diff --git a/openerp/tools/image.py b/openerp/tools/image.py
index e2b14f18d0d..eb3600a6652 100644
--- a/openerp/tools/image.py
+++ b/openerp/tools/image.py
@@ -20,11 +20,10 @@
 ##############################################################################
 
 import io
-import sys
 import StringIO
 
 from PIL import Image
-from PIL import ImageFilter
+from PIL import ImageEnhance
 from random import random
 
 # ----------------------------------------
@@ -67,18 +66,15 @@ def image_resize_image(base64_source, size=(1024, 1024), encoding='base64', file
     # check image size: do not create a thumbnail if avoiding smaller images
     if avoid_if_small and image.size[0] <= size[0] and image.size[1] <= size[1]:
         return base64_source
-
-    if (float(image.size[0])/image.size[1]) > (float(size[0]) / size[1]):
-        ibox = (size[1] * image.size[0] / image.size[1] , size[1])
-        deltax = max((size[1] * image.size[0] / image.size[1] - size[0]) / 2, 0)
-        deltay = 0
-    else:
-        ibox = (size[0],size[0] * image.size[1] / image.size[0])
-        deltax = 0
-        deltay = max((size[0] * image.size[1] / image.size[0] - size[1]) / 2, 0)
-
-    im2 = image.resize(ibox, Image.ANTIALIAS)
-    background = im2.crop((deltax, deltay, deltax+size[0], deltay+size[1]))
+    # create a thumbnail: will resize and keep ratios, then sharpen for better looking result
+    image.thumbnail(size, Image.ANTIALIAS)
+    sharpener = ImageEnhance.Sharpness(image.convert('RGB'))
+    image = sharpener.enhance(2.0)
+    # create a transparent image for background
+    background = Image.new('RGBA', size, (255, 255, 255, 0))
+    # past the resized image on the background
+    background.paste(image, ((size[0] - image.size[0]) / 2, (size[1] - image.size[1]) / 2))
+    # return an encoded image
     background_stream = StringIO.StringIO()
     background.save(background_stream, filetype)
     return background_stream.getvalue().encode(encoding)