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Contrary to what you may think, there is a difference between photo resizing and resampling although both are tools used to change the size of an image in Photoshop. Many people might believe the two terms are basically interchangeable; however how the result is accomplished is different in how it changes the building blocks of the image itself. Although this may sound drastic, the difference between to the two is all in one simple click. At the bottom of the Image Size dialog box, there is a checkpoint option that creates either the resizing or resampling of the image.

The top of the screen has the Image Menu, under this option will be what is called the Image Size dialog box. Here you will find the checkpoint determining resizing or resampling function. Pixels are the tiny dots of color that when grouped together form the image. Resizing or resampling the image happens depending on is the number f pixels changes or not. In Photoshop this is called changing the pixel dimensions. Changing only the size you wish the picture and saving the pixel number the same is called resizing. Photoshop calls this changing the document size of the image. Changing the number of pixels making up the image is referred to as resampling.

Image Resizing: Changing the size the image will print without changing the number of pixels in the image. Image Resampling: Changing the number of pixels in the image.

Resizing vs. Resizing An Image

We’re not quite done yet with the Image Size box. It also contains three other pieces of information as shown below: Scale Styles – Deals with the affect of resizing or resampling the image on Layer Styles. Constrain Proportions – Enabled by default, it links the width and height of the image together. If you make a change to the width of the image, for example, Photoshop will automatically change the height, and vice versa, so that the proportions of the image remain the same and don’t get distorted. Resample Image – THIS IS THE KEY HERE!!!

We will talk some on Scale Style and Constrain Proportion, but let’s look at that last box being checked or left blank. This check mark determines resizing versus resampling. While resizing keeps the pixel dimensions the same and only increases or decreases the size at which the image will print, resampling actually changes the number of pixels in the image. The Resample Image choice will be automatically checked. ven though the dialog box still says ‘Image Size’ at the top, but its unction is now is as the Image Resample dialog box when it is checked. Both the Pixel Dimensions and the Document Size and all of their options will be available to you.

We will touch a bit on Scale Style and Constrain Proportion, but it is that last box being checked or left blank that determines resizing vs. resampling. Remember that resizing keeps the pixel dimensions unchanged and only increases or decreases the size at which the image will print. Resampling however, actually changes the number of pixels in the image. The Resample Image option will be automatically checked by default. Basically, the dialog box still says ‘Image Size’ at the top, but its function now is as the Image Resample dialog box while being check marked. All options in both halves, the Pixel Dimensions and the Document Size, will be available to you.

The Scale Styles and Constrain Proportions options at the bottom of the Image Size dialog box may or may not be grayed out. When ‘Resample Image’ is unchecked, you will not have access to these options. Scale Styles is grayed out because it’s only used when the number of pixels in an image is being changed. With the number of pixels in the image remaining the same when Resample Image is blank, the Scale Styles is not necessary.

You will find that Constrain Proportions is also grayed out when Resample Image is unchecked. Again you will not have the option of changing the number of pixels in the image. This selection results in the proportions of the image being fixed. If an image is 30 pixels wide and 60 pixels igh, no matter the size it is printed, the height will always be twice he size of the width. If the width value in the Document Size section is changed, both the height and the resolution values will also change. Change the height value and the width and resolution values will change. Change the resolution value, and the width and height values will change. They all work together as a function. The only change that can be made ow is how large or small the image will print. Simply entering new values for the document size or by changing the resolution will do this. The onstrain Proportions option is also not needed when all you are doing is resizing the print size of the image.

Image Interpolation Options When Resampling Images

There is one more box that is grayed out when the Resample Image box is unchecked. To the right of the Resample Image option is a drop-down box called either ‘Bicubic Sharper’ or simply ‘Bicubic.’

These options will be grayed out because they only will work for images that are being resampled. If all you are doing is changing how large or small the image will print on paper, you won’t need these options.

Summary Image resizing – Keeps the number of pixels in your image the same and affects only how large your image will print (the Document Size). Image resampling – Physically changes the number of pixels in your image (the Pixel Dimensions). Resample Image – Option at the bottom of the Image Size dialog box controlling if you are resizing or resampling an image. Checking the Resample Image , you are resampling the image. Unchecked, you’re simply resizing the image. Resample images by changing width and height values in the Pixel Dimensions section of the Image Size dialog box. It is used primarily when optimizing images for the web or computer screen. Resizing images by changing the width, height and/or resolution values in the Document Size section of the Image Size dialog box is used for printing the image.

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