What effect does ticking the Preserve Aspect checkbox in an Image component have?

When the Preserve Aspect checkbox is enabled in an Image component in Unity, it ensures that the image maintains its original aspect ratio when resized. This means that regardless of the dimensions specified for the image or the size of the parent container, the image will not stretch or compress disproportionately. Instead, it will adjust its dimensions while keeping the relationship between its width and height constant, which is essential for displaying images correctly and preventing distortion.

This is particularly important in game development where maintaining the visual integrity of images, such as character sprites or UI elements, is crucial for a polished look. By preserving the aspect ratio, the image will scale uniformly, making it visually appealing and consistent across different screen resolutions and sizes.