharpen afterward: every enlargement tends to soften contours; a final sharpening pass usually improves the perceived result.
Ready to try it
Increase your image's size while preserving quality, right in your browser and at no cost.
Resize imageIs it possible to increase resolution without losing any quality?
There's always some limit: increasing resolution adds pixels calculated from the existing ones, not real new information. Moderate increases (2x) preserve quality well; very large increases (5x or more) tend to look softer or blurry.
What's the difference between resizing and increasing resolution?
Resizing just changes the image's dimensions, stretching the existing pixels. Increasing resolution recalculates the pixels to fill the new size more smoothly, with less jagged edges.
Does increasing resolution help print a small photo?
Yes, it's one of the most common uses: turning a low-resolution photo into something with enough pixels to print at a larger size, with better results than simply stretching the image.
Does it work well for logos and images with text?
It works better for photos than for images with text or very thin lines, which can end up with unwanted softened edges. For logos, it's always best to have the original vector file (SVG).