How to make image thumbnails in cPanel

What is a thumbnail?

A thumbnail is a small version of a picture. Small pictures load faster. They are good for photo galleries. A visitor clicks a small picture to see the big one.

cPanel has a tool called Images. It can make thumbnails of any picture folder. It can also scale and convert images.

Make thumbnails

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. In the Files section, click Images.
3. Click Thumbnailer.
4. Browse to the folder that holds your pictures. Click the folder name to open it.
5. Click Select Folder or the arrow next to the folder. Tick it.
6. Click Create Thumbnails.
7. Wait for the message that says the thumbnails were made.

cPanel makes a new folder named thumbs inside your picture folder. It holds the small copies. Your original pictures stay as they are.

Change the size of one picture

1. Go back to Images and click Scaler.
2. Pick the picture file.
3. Choose how to resize. You can type a new width or height in pixels. A pixel is one tiny dot of a picture.
4. Pick Keep Aspect Ratio. This stops the picture from looking stretched.
5. Choose Scale Image if you want to save a copy. Choose Scale and Save to replace the original. Replacing deletes the old size, so keep a copy first.

Change the file type

1. In Images, click Converter.
2. Pick the picture.
3. Choose the new type, for example PNG, JPG or GIF.
4. Click Convert File.

Good to know

• The tool works on files already on your hosting account. Upload them first with File Manager.
• Thumbnails are made in a standard small size. For exact sizes, use the Scaler.
• Use your thumbnail folder in your gallery page code.

Quick recap

• Open Images then Thumbnailer in cPanel.
• Pick a folder and click Create Thumbnails.
• Small copies go to a thumbs folder.
• Use Scaler for exact sizes.