Pixel sizing guide
What exact width and height really mean
Pixel dimensions describe the number of picture elements across an image, not its physical print size. A 1,200 × 800 image contains 1,200 columns and 800 rows regardless of the screen or printer that displays it.
Resize by width or height without distortion
Leave aspect ratio enabled and change one dimension. The matching dimension is calculated automatically from the source proportions. This prevents circles becoming ovals and people or products appearing unnaturally wide or narrow.
This mode is appropriate when a publishing system specifies a maximum width, such as 1,200 pixels for a blog image, but allows the height to vary.
Use exact width and height deliberately
An exact preset sets both dimensions. If its proportions differ from the source, a simple resize stretches the image to fill the requested pixel grid. That may be acceptable for abstract textures but is usually visible in photographs and logos.
When the destination demands an exact shape, crop the source to the target aspect ratio before resizing. Cropping removes part of the image while preserving the proportions of what remains.
Avoid unnecessary enlargement
A larger pixel count does not add genuine detail. Enlarging can make edge softness, compression artifacts, and noise more noticeable because the browser must estimate new pixels from the existing ones.
If a portal states a minimum size, use the smallest dimensions that satisfy it. For ordinary web publishing, exporting close to the displayed size generally improves page weight without changing how large the image appears.
Check format and quality after resizing
Pixel dimensions and file format solve different problems. Dimensions control the image grid; JPG, PNG, WebP, and AVIF determine how that grid is encoded and whether features such as transparency are supported.
Open the downloaded file and verify its dimensions in your file browser or image editor. Also check sharp text, transparent edges, and fine detail at the size where the image will actually be used.