Resize vs crop: change image size without stretching
Resize changes an image's pixel dimensions. Crop removes part of the image to change its framing or shape. To fit a different aspect ratio without stretching the subject, crop first, then resize with the aspect ratio locked.
| Task | Use | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Make the whole picture narrower | Resize with aspect ratio locked | Width and height scale together |
| Turn a landscape photo into a square | Crop to 1:1 | The outer parts of the picture are removed |
| Make a square image exactly 600 × 600 px | Crop to 1:1, then resize | Framing first, pixel dimensions second |
| Reduce KB or MB | Compress, optionally resize | Encoded file size; pixels change only if resized |
Resizing keeps the whole picture
A 1600 × 1200 image has a 4:3 aspect ratio. Resize it to 800 pixels wide with proportions locked and its height becomes 600 pixels. The whole scene remains visible at smaller dimensions.
If you instead force that picture to 800 × 800 without cropping, its width and height scale differently. Circles become ovals and faces can look stretched. Use the aspect-ratio lock unless you intentionally want that distortion.
Cropping changes what stays in the frame
To make the same 1600 × 1200 image square, a 1200 × 1200 crop can remove 400 pixels of total width. A centered crop removes 200 pixels from each side; moving the selection changes which details you keep.
A crop does not have to be centered. Keep the subject, useful breathing space, and any text you need inside the selection. Preview the edges carefully, especially when preparing artwork with a signature or a full-body drawing.
Example: make a 600 × 600 image
Open the crop tool and choose 1:1. Move and resize the square over the part you want to keep, then export it. Open the exported square in the resize tool, leave the aspect ratio locked, and enter a width of 600 pixels. Its height should also be 600.
This is a two-step workflow on this website. There is no automatic file transfer between the tools, so download the crop before opening it in the resizer. Choose PNG if you need lossless encoding or transparency; JPG fills transparent areas with a solid background.
Pixel dimensions and file size are different limits
A request for 600 × 600 pixels describes width and height. A request for a file under 100 KB describes encoded size. Meeting one limit does not automatically meet the other: a detailed photograph can take more bytes than a simple drawing at the same dimensions.
Check both the dimensions and bytes in the result. If the shape and dimensions are correct but the file is still too large, adjust compression quality or choose another accepted format. Reducing dimensions removes image detail and cannot be reversed by enlarging later.
Work from the original
Return to the original file when trying a different crop. Areas removed in an earlier export cannot be recovered from that cropped file. Likewise, enlarging a small image does not recreate missing texture or pencil detail.
The crop and resize tools process one image locally. Outputs are limited to 8192 pixels per side and 16 million pixels in total; very large crops are fitted to those limits, and the editor displays the actual export dimensions.
Try the tools
Common questions
Should I crop or resize first?
If you need a different shape, crop first and then resize to the required dimensions. If the current shape is correct, resizing alone is enough.
Can I resize without losing quality?
A smaller image has fewer pixels, and enlarging cannot recreate missing detail. PNG avoids an additional lossy encoding pass, but it cannot prevent detail changes caused by resizing.