Change width and height while preserving aspect ratio so the image does not look stretched or squashed.
EditFull practical documentation · edition reviewed: 26 October 2026
When this task helps
When the original aspect ratio is preserved, width and height change together and the image keeps a natural shape.
Worked example
A 1200 × 800 photo has a 3:2 aspect ratio. Setting width to 600 with proportions locked gives height 400. Forcing 600 × 600 stretches it; cropping square removes content.
What to check before starting
Choose the dimension that matters most for your destination, such as article width or thumbnail size, and let the other dimension follow the ratio.
Choosing the settings
Lock proportions and change one dimension. Use cropping when a square is required and choose what to retain. Verify final pixel dimensions for upload forms.
Limits that affect the result
Enlarging from 600 to 2400 pixels increases dimensions but cannot restore detail that was never captured.
Mistake to avoid
Avoid setting unrelated width and height values unless you intentionally want a different ratio, because people and objects can become distorted.
Illustrative example: size and quality depend on the source file.