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Different digital cameras capture different image sizes, which can make your collection of real estate photos inconsistent. Learning how to resize an image in Photoshop helps you adjust the image sizes to meet the MLS requirements.
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Resizing an image refers to adjusting the image dimensions or resolution to change its physical size or file size. Usually, reducing the size of an image makes it smaller in dimensions while maintaining the resolution, making it look sharper and of higher quality.
On the other hand, enlarging stretches the pixels, making the photo appear blurry. Luckily, you can use the following methods in Photoshop to reduce or enlarge your images without losing quality.
A smart object is a layer in Photoshop that contains similar image information to a normal layer. However, the Smart Object holds your image contents rather than the actual image pixels, Smart Object allows you to perform non-destructive edits on a layer using the following steps.
Open your image in Photoshop and duplicate the background layer to ensure that you are safe in case you mess up. Select the duplicated layer in the layers panel, right-click on it, and then choose Convert to Smart Object from the drop-down menu that pops up.
A smart object icon will appear at the corners of the layer's thumbnail, indicating that your layer has been converted successfully.
Select your converted layer, navigate to the Edit option on the menu bar, and then choose the Transform Tool from the drop-down. Alternatively, hit Command + T on Mac OS or Control + T if you use your Windows PC.
Click on the handles of the bounding box that appears and resize your layer. Keep in mind that this method works great if resizing an image to fit a canvas with specific image dimensions. If the photo has specific dimensions, use the image size command.
The image size command allows you to adjust the exact resolution and dimensions of an image to match your specific needs. Normally, pictures contain millions of pixels, and making the image smaller will seem to increase the resolution and improve quality.
On the other hand, making a photo larger spreads some pixels out, making it appear pixelated or soft. Fortunately, the image size command uses a resampling tool to maintain the image resolution by programming the right pixels to add to your image as it gets larger.
Select the image layer you wish to resize, navigate to Image on the menu bar and then choose Image size to open the Image Size dialog box. Alternatively, you can use your keyboard shortcuts Option + Command + I if you use a Mac or Alt + Control + I if you use a Windows computer.
The Pixel Dimensions section on top of your dialog box shows the current file size of the photo, allowing you to compare the two file versions easily. The default dimensions of an image are in pixels.
You can change the units by clicking on the down-facing arrow beside Dimensions and choosing from the drop-down menu that appears. If you want to resize your real estate image to print for showcasing in exhibitions, the inches or centimeters units are the most ideal.
The percentage unit is handy if you want to resize your image by making small adjustments, such as increasing or reducing height and width by 3 percent. In most cases, the percentage is the most straightforward unit, as you only need to convert the dimensions to percentages and adjust accordingly.
You can use the Fit To option to set a preset to resize your photo. The Auto Resolution is handy when you want to resize your image to a certain printing output. Photoshop allows you to know whether your height and width values are linked by showing a linked icon on the left of the values.
If you want to maintain the original aspect ratio, check the Constrain Proportions option at the bottom of the dialog box. However, if you are resizing the image to meet the MLS aspect ratio requirements, you can uncheck the option to adjust the width and height values independently.
Resampling simply means adjusting the total pixels of a photo. Upsampling increases the number of pixels by adding data to an image, while downsampling decreases the number of pixels.
If you want to adjust the resolution or image size without minding the resulting image quality, select the Resample option. However, if you want to change the resolution and increase image size dimensions, it is advisable to deselect the resample option.
You can also use the following resample options to alter the appearance and enhance the looks of your image:
There are two methods to adjust your image resolution: Pixel Per Centimeter (PPC) or Pixels Per Inch (PPI). If you are resizing your real estate photos for large-format printing, set a high resolution of around 300 pixels per inch.
On the other hand, if you want to upload photos on MLS sites, it is advisable to set the resolution to 72 pixels per inch. This keeps them smaller and allows them to load faster.
Generally, Photoshop changes the height and width of your photo depending on the resolution you choose. Once you set the resolution, you should set back your width and height values. Click OK to apply your resize settings.
You can resize a photo in Lightroom when exporting it. Hit the G key on your keyboard to navigate to the grid mode of the Lightroom library module and select the image you want to resize. Open the export dialogue box and click Export. Enable the Resize to Fit option and then enter your preferred image size.
You can export an image after resizing by navigating to the File menu and choosing Save As to launch an export dialog box. Specify the format, such as JPEG, the export location on your computer, and the image's filename. Click on Save to export.
Knowing how to resize an image in Photoshop can help you enlarge a real estate image for large-format printing while retaining the resolution. You can also resize your entire collection of photos to create uniformity. If you want to change the aspect ratio, resize the height and width values independently.
