10.50.  Scale Layer

Revision History
Revision $Revision: 2272 $ 2006-08-16 scb

The Scale Layer command resizes the layer and its contents. The image loses some of its quality by being scaled. The command displays a dialog where you can set parameters concerning the size of the layer and the image quality.

Layer Size

When you enlarge a layer, GIMP has to calculate new pixels from the existing ones. This procedure is called “interpolation”. Please note that no matter which interpolation algorithm is used, no new information is added to the image by interpolation. If there are places in the layer which have no details, you will not get any new ones by scaling it. It is much more likely that the layer will look somewhat blurred after scaling. Similarly, when you reduce a layer, the image loses some of its quality when pixels are removed.

Quality

To change the size of the layer, GIMP either has to add or remove pixels. The method it uses to do this has a considerable impact on the quality of the result. You can choose the method of interpolating the colors of the pixels from the Interpolation drop-down menu.

Interpolation
  • None: No interpolation is used. Pixels are simply enlarged or removed, as they are when zooming. This method is low in quality, but very fast.

  • Linear: This method is a good compromise between speed and quality.

  • Cubic: This method takes a lot of time, but it produces the best results.