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How to Scale Photos to a Usable Size for the Web

Easily resize photos for web use using Pixlr Express to ensure fast page loads and optimized image display on your website.

Why This Feature Matters

Large image files can slow down your site, hurt SEO performance, and create a poor user experience. Resizing images to an appropriate web-friendly size (such as 800px wide) ensures your site remains visually appealing and loads quickly. This also helps preserve image quality without sacrificing performance.

 

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

 

  1. Visit Pixlr Express

    Go to: http://apps.pixlr.com/express/

    (Tip: Bookmark this site for future use.)

  2. Click “Browse” to Upload an Image

    A window will open allowing you to choose a photo from your computer.

     

    • Select the photo you want to resize

    • Click Open

     

  3. Click the “Adjustment” Button

     

    • Located at the bottom left of the screen

    • This opens a new adjustment menu

     

  4. Click “Resize” from the Menu

    This opens a field where you can adjust the dimensions of your image.

  5. Set Width to 800px

     

    • Enter 800 in the Width field

    • The Height will auto-adjust proportionally

    • Click Apply

     

  6. Preview the Full Size of the Image

     

    • If the image looks too small, don’t worry!

    • In the top-right corner, adjust the Zoomer to 100%

    • This shows the image at actual display size

     

  7. Save the Resized Image

     

    • Click the Save button at the top-left of the screen

    • Use the default Quality setting

    • Click Save

     

  8. Save the File to Your Computer

     

    • In the final save window, choose a new filename to avoid overwriting the original

    • Example: Change Orange_County.jpg to Orange_County_Web.jpg

    • Click Save

     

 

 

 

Best Practices

 

  • Always keep the original photo in case further editing is needed later.

  • Use descriptive filenames that include “_Web” or the size to help stay organized.

  • Avoid scaling up small images, as it may result in pixelation.

 

 

 

Troubleshooting Common Issues

 

Problem: Image appears blurry after resizing.

Solution: Ensure you’re only reducing size, not enlarging it. Only upscale if absolutely necessary.

 

Problem: Image still loads slowly after resizing.

Solution: Check file size—try saving it again using a lower quality setting (but not below 70%).

 

 

FAQs

 

Q: Can I use a different image editor instead of Pixlr?

A: Yes, but Pixlr is free, web-based, and doesn’t require installation—making it an ideal option.

 

Q: What’s the best image width for Sierra content pages?

A: 800px wide is a safe and consistent size for most page layouts.

 

Q: Will resizing change the image quality?

A: Minimal quality loss occurs when reducing size. Always preview the image at 100% zoom before saving.