Thorough Guide on How to Make an Image Bigger with Various Methods

Enlarging photos is often essential to meet needs, whether for artistic, professional, or just personal purposes. One of the most common scenarios where photo enlargement is necessary is when printing in larger formats. When a small or low-resolution image is printed as a canvas, banner, or poster, the output may appear pixelated if not properly enlarged. To maintain sharpness and clarity, photographers rely on advanced upscaling techniques where final prints retain even fine details that appear clear at bigger sizes. To learn exactly how this is done, the following are ways to make an image bigger without losing quality.

Part 1: How to Make an Image Bigger Without Losing Quality

AVAide Image Upscaler can quickly enlarge images and automatically enhance their quality. Using advanced AI technology, it intelligently upscales photos up to 80% without losing clarity. This program is ideal for enlarging low-resolution photos for professional projects, digital art, or printing. With it, you can also restore old photos, enhance video stills, and prepare high-quality prints. Moreover, AVAide Image Upscaler is capable of delivering sharp, detailed results with just a few clicks. So, if you are a content creator or an aspiring one who wishes to give life to your photos, follow the steps given below:

Step 1The first thing you need to do is visit the AVAide Image Upscaler official website using your preferred browser. Then, upload a photo of your choice by clicking the Choose a Photo button. You can upload image formats such as PNG, JPG, or WEBP.

Step 2Now, please wait for the tool to analyze the uploaded photo and allow it to process your image with the AI infused into it. In a few seconds, you will see that your photo is sharpened and noise is reduced instantly and automatically. You may check the output by hovering your mouse between the original and the output.

Step 3If you wish to increase the magnification, you have the option to choose between 2x, 4x, 6x, or 8x. Then, you will see that enlarged photo in high resolution.

Step 4Once satisfied with the results, click the Save button at the bottom right corner and specify the location where you want to download the image output.

Part 2: How to Make Images Bigger in Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is the gold standard for professional editing, providing powerful tools to enlarge photos while preserving quality. Photoshop utilizes advanced algorithms, such as Preserve Details 2.0 and Bicubic Smoother, to intelligently upscale images, unlike basic resizing tools that simply stretch pixels. Aside from that, Photoshop provides the best possible results compared to standard resizing tools. Now, let's walk through the process of how to make an image bigger in Photoshop.

Step 1To begin, download and install Photoshop on your computer. Then, launch it and go to File > Open (or drag your image into the workspace).

Step 2This time, access the image size panel by navigating to Image > Image Size. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Alt+Ctrl+I or Option+Cmd+I. After that, a dialog box will appear, displaying the current height, width, resolution in PPI, and pixel dimensions.

Step 3Next, adjust the settings and dimensions to fit your preference. You can set your desired size by changing the unit, such as pixels for the web or inches for print. Enter a larger width/height, 200% of the original. Then, check Resample to allow Photoshop to add new pixels. From the dropdown, select Preserve Details 2.0 or Bicubic Smoother.

Step 4At this point, click OK to apply the changes. If the image looks soft, use Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen to enhance the edges and refine the photo. Lastly, save the enlarged image using File > Save As, selecting PNG, JPEG, or TIFF for optimal quality.

Part 3: How to Make Image Bigger in GIMP

GIMP excels at upscaling digital artwork without heavy pixelation. It is also good for preparing images for large-format printing on a budget. GIMP, short for GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a free, powerful image-editing program that offers tools for resizing images. While the tool does not use AI to make an image bigger, GIMP's interpolation algorithms and customizable scaling options make it a strong choice for enlarging photos, especially for users who need a no-cost solution. Unlike Photoshop's automated Preserve Details features, GIMP requires a bit more manual fine-tuning to optimize enlargements. However, with the right settings, you can achieve impressive results.

Step 1Launch GIMP and go to File > Open and import your desired photo. Also, you may drag your image into the workspace to open it.

Step 2Go to Image > Canvas Size to access the scale tool or Image > Scale Image to resize the actual image. To enlarge, Scale Image is the right choice. Next, set your target size and choose the interpolation method: Cubic or Lanczos. Make sure to avoid None or Linear for enlargements. Then, adjust the resolution by setting it to 300 PPI. For screens, 72 PPI is sufficient.

Step 3This time, click Scale to confirm the changes. If the image appears soft, use Filters > Enhance > Unsharp Mask to restore clarity. Finally, save your work via File > Export As. You can use PNG format for lossless quality or JPEG for smaller files.

Part 4: How to Enlarge an Image in Canva Online

Unlike professional programs like GIMP or Photoshop, Canva provides a streamlined, beginner-friendly way to resize images directly from your browser. While it doesn't have advanced AI upscaling, Canva's smart resizing and present templates make it ideal for quick social media graphics, simple print projects, and even presentations. Moreover, it is best for non-technical users who need fast results and social media content for posts, ads, or banners. Since Canva is web-based, it's convenient for making quick edits without needing to download software. Then, here's how to make your image bigger without losing quality online for free.

Step 1First, log in to Canva and create a new design. Click Uploads to add your image, or drag and drop it into the canvas.

Step 2You can manually drag and scale the image to resize. Click on the image to reveal the corner handles. Hold Shift and drag outward to enlarge. Alternatively, click the image, then select Resize in the top toolbar. Enter the specific width/height. Next, toggle Lock aspect ratio to avoid distortion.

Step 3Canva automatically optimizes images, but for better results, use Edit image > Adjust to fine-tune clarity and sharpness. Also, avoid extreme resizing, such as 150% of the original.

Step 4This time, go to Share > Download and select PNG for quality or JPG for a smaller size. For print, choose PDF Print (300 DPI) if available.

By Jane Pineda on Jun 12, 2025