How to Increase the Resolution of an Image in Photoshop

 

Table of Contents

Introduction

What is Image Resolution?

 # Pixels, PPI, and Print Size

 # Image Size vs. Image Resolution

 # Checking Current Image Resolution

Why Increase Image Resolution?

 # Reduce Pixelation

 # Improve Print Quality

 # Enlarge Images Without Losing Quality

 # Display Images on High Resolution Screens

How Photoshop Increases Resolution

 # Pixel Interpolation Methods

     Bicubic Interpolation

     Bicubic Smoother

     Bicubic Sharper

 # When to Use Each Pixel Interpolation Method

    Bicubic Interpolation

    Bicubic Smoother 

    Bicubic Sharper

Step-by-Step Guide to Increasing Image Resolution

 # Prepare Image for Upsizing

 # Open Image in Photoshop

 # Check Current Image Resolution

 # Change Image Size in Photoshop

     Set New Pixel Dimensions

     Select Pixel Interpolation Method

     Use Bicubic Smoother for Pixelated Photos

     Use Bicubic Sharper for Images with Lines/Text

 # Adjust Additional Settings

     Resample Image

     Scale Styles

     Constrain Proportions

     Image Rotation

 # Save the New High Resolution Image

 # Tips for Saving Upsized Images

Tips for Best Results

 # Start with the Highest Quality Image Possible

 # Make Small, Incremental Resolution Increases

 # Use Smart Sharpening to Maintain Edge Sharpness

 # Convert to Smart Object Before Resizing

 # Try Different Interpolation Methods

 # Adjust Additional Image Settings After Upsizing

Before and After Examples of Increased Image Resolution

 # Pixelated Photo

 # Image with Text

 # Low Resolution Logo

When Increasing Resolution Doesn't Help

 # Extremely Small or Heavily Compressed Images

 # Images With Excessive Blur or Noise

 # Rasterized Vector Graphics

Resolution vs. Image Size

 # Minimum Size for High Resolution Printing

 # Changing Image Size Without Losing Quality

Resolution Requirements for Print and Digital Display

 # Print Resolution Requirements

    Newspapers and Magazines

    Photos and Artwork

    Posters and Billboards

 # Digital Display Resolution

    Standard Displays

    High Resolution Displays

    Multi-Screen Displays

How Other Image Editors Compare to Photoshop

 # GIMP

 # Affinity Photo

 # Pixelmator Pro

 # Adobe Illustrator

 # Adobe Lightroom

FAQs

 # What is the Difference Between PPI and DPI?

 # What is the Maximum Resolution I Can Increase an Image to?

 # What File Format Should I Save the Resized Image As? 

 # What Should I Do if Increasing Resolution Makes the Image Look Blurry?

 # How Do I Know if an Image is High Resolution?

 # Can I Increase the Resolution of JPEG Images?

 # Will Increasing Resolution Improve Small Logos or Icons?

 # Does Resolution Matter for Web Images?

 # Can I Increase Image Resolution on My Phone?

Conclusion

How to Increase the Resolution of an Image in Photoshop

 

Introduction

 

Do you have images that appear pixelated, blurry, or fuzzy when printed or displayed large? 🤔 One way to sharpen details and improve image quality is by increasing the resolution in Photoshop. ✨

 

Higher resolution means more pixels comprise the image, resulting in sharper edges and finer detail. 👍 By upsizing images properly in Photoshop, you can eliminate pixelation and boost print quality.

 

In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn all about image resolution, why you'd want to increase it, and how to do so effectively using Photoshop. Let's boost those images! 🚀

 

What is Image Resolution?

 

Image resolution refers to the amount of detail and information contained within a digital photo or image. It is measured by the number of pixels per inch (PPI) or pixels per centimeter.

 

-         Pixels, PPI, and Print Size

 

Pixels are tiny colored squares that comprise a digital image. The more pixels, the more detail can be represented.

 

PPI measures how many pixels fit within one inch or cm. A higher pixels per inch measurement equals better resolution and print quality.

 

For photo prints, an image resolution of 300 PPI is recommended for sharp detail. Lower resolution images will print with visible pixelation and blurriness.

 

-         Image Size vs. Image Resolution

 

Image size and image resolution are often confused.

 

- Image size is the digital dimensions of an image - for example 2000 x 1500 pixels. This determines the overall size you can print the image.

 

- Image resolution refers to the density of the pixels within those dimensions. A 2000 x 1500 image could be 72 PPI or 300 PPI. The 300 PPI version would have higher resolution.

 

-         Checking Current Image Resolution

 

To check resolution in Photoshop, go to Image > Image Size. Look at the Pixel Dimensions and the Resolution fields. Resolution is measured in PPI.

 

Low resolution for printing is considered anything below 150 PPI. High resolution is over 300 PPI. Standard screens display at 72 PPI.

 

Why Increase Image Resolution?

 

There are several reasons you may want or need to increase the resolution of an image in Photoshop.

 

-         Reduce Pixelation

 

If an image is noticeably pixelated, increasing the resolution can smooth out the pixels so they are less visible to the naked eye. This makes the photo look sharper and clearer.

 

-         Improve Print Quality

 

Low resolution images print poorly - they will look fuzzy, blurry and lack sharpness and detail. Increasing the resolution significantly boosts print quality so images look crisp even at larger print sizes.

 

-         Enlarge Images Without Losing Quality

 

If you want to print an image larger but maintain quality, increasing the resolution allows you to resize the image upwards without introducing pixelation and blurriness.

 

-         Display Images on High Resolution Screens

 

Digital displays continue to move towards higher pixel density and resolution. Increasing image resolution allows them to look sharp on the latest high resolution monitors and screens.

 

How Photoshop Increases Resolution

 

In Photoshop, resolution is increased using a process called pixel interpolation, also known as resampling. This estimates and inserts new pixels based on the surrounding pixel information.

 

There are three interpolation methods to choose from:

 

-         Pixel Interpolation Methods

 

Bicubic Interpolation

 

The default method in Photoshop. It produces good results for most images, balancing sharpness and smoothing.

 

Bicubic Smoother

 

Uses interpolation to produce a smoother, less pixelated image. Can cause blurriness in images.

 

Bicubic Sharper

 

Sharpens edges during the resampling process to minimize blurring and loss of detail. Good for images with text, lines and edges.

 

-         When to Use Each Pixel Interpolation Method

 

Bicubic Interpolation

 

The regular bicubic method works well for increasing the resolution of most photographic images. It maintains balances between sharpness and smoothing.

 

Bicubic Smoother 

 

Use bicubic smoother when increasing the resolution of images with pronounced pixelation or mosaic-like patterns. The smoothing will reduce this type of noise and artifacts.

 

Bicubic Sharper

 

Use bicubic sharper for any images containing text, defined lines, or sharp edges. The sharpening will help maintain crispness when increasing size.

 

Step-by-Step Guide to Increasing Image Resolution

 

Follow these steps to properly increase the resolution of an image in Photoshop:

 

-         Prepare Image for Upsizing

 

Start with the highest resolution version of the image file available. Don't resample already compressed or resized files.

 

-         Open Image in Photoshop

 

Open the image you want to resize in Photoshop. JPEG, PNG TIFF and other file types can be adjusted.

 

-         Check Current Image Resolution

 

Go to Image > Image Size to see the current Pixel Dimensions and Resolution. Make note of this for reference.

 

-         Change Image Size in Photoshop

 

Go to Image > Image Size again to change the size.

 

Set New Pixel Dimensions

 

Increase the Pixel Dimensions to increase resolution. A good starting point is 1.5 - 2 times the original size.

 

Select Pixel Interpolation Method

 

Choose a pixel interpolation method - Bicubic, Bicubic Smoother or Bicubic Sharper.

 

 # Use Bicubic Smoother for Pixelated Photos

 

If upsizing a pixelated image, try Bicubic Smoother to reduce artifacts.

 

 # Use Bicubic Sharper for Images with Lines/Text

 

For images with text, lines and edges, use Bicubic Sharper.

 

-         Adjust Additional Settings

 

Resample Image

 

Make sure Resample is checked to allow interpolation. Uncheck for other effects.

 

Scale Styles

 

Check to scale any layered effects along with the image resize.

 

Constrain Proportions

 

Check to retain original aspect ratio and avoid distortion.

 

Image Rotation

 

Use Angle to rotate the image during resize as needed.

 

-         Save the New High Resolution Image

 

Save your resized high resolution image. TIFF or PNG format preserves full quality.

 

-         Tips for Saving Upsized Images

 

- Save resized image as a copy, keeping original intact

- Use meaningful filenames denoting new size/resolution

-TIFF and PNG retain full quality

-JPEG compresses with some loss - save at highest quality

 

Tips for Best Results

 

Follow these tips when increasing image resolution for high quality results:

 

-         Start with the Highest Quality Image Possible

 

Increase resolution using the highest resolution version of the image file available. Don't resample already compressed files.

 

-         Make Small, Incremental Resolution Increases

 

Gradually increase resolution in multiple small steps rather than one drastic upsize. This prevents blurred or distorted images.

 

-         Use Smart Sharpening to Maintain Edge Sharpness

 

If details look slightly blurry after resizing, use Smart Sharpening to bring back edge definition.

 

-         Convert to Smart Object Before Resizing

 

Converting to a Smart Object first allows resizing multiple times without further image degradation.

 

-         Try Different Interpolation Methods

 

Experiment with the different interpolation methods. Bicubic Smoother reduces artifacts, Bicubic Sharper maintains edges.

 

-         Adjust Additional Image Settings After Upsizing

 

After increasing resolution, adjust levels, contrast, sharpening and other settings as needed to polish the image.

 

Before and After Examples of Increased Image Resolution

 

Here are examples of images before and after resolution increases in Photoshop:

 

-         Pixelated Photo

 

A low resolution, pixelated photo:

 

📷

Increasing the resolution with bicubic smoother interpolation reduces the visible pixelation:

 

-         Image with Text

 

Text becomes unreadable at low resolution:

 

👤🗣️

Increasing resolution with bicubic sharper makes the text clear and crisp:

 

-         Low Resolution Logo

 

A logo pixelates when enlarged:

 

📮

 

Higher resolution keeps the logo clean when scaling up:

 

📬

 

When Increasing Resolution Doesn't Help

 

While increasing resolution can improve many images, it does have limits:

 

-         Extremely Small or Heavily Compressed Images

 

If the original file is very small or has high compression artifacts, upsampling provides limited benefit.

 

-         Images With Excessive Blur or Noise

 

Noisy or excessively blurry photos don't improve with increased resolution. The flaws remain apparent.

 

-         Rasterized Vector Graphics

 

Vector art that has been rasterized to low resolution pixels cannot recover lost detail from upsampling.

 

In these cases it's best to find a higher quality original file rather than resizing.

 

Resolution vs. Image Size

 

Resolution and image size represent different properties, but both factor in printing and displaying photos:

 

-         Minimum Size for High Resolution Printing

 

To gain benefits of high resolution, the image must be sized adequately - a tiny high res image will still look pixelated enlarged.

 

As a guideline, set width and height to 1500 pixels minimum at 300 PPI for a quality 5x7” print.

 

-         Changing Image Size Without Losing Quality

 

If desired, images can be resized smaller without losing apparent quality, as long as resolution is unchanged or increased.

 

For example, a 4000 x 3000 pixel image at 300 PPI could be resized to 2000 x 1500 pixels at 600 PPI - halving print size but quadrupling resolution to retain sharpness.

 

Resolution Requirements for Print and Digital Display

 

To produce quality results, different applications call for different image resolutions:

 

-         Print Resolution Requirements

 

Newspapers and Magazines

 

150-200 PPI is common for newsprint and magazines. Screens and inks cause inherent blurring anyway.

 

Photos and Artwork

 

Photographic prints and artwork reproductions require higher resolution of 300-600 PPI to look detailed and sharp.

 

Posters and Billboards

 

Very large format prints can be as low as 100-150 PPI. Viewing distance makes resolution less critical.

 

-         Digital Display Resolution

 

Standard Displays

 

Computer monitors and mobile displays work at ~72 PPI natively. Images only need match or exceed this.

 

High Resolution Displays

 

High DPI devices like Retina displays have increased PPI. Providing images at 2-3x standard resolution utilizes the full pixel density.

 

Multi-Screen Displays

 

Multi-monitor rigs can utilize very large composite resolutions. Extra pixels help maintain image quality at these sizes.

 

How Other Image Editors Compare to Photoshop

 

While Photoshop has the most controls, you can increase resolution using other popular photo editors:

 

-         GIMP

 

GIMP is a free open-source editor with interpolation options similar to Photoshop. Bicubic is the default.

 

-         Affinity Photo

 

Affinity provides bicubic interpolation and added controls like antialiasing and sharpness.

 

-         Pixelmator Pro

 

This Mac app includes ML-enhanced bicubic scaling with smart sharpening to increase resolution.

 

-         Adobe Illustrator

 

Illustrator uses Preserve Details 2.0 resampling to cleanly scale up vector artwork as raster images.

 

-         Adobe Lightroom

 

Lightroom has the same Photoshop quality algorithms but fewer controls applied on export.

 

For optimal results, Photoshop still provides the most flexibility and performance in increasing resolution. But other editors can still improve low resolution images in a pinch.

 

FAQs

 

What is the difference between PPI and DPI?

 

- PPI (pixels per inch) refers to resolution within a digital image file. Higher PPI equals greater image resolution and print clarity.

 

- DPI (dots per inch) is a measure of printer resolution, referring to how many ink dots per inch it can output. So PPI affects image quality, while DPI determines printer quality.

 

What is the maximum resolution I can increase an image to?

 

There is no absolute maximum, but at a certain point visual quality stops improving. Increasing resolution 2-4 times the original is common. Beyond that risks elongated processing time without much gain.

 

What file format should I save the resized image as?

 

For best quality, use TIFF or PNG to retain high resolution without compression after resizing. JPEG compresses slightly to save space - save at maximum quality if choosing this format.

 

What should I do if increasing the resolution makes the image look blurry?

 

Try using the Bicubic Sharper interpolation method instead of default Bicubic, and apply Smart Sharpening after resizing to bring back edge definition.

 

How do I know if an image is high resolution?

 

View the image in Photoshop and look at Image > Image size. Images with resolution over 300 PPI are considered high resolution for printing. 72 PPI is standard for web/screen display.

 

Can I increase the resolution of JPEG images?

 

Yes, JPEG compression does not preclude increasing resolution in Photoshop. JPEGs contain all the original pixel data. Just don't resample an already resampled JPEG.

 

Will increasing resolution improve small logos or icons?

 

Not significantly. Very small images require recreating from vector source files to enlarge crisply. Photoshop can help slightly, but has limits when few original pixels exist.

 

Does resolution matter for web images?

 

Not really, 72 PPI is fine for web as displays are natively low resolution. Smaller file sizes are preferable vs. resolution. But high resolution ensures clarity on high density mobile screens.

 

Can I increase image resolution on my phone?

 

Yes, apps like Snapseed have resolution increasing filters. But phone apps have limited controls vs Photoshop. For optimal results, start with the highest resolution source file possible.

 

Conclusion

 

The key to effectively increasing image resolution in Photoshop is proper interpolation and sharpening. 👌 When done with care, your images will print sharper and clearer with finer detail.

 

Use these tips and techniques to resize images without introducing excessive softness, blurring, or jagged pixelation artifacts. Just be aware of the limits - highly compressed or very small images have less room for improvement.

 

Understand your specific resolution needs based on your desired print size, display method, and image content. And don't be afraid to experiment! With the right tools and know-how, you can now increase resolution like a pro. 😎 Your prints, presentations, and websites will thank you.