When we perform a dilation on a figure, certain properties of that figure change while others remain the same. Let's explore the properties of dilations:

1. Scale Factor: The scale factor of a dilation determines how much larger or smaller the image becomes. A scale factor greater than one results in an enlargement, while a scale factor between zero and one leads to a reduction.

2. Side Lengths: As we dilate a figure, the lengths of its sides are multiplied by the scale factor. For example, if the scale factor is 2, then the length of each side of the image will be twice the length of the corresponding side of the original figure.

3. Angles: Dilations preserve angle measures. This means that the angles in the image are congruent to the corresponding angles in the original figure.

4. Area: The area of the image after dilation is equal to the scale factor squared times the area of the original figure. For instance, if the scale factor is 3, then the area of the image will be nine times the area of the original figure.