Prepare a picture step by step
Cropping, resizing, choosing a format and compressing — in the order that makes the most sense.
the right-size picture: a reference on image formats and preparation
Clipday — a reference on the right-size picture
A picture is rarely bad in itself. More often it's just the wrong size: too heavy for an email, too small for print, or stuck with a white box instead of a transparent background on a slide. Here we explain how images work, how formats differ and how to prepare a picture for a specific job without losing more quality than you have to.
A picture isn't simply big or small — it's either right or wrong for the place you're taking it.
Where to start
Choose a format
How raster differs from vector and when JPEG, PNG, SVG and PDF make sense.
Figure out what went wrong
Blurry edges, a huge file size, a lost transparent background and dull colors after printing.
Understand the rights
Why a picture from search results has an author and what to check before you publish someone else's image.
Reference sections
- Guides
Step-by-step guides: crop, shrink and compress a picture and get it ready for an email, a slide or print. The article catalog lives here too.
- Tools
The kinds of programs and features that help with images, from the built-in photo viewer to a vector editor and the eyedropper.
- Comparisons
Raster vs vector, JPEG, PNG, SVG and PDF, screen vs print: tables that help you pick the right format and size for the job.
- If it looks off
What to do when a picture turns blurry or jagged, gets too heavy, loses its transparent background or looks dull on paper.
- Rights & risks
Other people's rights to images, restrictive licenses, bystanders and license plates in the frame, hidden file data and fake download buttons.
- Glossary
Key terms: pixel, resolution, dots per inch, raster, vector, Bézier curve, compression, transparency and alt text.
- Questions
Answers about this reference, about picture sizes and formats, about printing and about using images found online.
Prepare a picture in five minutes
Where it's going
First decide where the picture will be seen: on a screen, in a document or on paper. Everything else depends on that — size, format and even the color model. A picture made “for everything, just in case” is usually equally awkward everywhere.
What size you need
For screens, size is measured in pixels: all you need to know is the width of the spot where the picture will appear. For print, what matters is the print size and the dot density; a common guideline is 300 dots per inch. If there aren't enough pixels, enlarging won't add any.
Which format fits
Photos are usually saved as JPEG; diagrams, screenshots and pictures with a transparent background as PNG; logos and icons for a website as SVG; and documents for printing and sending as PDF.
How much to compress
Compress gradually and check the result at actual size. The right setting is the one where you can no longer see a difference from the original, but the file has become noticeably lighter.
Caption and alt text
If the picture is going on a website or into a document, add a short description of what it shows. It will be read by people who use screen readers and by anyone whose image didn't load.
The essentials
Can I get pictures here?
No. There are no pictures, archives or files here and there won't be, and we don't link to any either. This reference explains how to prepare your own image, not where to find someone else's.
Can I use any picture from search results?
No. Search shows you pictures, but it doesn't give you permission to use them. Every image has an author, and the license determines what you can do with it. If the terms are unknown, it's safer to assume you don't have permission.
Why did my picture turn blurry when printed?
Most likely it has too few pixels for that print size. It looked fine on screen because the screen showed it smaller. The fix is to use a larger original or print it smaller.
How is vector different from raster?
Raster is a grid of pixels, like a mosaic: zoom in far enough and you'll see the individual squares. Vector is a description of curves and fills that is recalculated for any size without losing sharpness. Photos are almost always raster, while logos and diagrams are easier to keep as vector.
About us
A different site used to run on this domain, and later unrelated spam pages showed up here. Nothing is left of those pages, we have no intention of repeating them, and this reference has no connection to them. The name came with the domain.
Clipday writes about preparing images for screens, documents, email and print: choosing a format, getting the size right, compressing a file without visible loss, keeping transparency and describing a picture. We do not distribute images or files, do not name programs or services, do not publish rankings and do not give legal advice.
Read next
- Guides
Step-by-step guides: crop, shrink and compress a picture and get it ready for an email, a slide or print. The article catalog lives here too.
- Comparisons
Raster vs vector, JPEG, PNG, SVG and PDF, screen vs print: tables that help you pick the right format and size for the job.
- If it looks off
What to do when a picture turns blurry or jagged, gets too heavy, loses its transparent background or looks dull on paper.
- Rights & risks
Other people's rights to images, restrictive licenses, bystanders and license plates in the frame, hidden file data and fake download buttons.
- Glossary
Key terms: pixel, resolution, dots per inch, raster, vector, Bézier curve, compression, transparency and alt text.
Sources
- Documentation for graphics formats and editors (general principles)
- Clipday editorial materials
This advice is written in general terms as of the date it was prepared. Menu items, save dialogs and export settings are named differently from one editor to the next and change with updates, so check the help for the program you actually use rather than matching our wording exactly.