Understand the role of image resolution
Image resolution plays a critical role in the quality of an image. To improve the online image, you may need the ability to adjust the image resolution. Generally speaking, resolution refers to the amount of detail an image can retain.
Each digital image consists of pixels. The more pixels it has, the more details it can show. If you increase the size of an image with a low resolution (few pixels), the image may appear blurry or pixelated. Knowing how to adjust the resolution of an image can be the key to improving its quality.
Using image editing software
There are several options for image editing software which can help you improve the quality of your images. Some of these are free, while others are paid or have premium versions with more features. Here we will mention some:
- Photoshop: This is one of the most used by professionals due to its range of functionalities. Allows resolution adjustments, color corrections, filtering and much more.
- GIMP: It is a free alternative to Photoshop, with a similar range of tools. Small drawback, its interface may be less friendly for beginners.
- Canva: Oriented more towards design than image editing, Canva is an easy-to-use online tool that allows you to improve the quality of images by applying various filters and effects.
Optimize images for the web
In addition to improving the visual quality of the images, it is also important to consider their web optimization. In other words, reduce the image file size without losing (excessive) quality. This is especially important if you are uploading your images to a website, as large images can slow down page loading speed.
Images can be optimized using several techniques:
- Resolution reduction: If the image has a higher resolution than needed, you can reduce it to reduce the file size.
- Image Compression: Tools like TinyPNG can compress your images without visible quality loss.
- Selecting the correct format: Different image formats (PNG, JPEG, GIF, etc.) have different file sizes and qualities. In general, the JPEG format is a good choice for most web images.
Improving image quality with artificial intelligence
One of the recent advances in the field of image editing is the ability to improve the quality of images using Artificial Intelligence. There are several online tools that apply machine learning techniques to eliminate noise from images, indicate blurred lines or add details where there were none before.
These tools are usually very easy to use. Typically, you just have to upload your image, select the desired enhancement options, and wait for the tool to do its job. Examples of these tools include LetsEnhance, Remini or DeepArt.
Improve image quality on social networks
Nowadays, most of us share our images through social media. Unfortunately, many social media platforms compress our images to save space, which can sometimes result in loss of image quality.
A trick to avoid this is upload images in maximum resolution that the platform allows. For example, Instagram allows you to upload images up to 1080 x 1080 pixels. Uploading your image at this resolution can help minimize any quality loss due to compression.
Another trick is to add a border to your image before uploading it. Some users have found that this can help better maintain image quality by preventing the platform from inappropriately cropping or resizing the image.