Correcting photo distortion after resizing in My Pictures.

If I download a photo image and resize it, either larger or smaller, the clarity of the image distorts. How do I fix this?

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Distorted as in stretched or squashed or distort as in pixelated?

Download from where?

What is the original size of the photo?

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John Inzer - MS-MVP - Digital Media Experience - Notice_This is not tech support_I am a volunteer - Solutions that work for me may not work for you - ***Proceed at your own risk***

John, photo was downloaded from a web site Original Size is about 3x5. Downloaded image is perfectly sharp. But if I enlarge to 6x10, the distortion occurs as it will appear as a series of different colored boxes-not sharp at all. How do I get a sharper image and still have the size at 6 x10?  The same thing also happpens if I reduce or squash the image. This is on the Paint screen that came with my Windows XP Home Edition, which was included when I bought the computer in 2005. your help would be appreciated. Thanks.

John, photo was downloaded from a web site Original Size is about 3x5. Downloaded image is perfectly sharp. But if I enlarge to 6x10, the distortion occurs as it will appear as a series of different colored boxes-not sharp at all. How do I get a sharper image and still have the size at 6 x10?  The same thing also happpens if I reduce or squash the image. This is on the Paint screen that came with my Windows XP Home Edition, which was included when I bought the computer in 2005. your help would be appreciated. Thanks.

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OK...the image looks Pixelated. What has happened is that you began
with a low resolution photo and you stretched it to four times the original
size...this causes the pixels to enlarge and you begin to see blocks (pixels).

Best bet would be to search for higher resolution photos. For example if
you search Google Images you can choose...Show Options / Any Size /
Large. You may not get the same exact assortment of photos but at least
the ones you do get will be better resolution.

Google Images
http://images.google.com/imghp?tab=wi

More info...if you use the following freeware to enlarge the photos...you
may have a better result that you had in Paint. Choose the option...
Resample...instead of Resize.

IrfanView
http://www.software.com/irfanview
(get the plug-ins too)
http://www.software.com/irfanview-plugin

Drag/drop a photo on the IrfanView executable to open it...
then go to...Image - Resize/Resample...

Check the 'IrfanView Help' file for more info...

Good luck...

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John Inzer - MS-MVP - Digital Media Experience - Notice_This is not tech support_I am a volunteer - Solutions that work for me may not work for you - ***Proceed at your own risk***