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Participating Frequently
January 30, 2020
Question

Resizing a text image without losing quality

  • January 30, 2020
  • 5 replies
  • 10187 views

Can someone advise how is best to resize a text image without losing quality/definition?

I need to scale down the attached photo to 40 pixels x 40 pixels but still need to be able to read the writing at a reasonable quality. It can have white space evenly around it if need be

Is this possible?

 

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5 replies

NB, colourmanagement
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 31, 2020

Hi,

 

A lot depends on where you're starting from, if it’s a vector image (i.e is it actual vector text, not a rasterised bitmap [pixellated] image), then maybe, but that’s very small. 40 pixels wide leaves only about 5 pixels per character.

If what you have IS a resterised image then can you get the font and recreate it?

 

I hope this helps

neil barstow, colourmanagement.net

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Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 31, 2020

Redraw from scratch without any anti-aliasing, you basically have a canvas of 40x5 px high, the text thickness will be 1 px wide. This is a lot like creating a 16x16 px "favicon", it is ideally created from scratch at the required size and not resampled down from a larger original.

 

 

Legend
January 30, 2020

No, it's completely impossible (like fitting 20 eggs in a box made for 6). There are not enough pixels to be able to see even the most basic text. Look at this zoomed in after resizing. You can see the pixel lines, and see there is just no way.

That said, such a tiny graphic shows no detail, so if the viewer has seen the logo before, bigger, then they will know what they are seeing. Quality doesn't exist in this case, and may not have to.

Participating Frequently
January 30, 2020

That is a very good point about the viewer already knowing what the logo looks like, i may just have to leave it then.

Thanks for your help!

Mohammad.Harb
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 30, 2020

you could use the Brand color as an identifier, otherwise it will not be visible or readble in 40x40 px, 

Participating Frequently
January 30, 2020

I am probably being stupid but what do you mean by use the brand colour as an identifier?

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 30, 2020

Is the text still text? If so, use the Character panel and change the size of the typeface, etc. If it is remains text, then it is vector and will not lose quality.

~ Jane