Want to start a new image in Preview—and find no place to choose a pixel size? Find out here how to create a new image of any size in Preview on a Mac.
First, One Plus One Is Three
Where you see two things, there are three.
For the space in between joins the two not as a void, but as a significant element. In Japan, too, the gaps and pauses in time and space carry particular meaning, we are told. They give balance, render importance and allow room for breathing.
With that in mind, let’s create two or three pieces of space in Preview:
How to Make a New Image of Any Size in Preview for Mac
Time needed: 3 minutes
To make a new empty image of any size in macOS Preview on a Mac:
- Download a 1×1 pixel transparent PNG image.
Roll your own: See below for creating the image yourself.
Image size: A translucent image of any size works, of course; you can find examples below.
Colors: You can also use a single-color image, of course, to create an arbitrarily sized colored image.
Make it a template: You can have macOS automatically create a copy when you open the image so you do not need to duplicate it manually. - Open the file in Preview.
Here’s how: You can always click on the file with the right mouse button in Finder, then select Open With | Preview from the context menu.
Nothing to see here: You’ll not see much, of course; you can select all (using Command A, for example), to see the image in the center. - Create a duplicate of the original file.
Here’s how: Select File | Duplicate from the menu, for example.
Preview keyboard shortcut: You can also press Command Shift S (reminiscent of Save as…, which duplication essentially accomplishes).
Not for templates: You can skip this step if you have made the template image stationery. - Choose a name for your custom-sized image under Name:.
Using a template: With a template image, click the temporary name in the Preview title bar to open the naming pane.
- Select Tools | Adjust Size… from the menu.
- Turn off Scale proportionally.
Equal proportions: You can leave it on for a square image, of course.
Resampling: Do turn on Resampling so you can pick arbitrary image sizes. - Typically, change the unit to pixels.
Other measurements: You can use the other units as well.
- Enter the width and height in pixels under Width: and Height:, respectively.
- Click OK.
What now: Paste images to make a composite, for example, or to change a picture’s canvas size.
Make an Empty Canvas Image in Mac Preview
To create an empty 1×1 pixel image (or, of course, any other size you regularly use) in Preview:
- Take a screenshot of anything on the Mac and copy it to the clipboard.
Here’s how: Press Command ControlShift 4 to copy an arbitrary portion of the screen to the clipboard, for example. - Open Preview.
- Select New | New from Clipboard in the menu.
Keyboard shortcut: You can also press Command N. - Press Command A.
Using the menu: Select Edit | Select All. - Now press Backspace or Del to delete.
- Use Tools | Adjust Size… to change the image to the desired size (e.g., 1 by 1 pixels) as above.
- Save the empty scalable image as a template.
Common Image Sizes and Aspect Ratios
For a head start, download ready-made translucent images in various resolutions and aspect ratios here:
(How to make a new image of any size in Preview for Mac tested with macOS Sonoma 14.5; first published June 2024)