Resizing has never really been a fast task. Very server intensive. I'd say that's the best you're going to get because although the code may be a little out-dated, the process remains the best way to do it:

• Load the original image into a new resource
• Extract the original image's height and width
• Create a blank canvas
• Resize the original image and place it into the new canvas
• Save the image

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The man who comes back through the Door in the Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out.