Cropping images is a common task for anyone who works with digital images. Cropping is the process of removing a portion of an image to focus on a particular subject or to improve the composition of the image. It’s a simple yet powerful technique that can dramatically improve the quality of your images.
If you’re a Mac user, you have several options for cropping your images. The built-in Photos app is one of the easiest and most convenient tools for cropping images on a Mac. With Photos, you can crop your images manually or use the automatic cropping feature to quickly crop your images to a specific aspect ratio. Additionally, you can use the Preview app to crop your images, which is a good option if you prefer a more lightweight and streamlined tool.
Whether you’re a professional photographer or a casual user, knowing how to crop images on a Mac is a valuable skill that can help you improve your images and enhance your creative vision. With the right tools and techniques, you can crop your images quickly and easily, and create stunning images that capture your unique perspective.
Using the Photos App
The Photos app is a built-in image editor that comes with every Mac. It is a simple and intuitive tool that can help you crop, resize, straighten, and edit images. Here’s how to use it:
Cropping Images
Cropping an image in the Photos app is easy. First, open the image you want to crop, then click on the Edit button in the toolbar. Next, click on the Crop button in the toolbar or press the C key to access the cropping tool. You can also use the Crop tool in the sidebar.
Once you have accessed the cropping tool, you can crop the image by dragging the corners of the crop box or by using the sliders in the Crop tool. You can also select a custom aspect ratio by clicking on the Aspect Ratio button in the toolbar. When you’re done cropping, click on the Done button to save your changes.
Resizing Images
Resizing an image in the Photos app is also easy. First, open the image you want to resize, then click on the Edit button in the toolbar. Next, click on the Crop button in the toolbar or press the C key to access the cropping tool. You can also use the Crop tool in the sidebar.
Once you have accessed the cropping tool, you can resize the image by dragging the corners of the crop box or by using the sliders in the Crop tool. You can also select a custom aspect ratio by clicking on the Aspect Ratio button in the toolbar. When you’re done resizing, click on the Done button to save your changes.
Straightening Images
Straightening an image in the Photos app is a breeze. First, open the image you want to straighten, then click on the Edit button in the toolbar. Next, click on the Crop button in the toolbar or press the C key to access the cropping tool. You can also use the Crop tool in the sidebar.
Once you have accessed the cropping tool, click on the Straighten button in the toolbar. You can then straighten the image by dragging the slider or by using the Straighten tool. When you’re done straightening, click on the Done button to save your changes.
Using Custom Aspect Ratios
The Photos app also allows you to use custom aspect ratios when cropping or resizing images. To access the custom aspect ratio tool, click on the Aspect Ratio button in the toolbar. You can then select a custom aspect ratio by clicking on the Custom button and entering your desired dimensions.
When you’re done using a custom aspect ratio, click on the Done button to save your changes. You can also revert to the original aspect ratio by clicking on the Reset button in the toolbar.
In conclusion, the Photos app is a powerful image editor that can help you crop, resize, straighten, and edit images on your Mac. With its intuitive interface and easy-to-use tools, you can quickly and easily edit images to your liking.
Using Preview App
Preview is a built-in app on Mac that allows users to edit images easily. With Preview, you can crop, resize, rotate, and annotate images. In this section, we will explore how to use Preview to edit images on Mac.
Cropping Images
Cropping an image is a simple process in Preview. You can use the crop tool to select the part of the image you want to keep. To crop an image, follow these steps:
- Open the image in Preview.
- Click on the crop tool in the toolbar or press Command + K.
- Drag the crop tool over the area you want to keep.
- Click on “Crop” in the menu bar or press Command + K again.
Resizing Images
Preview also allows you to resize images. You can do this by using the “Adjust Size” option in the menu bar. To resize an image, follow these steps:
- Open the image in Preview.
- Click on “Tools” in the menu bar and select “Adjust Size.”
- Enter the desired size in pixels or percentage.
- Click on “OK” to apply the changes.
Rotating Images
Rotating an image is another simple process in Preview. You can use the “Rotate Left” or “Rotate Right” options in the menu bar or use the shortcuts Command + L and Command + R respectively. To rotate an image, follow these steps:
- Open the image in Preview.
- Click on “Tools” in the menu bar and select “Rotate Left” or “Rotate Right.”
- Alternatively, press Command + L to rotate left or Command + R to rotate right.
Annotating Images
Preview also allows you to annotate images. You can use the markup tool to add text, shapes, or lines to an image. To annotate an image, follow these steps:
- Open the image in Preview.
- Click on “Tools” in the menu bar and select “Annotate.”
- Select the markup tool you want to use.
- Click and drag on the image to add the markup.
Overall, Preview is a powerful tool for editing images on Mac. With its drag and drop functionality, crop tool, rotate options, and markup tool, users can easily edit images to their liking. This tutorial has covered the basics of using Preview to edit images, including image cropping, resizing, rotating, and annotating.
Using Photoshop
Photoshop is a powerful tool for image editing and manipulation that is widely used by professionals and amateurs alike. Cropping images in Photoshop is a simple process that can be done with just a few clicks of the mouse. Here are some steps to follow:
Cropping Images
- Open the image you want to crop in Photoshop.
- Select the Crop tool from the toolbar on the left-hand side of the screen.
- Drag the cursor over the area of the image you want to keep. This will create a rectangular selection.
- Adjust the size and position of the selection as needed by dragging the edges or corners.
- Press Enter or click the checkmark in the options bar to apply the crop.
Resizing Images
- Open the image you want to resize in Photoshop.
- Select the Image Size option from the Image menu.
- Adjust the width and height of the image using the sliders or by typing in the desired values.
- Make sure the Constrain Proportions box is checked to maintain the aspect ratio of the image.
- Click OK to apply the changes.
Rotating Images
- Open the image you want to rotate in Photoshop.
- Select the Rotate tool from the toolbar on the left-hand side of the screen.
- Click and drag the cursor over the image to rotate it.
- Alternatively, use the Angle slider in the options bar to set the rotation angle.
- Click OK to apply the changes.
Adjusting Image Properties
- Open the image you want to adjust in Photoshop.
- Select the Adjustments option from the Image menu.
- Choose the property you want to adjust, such as Exposure, Saturation, or Temperature.
- Use the sliders to adjust the property as needed.
- Click OK to apply the changes.
Photoshop also offers a variety of other tools and features for annotating, selecting, and adjusting images. With a little practice, you can become proficient in using these tools to create stunning images that meet your needs.
Using Other Image Editors
For those who prefer to use other image editors besides the native tools on Mac, there are several options available. Many third-party image editors offer advanced features and functionalities that may not be available on the built-in tools. Here are some popular image editors and how to use them for cropping, resizing, rotating, and annotating images.
Cropping Images
Fotor is a popular image editor that allows users to crop images easily. After opening the image in Fotor, click on the crop tool and drag the edges of the image to select the desired crop area. Users can also choose from various aspect ratios or use the freeform option to crop the image as desired.
Luminar is another image editor that offers advanced cropping features. Users can crop images using the crop tool or by selecting the desired aspect ratio from the menu bar. Luminar also offers a tutorial on how to crop images using its software.
Resizing Images
Image editors like Fotor and Luminar also allow users to resize images easily. In Fotor, users can drag and drop the image onto the canvas and use the crop tool to resize the image. In Luminar, users can use the sliders to adjust the size of the image.
Rotating Images
Most image editors, including Fotor and Luminar, allow users to rotate images easily. In Fotor, users can click on the rotate tool and choose from various options, including flip and rotate. In Luminar, users can use the rotate tool to rotate the image as desired.
Annotating Images
Image editors like Fotor and Luminar also offer a markup tool that allows users to annotate images easily. In Fotor, users can click on the markup tool and choose from various options, including text, shapes, and stickers. In Luminar, users can use the annotation tool to add text, shapes, and stickers to the image.
Overall, using other image editors can provide users with more advanced features and functionalities for editing images. Whether it’s cropping, resizing, rotating, or annotating images, third-party image editors like Fotor and Luminar offer users more options for editing images on Mac.
Using Default Image Viewer
The default image viewer on Mac is Preview. This tool is great for basic image editing tasks like cropping, resizing, rotating, and viewing image properties. Here are the steps to perform each task:
Cropping Images
To crop an image using Preview, follow these steps:
- Open the image in Preview.
- Select Markup from the toolbar.
- Click on the Crop tool.
- Drag the selection rectangle to enclose the area you want to keep in the photo.
- Press Enter to crop the image.
Resizing Images
To resize an image using Preview, follow these steps:
- Open the image in Preview.
- Select Tools from the toolbar.
- Click on Adjust Size.
- Enter the new dimensions for the image in the Width and Height fields.
- Click OK to resize the image.
Rotating Images
To rotate an image using Preview, follow these steps:
- Open the image in Preview.
- Select Tools from the toolbar.
- Click on Rotate Left or Rotate Right to rotate the image in the desired direction.
Viewing Image Properties
To view image properties using Preview, follow these steps:
- Open the image in Preview.
- Select Tools from the toolbar.
- Click on Show Inspector.
- The Inspector window will display information about the image, including the size, format, and color profile.
Preview also allows you to create custom aspect ratios for cropping images. Simply select the aspect ratio you want from the list of options in the Crop tool, or click on Custom to enter your own dimensions.
If you have enabled iCloud on your Mac, you can also use Quick Look to preview images stored in the cloud without having to download them first. Simply select the image and press the space bar to open the Quick Look preview window.
It’s important to note that when cropping an image, Preview will add a border around the image to maintain the aspect ratio. If you want to remove the border, you will need to resize the image to the desired aspect ratio first.
