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I have a PNG that I want to add additional content to. For this I need to increase the canvas size of the image: Just make the image larger, but without scaling the existing contents (which the Adjust Size tool seems to insist on doing).

How can I do this?

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    TL/DR; For some reason, the Preview app has no direct/easy way to resize an existing image without stretching it. Below solutions all revolve around ways of creating a new, larger image, and then pasting one or more smaller images into it.
    – MarkHu
    Jun 19, 2020 at 16:44

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
180

This works well for me:

  1. Select all (cmd+A) and cut (cmd+X) the image from its canvas (convert to png if asked).

  2. Resize the image as desired from the "Tools" menu (unlock the proportions if desired)

  3. Re-paste original image from the clipboard (cmd+V) and move it where you want it on the resized canvas

  4. Use cmd+- if necessary to zoom out (you'll see checkerboard where the canvas is and white beyond)

  5. Paste in other images, etc, as you like

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    ProTip: If you don't see the checkerboard select "Show Image Background" (Opt+Cmd+B) from the View menu.
    – Steve Moser
    Jul 25, 2017 at 20:23
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    When i pasted my image, the position was wrong. To fix it, you can select all and drag the selection to the desired location
    – feupeu
    Nov 5, 2018 at 10:21
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One option would be to Cut and paste using ⌘-ALT-X and ⌘V after resizing the canvas size in destination file. The pasted image doesn't seem to get snapped to canvas edges now.

Increasing canvas size by cropping doesn't seem to be possible.

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  • Pragmatic solution <3
    – Carlos Ricardo
    Jun 20, 2013 at 16:47
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    Nice quick and dirty solution. I noticed the quality of my image seemed to drop though, so watch out for that.
    – Kyle
    Sep 6, 2014 at 22:16
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    GIMP can increase size by cropping. It might be a bit heavy, though. (:
    – SilverWolf
    Nov 17, 2017 at 18:22
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The best method I have found is:

  1. Take a screenshot that is larger than your image you are working on, I usually take a shot of an empty text document so that it is entirely white.

  2. Paste your image onto the new image, and then add your other pasted image as well.

  3. Select the new combination image and copy it and make a final image by creating a new one from the clipboard.

This method only works if your two or more images are smaller than your screenshot image, but it works 95% of the time for me.

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