Cropping Tips

Here, you’ll learn how to crop photos without impacting quality. You can skip this page if you’re happy with how I’ve cropped your images.

Cropping is helpful when you want to meet app and website requirements or highlight an important photographic element.

Cropping also removes unwanted content. That content might include unnecessary space around subjects or objects.

Cropping can also change aspect ratios. For example, 4” x 6” photos have a 2:3 aspect ratio (least common denominator fractions). Similarly, images printed on 8” x 10” paper have a 4:5 ratio. Many TVs and monitors display information in a 16:9 ratio. The photos you receive from me always have a 2:3 aspect ratio.

Sometimes, my original 2:3 ratio crop is preferred. Alternatively, you can crop the image tighter while maintaining the 2:3 aspect ratio, make the photos square (1:1 ratio), or make the image wide and short like a banner graphic. You can pick the crop that works best for you.

My high-resolution cameras allow for deep crops. This means you can remove most of the original image, and the remaining area will still work great for most online applications.

For example, if an image includes a full-body portrait, you can crop the image and only leave the head and shoulders. That crop would be fine for most digital uses.

Crop your photos referencing my basic instructions or search for photo cropping advice online.

PC Cropping Instructions

Follow these basic photo cropping instructions for Windows PCs.

  1. Click the Windows Start button.
  2. Type the word photos. The search box will appear.
  3. Click on the Photos App option that appears on the search results list.
  4. Click the Import button located at the top-right screen corner.
  5. Select the appropriate photo.
  6. Click the Edit button in the upper left-hand corner.
  7. Click the Crop icon located at the top of your screen.
  8. Drag the corner handles and choose the appropriate crop. You can switch to a fixed aspect ratio if you click the Free button at the middle bottom of your screen.
  9. Click the Save options button in the upper right and then the Save as copy button.

Mac Cropping Instructions

Follow these basic photo cropping instructions for macOS.

  1. Select the photo by double-clicking.
  2. Choose Edit from the toolbar.
  3. Click the Crop button located at the top of your screen.
  4. Drag the corner handles and choose the appropriate crop. Also, explore the Flip and Aspect Ratio tools at the right of your screen.
  5. Click the Done button located at the top of your screen.