How to Scale and Resize Objects in Adobe Illustrator

Modified On: June 5th, 2025

Welcome to another installment of LabelValue.com's Design Mini-Series. These design-focused blog posts are designed (see what we did there) to give you tips, tricks, and valuable insight from our team of graphic designers here at LabelValue.

Design Mini-Series: Adobe Illustrator Tutorials

• Tip 1: How to Trace Objects with the Pen Tool
• Tip 2: How to Equally Duplicate a Shape Around A Circle
• Tip 3: How to Link and Embed Images
• Tip 4: How to Use the Align Tool in Adobe Illustrator
• Tip 5: How to Set up Document Bleeds in Adobe Illustrator
• Tip 6: How to Create a Clipping Mask using Adobe Illustrator
• Tip 7: How to Type on a Circle Using the Path Tool in Adobe Illustrator
• Tip 8: How to Use the Shape Builder Tool in Adobe Illustrator

Our design-focused tutorials are all about learning the "ins and outs" of the Adobe Creative Suite. Be sure to check back frequently, as we constantly add new design-oriented content and posts.

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How to Resize and Scale Objects in Adobe Illustrator

How Do I Scale and Resize Objects in Adobe Illustrator to a Specific Size?

This tutorial will cover how to resize and scale an object or image/artwork in Adobe Illustrator. Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based design software. You can infinitely scale vector artwork without any loss in quality or resolution.

Vector-based images differ from raster-based artwork like images, as these are pixel-based. Pixel-based objects lose quality when enlarged because each pixel gets stretched. Vector objects use 2D points linked by paths, lines, and curves. Each point is plotted along the X and Y axes, allowing for infinite scaling of the object.

We will show you how to scale and resize in Illustrator in proportion to the original object's width x height ratio. When scaling objects, you want to avoid skewing or changing the original width x height ratio—unless necessary—as this changes the look and overall shape of the object from its original size.

Step 1: Set Units of Measurement

STEP 1: It's important to note that Illustrator allows you to scale in a variety of units of measurement. In this tutorial, we will be using inches. However, you can also scale in whichever measurement best suits the project you are working on. For quick access to change the unit of measurement in Illustrator, you can use keyboard shortcuts like CTRL + R (CMD + R on a Mac) to open the rulers tool.

It'll appear on the left and top sides of your working area in Illustrator. To change the measurement, move your mouse over the ruler and right-click. A pop-up will appear with different units of measurement.

Select your desired unit of measure. All your measurements will now be in that unit. You can change this unit of measurement at any time.

Step 2: Select and Group Artwork

STEP 2: Use the selection tool to select all parts of your artwork you want to scale by clicking and dragging. For our example, we use a vector illustration of a dog and some text. Always work with vector artwork when scaling, as raster-based images will lose quality the larger you scale.

Once you select all the objects in your artwork you want to scale in Illustrator, right-click and select group in the menu. This action will combine all the art chosen into one "object," keeping the proportions of your artwork maintained.

Step 3: Use the Transform Tool

STEP 3: We can use the transform tool option to scale to a specific size. Go to your top toolbar and navigate to Window> Transform. The Window will open the transform tool.

Step 4: Constrain Proportions

STEP 4: With your artwork selected, navigate to the transform pop-up tool bar you opened. Activate the "Constrain Width and Height Proportions" button. This button ensures that the dimensions remain proportionate when you scale your artwork.

Enter your desired height—we will enter 70" here—and press Enter. Your artwork will then scale proportionately, ensuring it remains correct.

Step 5: Scale Down While Maintaining Quality

STEP 5: Scaling also works in reverse, making vector-based images smaller without losing quality. Make a copy of your grouped object (CTRL + C), and paste it (CTRL + P) next to your original. To reduce the size of the image, we will use the transform tool again. Select the grouped artwork you just pasted into the document.

To reduce the size, navigate to the transform tool. Make sure the "Constrain Width and Height Proportions" button is active. Enter the desired height; here we will use 65.5 inches. Illustrator automatically scales the width proportionate to the height.

Step 6: Compare the Scaled Version

Step 6: This step isn't necessary; we are comparing our original enlarged object to our reduced object to show that our proportions have remained the same.

Step 7: Use the Align Tool

STEP 7: We can now use the alignment tools in Illustrator to ensure our proportions are properly scaled in the resized version. To do this, use the selection tool and drag over the original and the resized version.

Navigate to Window> and then select "Align." A tab will open with the Align toolbar in Illustrator. Select Align to Artboard, then align both grouped artworks to the horizontal and vertical center point. You can now visually see that the artwork has kept its original anchor points and is smaller by half an inch.

While somewhat basic, knowing how to scale and resize objects in Illustrator to a specific size is vital. It lets you maintain your artwork's original width and height proportions without distorting or compromising the final design.

Do you have a question related to design or the Adobe Creative Suite? Please email us at service@labelvalue.com.