Cropping is the process of removing portions
of an image to create focus or strengthen the composition. You can
crop an image using the Crop tool 
and the
Crop command. You can also trim pixels using the Crop And Straighten
and the Trim commands.
To learn how to use the new Cropping tools in CS6, see Crop and Straighten Photos in CS6.
Using the Crop tool
- To crop the image without resampling (default), make sure that the Resolution text box in the options bar is empty. You can click the Clear button to quickly clear all text boxes.
- To resample the image during cropping, enter values
for height, width, and resolution in the options bar. To switch
the height and width dimensions, click the Swaps Height And Width
icon
.
- To resample an image based on the dimensions and resolution of another image, open the other image, select the Crop tool, and click Front Image in the options bar. Then make the image you want to crop active.
To select or create a resampling preset, click the triangle next to the Crop tool icon in the options bar. (See Create and use tool presets.)
Cropped Area
Select Hide to preserve the cropped area in the image file. You can make the hidden area visible by moving the image with the Move tool
. Select Delete to discard the cropped area.Note:
The Hide option is not available for images that contain only a background layer; you must convert the background to a regular layer.
in
the options bar, or double-click inside the cropping marquee.
in the
options bar.The Trim command crops an image by removing unwanted image data in different ways than the Crop command. You can crop an image by trimming surrounding transparent pixels, or background pixels of the color you specify.
To learn how to transform perspective in CS6, see Transform perspective while cropping | CS6.
The Crop tool has an option that lets you transform the perspective in an image. Transforming the perspective is useful when working with images that contain keystone distortion. Keystone distortion occurs when an object is photographed from an angle rather than from a straight‑on view. For example, if you take a picture of a tall building from ground level, the edges of the building appear closer to each other at the top than they do at the bottom.
Steps to transform perspective
A. Draw initial cropping marquee B. Adjust cropping marquee to match the object’s edges C. Extend the cropping bounds D. Final image
- Drag the cropping marquee around an object that was rectangular in the original scene (although it doesn’t appear rectangular in the image). You’ll use the edges of this object to define the perspective in the image. The marquee doesn’t have to be precise—you’ll adjust it later.
Note:
You must select an object that was rectangular in the original scene or Photoshop might not produce the perspective transformation you expected.
You can place several photos on your scanner and scan them in one pass, which creates a single image file. The Crop and Straighten Photos command is an automated feature that can create separate image files from the multiple-image scan.
For best results, keep 1/8 inch between the images in your scan, and the background (typically the scanner bed) should be a uniform color with little noise. The Crop and Straighten Photos command works best on images with clearly delineated outlines. If the Crop and Straighten Photos command cannot properly process the image file, use the Crop tool.
- Choose File > Automate > Crop And Straighten Photos. The scanned images are processed, and then each image opens in its own window.
If the Crop And Straighten Photos command incorrectly splits one of your images, make a selection border around the image and some background, and then hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) as you choose the command. The modifier key indicates that only one image should be separated from the background.
The Ruler tool provides a Straighten option that quickly aligns images with horizon lines, building walls, and other key elements.
. (If
necessary, click and hold the Eyedropper tool to reveal the Ruler.)The Image Rotation commands let you rotate or flip an entire image. The commands do not work on individual layers or parts of layers, paths, or selection borders. If you want to rotate a selection or layer, use the Transform or Free Transform commands.
Rotating images
A. Flip Horizontal B. Original image C. Flip Vertical D. Rotate 90° CCW E. Rotate 180° F. Rotate 90° CW
Arbitrary
Rotates the image by the angle you specify. If you choose this option, enter an angle between ‑359.99 and 359.99 in the angle text box. (In Photoshop, you can select °CW or °CCW to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.) Then click OK.
Note:
Image Rotation is destructive editing and actually modifies the file information. If you want to non-destructively rotate the image for viewing, use the Rotation tool.
The canvas size is the full editable area of an image. The Canvas Size command lets you increase or decrease an image’s canvas size. Increasing the canvas size adds space around an existing image. Decreasing an image’s canvas size crops into the image. If you increase the canvas size of an image with a transparent background, the added canvas is transparent. If the image doesn’t have a transparent background, there are several options for determining the color of the added canvas.
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