It’s so annoying when you resize an image and a light outline forms around the edges of it. This is due to Photoshop automatically sharpening your image when it’s transformed. It can really be distracting if you try and take that exact same image and use it for other mediums such as print or video; where such flaws will be more apparent. Today on The Brain Wrack, I will go over the different methods of fixing this issue, demonstrating which the best one is, and why.

The first method is to use the selection tools to isolate the outline. I highly recommend using the refine edge feature (Alt +Ctrl +R) to get the exact width that the line extrudes. From there, using the blur tool, trace the edges of the image. This will get rid of the outline, but it also can blur the edge of an image. In my image this is alright due my image to having simple edges, but for a more complex image such as humans, animals, or other complex selections; this could look odd around the boarders of your image.

The next method is to just erase the line all together. This is done by using the same selection method above to select the outline. Then, using the eraser tool to erase it completely. This method gives the image nice crisp clean sides. It’s not bad, but it can look out of place due to being smoother than the rest of the image. Also if the image is more complex, it can make the side seem to pixilated.

The Final method is also the easiest. Before you resize the image, Go to Edit>Preferences>General (Ctrl+ K) and switch the Image Interpolation setting to Bicubic Smoother. This will allow your image to appear as it was meant to be after it is resized. The one downside to this method is that too much transforming of your image will leave it a little blurry. However, that is only in intense edits, and eight times out of ten, this method will be the best for resizing images. I personaly think this is the best option because it’s not often that you need to resize an image so much that it loses its resolution.

Do you think that the Bicubic Smoother option is worth it if the image could appear blurry? Why?

I’m Nathanael McNutt, and I hope I’ve wracked your brains today.