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Resizing in Adobe Illustrator takes a few seconds once you know where to look, but the result depends on what you’re resizing. Vector artwork scales to any size with no loss. A placed photo (JPEG, PNG) is made of pixels, so making it bigger can leave it soft or pixelated.
This guide covers four ways to resize, how to keep proportions, how to resize the artboard, and what to do when a raster image is too small.
Quick answer
- Select the image with the Selection tool (V).
- In the Properties panel, click the link icon to lock proportions.
- Type a new W (width) or H (height) and press Enter.
To resize by dragging instead, hold Shift while you drag a corner handle.
Method 1: Resize to an exact size with the Properties or Transform panel
This is the most precise method, best when you need a specific width and height in pixels, millimeters or inches.
- Place the image with File → Place (Shift+Ctrl+P / Shift+Cmd+P) if it isn’t in the document yet.
- Select it with the Selection tool (V).
- Open Window → Properties (or Window → Transform, Shift+F8).
- Click the Constrain Width and Height Proportions link icon so it’s active.
- Enter the new W or H value. The other value updates automatically.
- Press Enter to apply.
You can type math directly into the fields: *50% halves the size, +20 px adds 20 pixels. To change the measurement unit, right-click a ruler (Ctrl+R / Cmd+R to show rulers) and pick pixels, inches or millimeters.
Method 2: Resize by dragging the bounding box
The fastest way when you’re sizing by eye.
- Select the image with the Selection tool (V).
- Drag any corner handle of the bounding box.
- Hold Shift while dragging to keep the original proportions, and Alt / Option to scale from the center.
If you don’t see handles, turn the box on with View → Show Bounding Box (Shift+Ctrl+B / Shift+Cmd+B).
How to stretch an image in Illustrator: drag a side handle (not a corner) without holding Shift. This distorts the image on purpose, which is fine for backgrounds but rarely for photos or logos.
Method 3: Scale by percentage with the Scale tool
Use this when you need an exact percentage, for example 200% or 50%, or want to control how strokes and effects scale.
- Select the image.
- Go to Object → Transform → Scale, or double-click the Scale tool (S) in the toolbar.
- Choose Uniform and enter a percentage.
- Check Scale Strokes & Effects if outlines and shadows should grow with the object.
- Turn on Preview, then click OK.
With the Scale tool active, you can also click once to set a reference point, then drag to scale around it.
How to resize the artboard (or the image and artboard together)
The artboard is the page you export, so resizing the image doesn’t change it, and vice versa.
- Resize the artboard only: press Shift+O for the Artboard tool, then drag its edges or type W and H in the Properties panel.
- Fit the artboard to the image: select the image and choose Object → Artboards → Fit to Selected Art.
- Resize both: first scale the artwork with Method 1 or 3, then use Object → Artboards → Fit to Artwork Bounds.
To set exact document dimensions from scratch, open File → Document Setup → Edit Artboards.
How to resize an image in Illustrator without losing quality
Whether you lose quality depends on one thing: is the image vector or raster?
| Vector (shapes, logos, text) | Raster (photos, JPEG, PNG) | |
|---|---|---|
| Made of | Mathematical paths | A fixed grid of pixels |
| Scaling down | No loss | No visible loss |
| Scaling up | No loss, at any size | Gets soft or pixelated |
| Fix for enlarging | Not needed | Trace it, or upscale the pixels with AI |
Check if a placed image is big enough
Open Window → Links, select the image, and look at PPI in the Link Info. Illustrator shows the effective PPI, which drops as you scale up. For print, keep it at 300 PPI or higher; for screens, 72–150 is enough. If it falls below that, the image will look blurry in the final file.
Option 1: Convert a simple raster image to vector with Image Trace
For logos, icons and line art, you can turn pixels into paths that scale infinitely.
- Select the image and choose Object → Image Trace → Make, or open Window → Image Trace for presets such as High Fidelity Photo or Black and White Logo.
- Adjust Colors, Paths and Noise until the preview looks right.
- Click Expand in the Control bar to convert the trace into editable paths.
Image Trace doesn’t work well for photographs: they turn into flat, posterized shapes.
Option 2: Upscale a photo with AI before placing it
Illustrator can’t add detail to a raster image: scaling it up only stretches the existing pixels. If a photo is too small for your layout, enlarge the source file first and then place it.
- Upload the original photo to an AI image upscaler and increase it 2× or 4×. The AI rebuilds edges and textures instead of stretching pixels.
- For a custom size, enlarge the image to the exact dimensions your layout needs.
- In Illustrator, select the old image, click Relink in the Links panel, and choose the new file. Size and position stay the same, but the effective PPI goes up.
If the source has other problems, fix them before upscaling, since enlarging makes flaws more visible:
- Blocky compression noise from a heavily saved JPEG: use JPEG artifact removal first.
- Motion or focus blur: run it through a blur remover.
- Dull colors and noise in an old or phone photo: a photo enhancer restores detail in one step.
Image too small for your Illustrator layout?
Upscale it up to 4× with AI before placing it, and keep every detail sharp.
Export your resized image at the right size
The export settings decide the final pixel dimensions, not just the size on the artboard.
- File → Export → Export for Screens (Alt+Ctrl+E / Option+Cmd+E): pick the artboard, set Scale to 1x, 2x or 3x, or type an exact width in pixels.
- File → Export → Export As: choose JPEG or PNG and set the Resolution (72 ppi for web, 300 ppi for print).
Not sure which format to choose? See our guide to JPEG vs PNG.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| No handles around the image | View → Show Bounding Box (Shift+Ctrl+B) |
| Image distorts when resizing | Hold Shift, or lock the proportions link in Properties |
| Strokes look too thick or thin after scaling | Toggle Scale Strokes & Effects in Preferences → General, or in the Scale dialog |
| Rounded corners change shape | Turn on Scale Corners in the Scale dialog |
| Image is blurry after enlarging | It’s raster: check effective PPI in the Links panel and upscale the source file |
| Can’t select the image | Unlock it with Object → Unlock All (Alt+Ctrl+2) |
FAQ
How do I resize an image in Illustrator without distorting it?
Hold Shift while dragging a corner handle, or turn on the proportions link in the Properties panel before typing a new width or height.
How do I make an image bigger in Illustrator?
Use the Properties panel, bounding box or Scale tool. If it’s a photo, upscale the source file first so it doesn’t turn blurry.
How do I make an image smaller in Illustrator?
The same methods work, and scaling down doesn’t reduce visible quality.
Can I change the pixel size of an image in Illustrator?
Illustrator works in points by default. Switch rulers to pixels (right-click a ruler), then type the size in pixels. The exported file’s pixel size is set in Export for Screens or Export As.
Can Illustrator upscale an image?
Not really. It enlarges the pixels you already have. For more detail, use an AI upscaler and relink the larger file.
What’s the shortcut for the Scale tool?
Press S. Double-click the tool to open the Scale dialog.
