Getting Started in Pixlr

First, go to the Pixlr editor online. Once you’re there, click into the editor and upload your image.

• Click File in the top left
• Select Open Image from Computer
• Choose the image you want to edit

It’ll open right in the workspace, ready to go.

How to Resize an Image

This is what you’ll use most of the time.

• Click Image in the top menu
• Then click Image Size

You’ll see width and height boxes, along with something called “constraint proportions.” Leave that checked. That just means your image won’t get stretched or distorted when you resize it.

If you’re trying to make a large image smaller for a website, a good rule of thumb is around 800 pixels wide. Once you change the width, the height will adjust automatically.

Click OK, and your image is resized.

What “Canvas Size” Means (and When to Use It)

Canvas size is different from image size. Instead of shrinking the image itself, it changes the space around it.

• Click Image → Canvas Size

This is useful if you need extra space around your image or want to adjust how it fits within a layout. There’s also an “anchor” option, which lets you choose where the image sits when you resize the canvas.

For example, you can keep the image centered or push it to one side depending on what you need.

If you add extra space, you can fill it in using the paint bucket tool on the side.

Cropping Your Image

Sometimes resizing isn’t enough and you just need to cut part of the image out.

• Select the Crop tool from the toolbar
• Click and drag over the part of the image you want to keep
• Press Enter to apply the crop

That’s it. Your image will automatically adjust to that selection.

Saving Your Image the Right Way

Once you’re done, don’t just close out. You need to save it properly so it works well on your site.

• Click File → Save
• Choose JPEG as the format
• Lower the quality to around 45

This keeps the image looking good while making the file size smaller, which is exactly what you want for web use.

You can rename the file if you want, then save it wherever you need.

When to Save as a Pixlr File Instead

If you think you’ll come back and edit the image later, save a second version as a PXD file.

This keeps all your layers and edits intact, so you don’t have to start over next time. It’s especially helpful if you’re doing repeated edits or resizing for different uses.

Final Thoughts

Image issues are annoying, but they’re also one of the easiest things to fix once you know what to do.

Pixlr gives you just enough control to resize, crop, and clean up your images without making it complicated. Once you get used to it, you’ll be able to fix most image problems in a couple minutes. To learn more, check out Pixler’s “101 Pixlr Beginners Guide.”

If your site feels slow or your images never quite fit right, this is a really easy place to start.