Cropping and resizing are essential skills for photo retouching, whether you want to print, share, or edit your images. In this article, you will learn how to use the crop tool and the image size dialog box in Photoshop to crop and resize photos in different ways.
The crop tool is located in the toolbar on the left side of the Photoshop window. It looks like a pair of scissors with a square around them. You can use it to trim unwanted edges, change the aspect ratio, or rotate your image. To use the crop tool, select it and drag a rectangle over the area you want to keep. You can adjust the corners and edges of the crop box by dragging them. You can also enter specific values for the width, height, and resolution in the options bar at the top. To apply the crop, press Enter or click the checkmark icon.
Working with Adobe tools, I use from time to time the crop tool that comes in Lightroom and Camera Raw, which are non destructive as mentioned by another colleague on this post. I do however avoid cropping, as it reduces the size of the pixel count that are needed for large images printing. For this it takes a little for while taking the image to do the proper cropping with the zoom lens. The cropping tool has also the horizontal level, which I use more often when I take images on a rush and do not look the the horizontal level provided by the camera.
I like to create presets for sizes and aspects I use often - for example 1920x1080px 72dpi (or similar) for use in videos. One often overlooked feature is that you can drag the crop tool outside the edges of your document, meaning that you can use the tool to also expand the size. This means that you can use it even on documents that are smaller than the final result you need.
Two things that are wonderful about digital photography are higher resolution images and "non destructive" cropping. I always have a focal point and purpose for the images I shoot but I don't always arrive at the best crop until I post produce each image. For that reason I may see compose an image with a tight crop in my mind but intentionally shoot it much looser so I can take advantage of the crop features in PSD. Sometimes it is fixing problems not seen but having come from a film background, I have learned to look all around in the image and past the main subject to avoid undesirable elements in the shot. I use crop in post production to experiment with and sometimes break the rules of composition for a more satisfying image.
In Photoshop, mastering the crop tool basics is key to transforming and resizing photos effortlessly. To begin, select the Crop Tool from the toolbar, or simply press 'C' on your keyboard. Click and drag to define the crop area, adjusting its size and aspect ratio as needed. Utilize the corner handles to resize proportionally or the Shift key to maintain the original aspect ratio. Pay attention to the Options Bar at the top, where you can input specific dimensions, and resolutions, and choose between different presets. Once satisfied with your selection, hit Enter to apply the crop. This tool not only trims images but also allows for precise resizing, making it a fundamental asset for achieving the perfect composition in your photos.
The image size dialog box is where you can change the dimensions and resolution of your image. You can access it by going to Image > Image Size or pressing Alt+Ctrl+I. The dialog box shows you the current and new values for the width, height, resolution, and file size of your image. You can also choose a unit of measurement, such as pixels, inches, or centimeters. To resize your image, you can either enter a new value for any of these parameters, or use the percentage sliders at the bottom. You can also check or uncheck the Constrain Proportions and Resample Image options to control how Photoshop resizes your image.
If you want to print your photo, you need to consider the print size and resolution. The print size is the physical dimension of your photo when printed, and the resolution is the number of pixels per inch (ppi) that determines the sharpness and detail of your photo. A higher resolution means a higher quality print, but also a larger file size. A common resolution for print is 300 ppi, but you can also use 240 or 360 ppi depending on your printer and paper. To crop and resize your photo for print, you can use the crop tool and the image size dialog box together. First, select the crop tool and choose a preset aspect ratio from the options bar, such as 4 x 6 or 8 x 10. Then, drag the crop box over your image and adjust it as needed. Next, open the image size dialog box and enter the desired print size and resolution. Make sure to check the Constrain Proportions and Resample Image options. Click OK to apply the changes.
If you want to share your photo on the web, you need to consider the display size and resolution. The display size is the pixel dimension of your photo when viewed on a screen, and the resolution is the number of pixels per inch (ppi) that determines how large or small your photo appears on different devices. A lower resolution means a smaller file size, but also a lower quality image. A common resolution for web is 72 ppi, but you can also use 96 or 120 ppi depending on your target audience and platform. To crop and resize your photo for web, you can use the same steps as for print, but with different values. First, select the crop tool and choose a custom aspect ratio from the options bar, such as 16 x 9 or 1 x 1. Then, drag the crop box over your image and adjust it as needed. Next, open the image size dialog box and enter the desired display size and resolution. Make sure to uncheck the Constrain Proportions and Resample Image options. Click OK to apply the changes.
If you want to edit your photo further, you need to consider the quality and flexibility of your image. The quality is determined by the pixel density and color depth of your image, and the flexibility is determined by the file format and layer structure of your image. A higher quality and flexibility means a better editing experience, but also a larger file size. A common quality and flexibility for editing is 300 ppi and 16-bit color depth in a PSD or TIFF file format with layers preserved. To crop and resize your photo for editing, you can use the same steps as for print or web, but with different values. First, select the crop tool and choose a custom aspect ratio from the options bar, such as 3 x 2 or 5 x 4. Then, drag the crop box over your image and adjust it as needed. Next, open the image size dialog box and enter the desired pixel dimension and resolution. Make sure to check the Constrain Proportions and Resample Image options. Click OK to apply the changes. Then, go to Image > Mode and choose 16 Bits/Channel. Finally, go to File > Save As and choose PSD or TIFF as the file format and check the Layers option.