From Pixels to Percentage: How to Resize Photo in Paint Explained

Microsoft Paint: the trusty ol' image resizing tool

Image resizing is a crucial skill for digital content, ensuring photos are properly optimized for fast website loading (improving SEO and user experience), fitting specific social media dimensions without distortion, and reducing large file sizes for documents and emails.

Microsoft Paint is a classic, simple, and free tool for basic resizing (by pixel or percentage). However, its limitations include a lack of advanced interpolation, often resulting in quality degradation and blurriness when significantly scaling or upscaling images. This is why, in this comprehensive guide, we will not only be taking a look at how you can crop images using MS Paint, but also get the chance to experience better alternatives.

How to resize photo in Paint by Microsoft

If you want to resize your image using MS Paint, then following the below-mentioned steps should be key in achieving your objective.

STEP 1
1. StePrepare and open the "Resize" dialogue box

Before you start, you need to first create a copy of your original image (Right-click > Copy/Paste). After that, proceed to open the copied image in MS Paint (Right-click > Open with > Paint). Then, click the "Resize" button located under the "Home > Image" tab (at the top left-hand area) to open the resize dialogue box.

STEP 2
1. Set dimensions and maintain aspect ratio

In the "Resize and Skew" window, choose to scale by "Percentage" (e.g., entering 50 to halve the size) or by "Pixels" (to set exact width and height). Crucially, ensure the "Maintain aspect ratio" box is checked to prevent the image from becoming stretched or distorted.

STEP 3
1. Apply changes and save

Finally, click on "OK" to apply the new dimensions to the image. After that, save your resized image by clicking on "File > Save As" and then choose your preferred format before finally exporting the resized picture.

Now that we have explored the topic of "how to resize photo in Paint", it should be known that while MS Paint is great for basic purpose uses, if you want to resize images professionally or for your content creation needs, then you require something more robust. That's where CapCut Web comes in. In the next section, we will delve deeper into how you can effortlessly use CapCut Web for resizing images.

The modern solution: resize photo using CapCut Web

While MS Paint handles basic scaling, it lacks the precision and quality required for modern digital platforms. CapCut Web's online photo editor is the superior solution: a cloud-based editor for perfect, zero-loss photo resizing. Need a specific social media size, or to instantly remove a photo's background for an e-commerce listing? CapCut Web offers precise presets and powerful AI-enhanced upscaling, eliminating the pixelation common in MS Paint. Such efficiency and quality highlight its clear advantage. To learn more about CapCut Web, continue reading our extensively written guide.

How to resize photos using the image cropper in CapCut Web

If you want to resize images using the cropping feature on CapCut Web, then be sure to follow the recommended steps outlined below.

STEP 1
1. Access the "AI design" option

Begin your journey by first visiting the official CapCut Web website, using the aforementioned links provided above, and creating an account using your credentials. Once you do that, head over to your dashboard and select the "AI design" option.

STEP 2
1. Crop your image using AI prompt

After that, you need to upload your image (which you want to crop) and then provide a relevant prompt to the AI, so that CapCut Web can understand your requirements. Once done, hit "Send".

On a new web page, CapCut Web will process your image and prompt, and an initial draft photo will be generated. You will have the option to either accept the initial result or ask the AI to make any necessary changes, by simply entering additional prompts.

Additionally, you can click on the picture to reveal more manual image editing options, such as adding text and stickers, accessing the different AI tools, adjusting color and light exposure, applying filters and effects, etc.

STEP 3
1. Export your cropped image

Once you finalize your image, you can proceed to export the photo by clicking on "Download". But, before downloading, CapCut Web will provide you with the option to select your format, size, and quality. Conversely, you will have the option to directly share the image on social media channels such as Instagram and Facebook.

Bonus: How to resize photos using AI expand tool (AI design)

On the other hand, if you want to resize images using the image expander tool on CapCut Web, then follow the suggested steps mentioned below judiciously.

STEP 1
1. Select the "AI design" feature

The foremost step involves heading over to your CapCut Web homepage or dashboard, and then selecting the "AI design" option from the left-hand panel. This will provide you access to CapCut Web's AI image generator and editor, for expanding your image.

STEP 2
1. Expand your image using AI prompt

In the next step, you will need to upload your image (which you need to expand) and then provide a prompt for the same. After entering your prompt, click on "Send".

CapCut Web will then analyse your image and prompt, and will then create an initial draft image based on the same. However, you will have options to further tweak and refine it, according to your liking, using simple AI prompts.

Additionally, you can provide the different image editing options, provided by CapCut Web, to manually edit your expanded image. To do this, click on the image and you will access options like adding text and stickers, changing the image opacity, removing the image's background, upscaling the image (using "AI tools"), and much more advanced actions.

STEP 3
1. Export your expanded image

Finally, if you are content with the results, you can click on "Download" and CapCut Web will let you export your image in your desired format, quality, and size. On the other hand, if you want to directly share your image on social media channels, then there is also the option to connect to Instagram and Facebook.

Key features of CapCut Web for resizing and editing images effortlessly

• Dedicated aspect ratio options for social media image resizing: CapCut Web offers pre-set aspect ratios for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. This allows you to resize a photo to the exact dimensions needed (e.g., 1:1, 4:5, 9:16) with one click, guaranteeing your image looks perfect and avoids unexpected cropping.
• AI-powered upscaling & image enhancement: Unlike MS Paint, CapCut Web uses Artificial Intelligence to enlarge low-resolution images (upscaling) without destructive quality loss. It sharpens details and minimizes pixelation, ensuring that even scaled-up photos remain crisp and professional-looking.
• Background removal and replacement: The AI image background remover is essential for e-commerce and profile photos. Effortlessly isolate the main subject with a single click, allowing you to instantly create a transparent background (PNG) or replace it with a solid color or a new scene entirely.
• Integrated design tools (templates & text): After you resize the photo, you can immediately add high-quality text, stickers, or use professionally designed templates directly within the editor. This provides a seamless, all-in-one workflow for creating compelling visual content.

Resize photo in Paint: understanding key concepts

For anyone looking to successfully resize a photo in MS Paint or any other editor, understanding the following core concepts prevents common mistakes like stretching or pixelation, ultimately ensuring that your image looks professional, whether on screen or in print.

• Resolution defined (the pixel count): Resolution is the total pixel count (width x height). Simple editors like Paint use limited data when you scale up, which results in a low-quality, blurry, or pixelated image. Always start with a high-resolution source image.
• DPI vs. PPI: PPI (Pixels Per Inch) defines screen density, typically 72. DPI (Dots Per Inch) defines print quality, typically 300. This distinction is vital: an image optimized for a screen will likely look poor when printed physically.
• Aspect ratio explained (the shape): The aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between the width and height (e.g., 16:9 or 1:1). If you don't maintain this ratio when you resize a photo, the image will look unnaturally stretched or squashed.
• Resizing vs. cropping: Resizing changes the overall number of pixels to make the image smaller or larger. Cropping removes outer pixels, changing the composition and possibly the ratio, but retaining the original pixel density of the remaining area.
• Scaling down safely: Shrinking an image (scaling down) is generally safe because the editor discards extra pixel information. However, enlarging (scaling up) in basic tools like Paint forces the program to invent new pixels, leading to destructive quality loss.

Pro tips: resizing for specific digital platforms

When resizing for online use, always optimize for speed, clarity, and platform requirements to ensure your images perform their best. The following tips and tricks should help you to get started.

• Social media presets (the "why"): Platforms use specific dimensions (e.g., 1080x1080 for Instagram square). Using these key dimension guides prevents platforms from aggressively auto-cropping or compressing your photo, ensuring your image retains its quality and focus.
• Web optimization & load speed: Minimize your final file size (KB/MB) to improve website load speed and SEO. A large, slow-loading image frustrates users and lowers search rankings. Always prioritize a balance between image quality and quick loading times.
• The file format factor (JPG vs. PNG): Use JPEG for photographs where a smaller file size is critical. Choose PNG for logos, graphics, or any image requiring a transparent background, even though the resulting file size will typically be much larger.
• Print considerations (DPI minimums): For high-quality printing, aim for a minimum of 300 DPI. Photos that look sharp on screen (which only requires 72 PPI) will appear chunky or pixelated in print if they do not meet this higher resolution requirement.
• Handling vector graphics (the exception): Vector files, like SVGs, are mathematically defined graphics, the exception to raster rules. They can be resized infinitely without any loss of quality, unlike raster formats (JPEG/PNG) edited in Paint, which are limited by their pixel count.

Conclusion

Wrapping up, we've explored how to resize photo in Microsoft Paint using simple percentage and pixel changes, and why cropping is essential. While Paint offers a quick fix for beginners, it quickly reaches its limits with quality and complexity.

For serious digital creators, CapCut Web, driven by ByteDance's Seedream 4.0 model, is the clear modern winner. Its AI upscaling, precise presets, and background removal offer professional results that Paint simply cannot match. So, if you are ready to stop worrying about pixelation and file size, then start resizing and editing your photos with CapCut Web today!

FAQs

1
1. How do I resize a photo in Paint effectively while making sure the image isn't stretched?

You must use the "Resize" tool and ensure the "Maintain aspect ratio" box is always checked before changing the percentage or pixel values. Failure to check this box will cause the image to stretch or compress unnaturally. To avoid manual checks and guarantee perfect results, use CapCut Web. It offers intelligent presets for specific platforms that automatically lock the correct aspect ratio for you.

2
1. When I resize photo in Paint to a smaller size, how to ensure it's optimized for fast loading?

After you resize the photo in MS Paint, save it as a JPEG with the lowest acceptable quality setting to reduce the file size (KB/MB). While Paint offers basic optimization, it doesn't compress as effectively as dedicated tools. For superior compression and optimization, use CapCut Web's export settings. It allows you to select the optimal file size and quality balance for fast web loading without severe visual degradation.

3
1. How to resize photo in Paint to a larger size?

To resize photo in MS Paint to a larger size, use the "Resize" tool and enter a percentage value over 100 or higher pixel counts than the original image. Be aware that this method usually leads to significant pixelation and quality loss. For effective enlargement, skip Paint and use CapCut Web's AI-powered upscaling. This feature intelligently generates the missing pixels, allowing you to increase the size without destroying the photo's quality.