Adobe Photoshop Guide

How to resize, rotate, and crop images

You will frequently want to resize and crop an image after opening it in Photoshop from a digital camera or scanner.
Cropping means cutting some parts of the image away so only the parts you want remain.

Backing up your original

Before making any changes to an image, you should always save the image with a new filename. You will have the
most flexibility if you save it as a PSD—Photoshop’s native format. You can generate TIFFs (for print) and JPEGs
(for the web) from a single PSD file. For example, PSD files preserve layers, so the layers are available when you
reopen the file.

Resizing images
When working in Photoshop, it is generally best to leave your image at as high a resolution as possible to allow for
greater flexibility when generating images.

About pixel dimensions and resolution

The pixel dimensions (image size or height and width) of a bitmap image is a measure of the number of pixels along
an image’s width and height. Resolution is the fineness of detail in a bitmap image and is measured in pixels per inch
(ppi). The more pixels per inch, the greater the resolution. Generally, an image with a higher resolution produces a
better printed image quality.
• For images to print well, they generally should have a resolution of 300 ppi.
• For most web pages, you can safely save images at 72 ppi. Because most monitors do not display resolutions
higher than this, you can reduce file size by reducing resolution.
Note: Monitor technology and Internet connection speeds are continually evolving. However, the 72-ppi standard
continues to be widely used, and for the most part, you can’t go wrong with it.
The combination of pixel dimension and resolution determines the amount of image data. Unless an image is
resampled, the amount of image data remains the same as you change either the pixel dimension or resolution. If you
change the resolution of a file, its width and height change accordingly to maintain the same amount of image data.
And, vice versa.
You can see the relationship between image size and resolution in the Image Size dialog box (Figure 1).

Set Ruler Units menu

Resample Image menu

Zoom level

Figure 1 Image Size dialog box

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 Guide Adobe Photoshop

To change resolution of an image:

Changing an image’s resolution affects not only its on-screen
size but also its image quality and its printed characteristics.
1. Open an image in Photoshop.
2. Save the image with a new name.
This step preserves the original image in case you want to
revert to it. You should always make a copy of the
original before making changes.
3. Choose Image > Image Size.
The Image Size dialog box opens (Figure 1).
Notice that the dialog box lists two major categories of
information about the size of the image. Figure 2 Image Size dialog box with resolution
• Dimensions refers to the actual number of pixels changed to 72 ppi
contained in the image. The number of pixels
represents the amount of data in the image. Unless
you select the Resample Image option, number of
pixels remains the same as you resize and change the
resolution of the image.
• Document Size refers to how the document appears
when printed. Document size is also a starting point
for how the document will appear in another
document, such as an InDesign file. In later projects,
you will place Photoshop images in InDesign files.
Note: A window displays the preview image from the
resizing parameters. Resizing the dialog box resizes the
preview window. Mousing over the preview window
reveals an image zoom level control.
4. Make sure the Resample Image option is not selected.
The Resample option changes the amount of data or
information in the image as you resize. For now, it’s best
to leave this option deselected.
Note: You can use resampling to make enlargements.
However, because resampling can only estimate pixels, it
is best to use a picture with a larger resolution in the first
place.
5. Change the Resolution value.
Observe that the other two numbers for width and height
change accordingly. For example, the example image is
set at 180 ppi measures approximately 53 by 36 cm. The
same image when set to 72 ppi measures approximately
133 by 89 cm (Figure 2).
6. Click OK to close the Image Size dialog box.

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Adobe Photoshop Guide

Reducing an image’s size (pixel dimensions)

Although you will often want to keep pixel information, sometimes you need to reduce the total (pixel) size of an
image. This step removes pixels and reduces file size. You will usually do this when preparing the image for the web
or other electronic medium; for print, you will generally want to simply change the document’s size. (Of course, you
may want to reduce file size for other reasons, such as to preserve hard disk space or to speed up image rendering.)

To reduce an image’s pixel dimensions:

1. Choose Image > Image Size.
The Image Size dialog box opens.
In the previous steps you attended only to the resolution,
or document size of the image. This time you will ignore
that area and focus on the pixel dimensions.
2. Select Pixels for the unit of measurement by clicking on
the triangle next to Dimensions and choose from the
menu (Figure 3).
3. Confirm the Resample Image option near the bottom of
Figure 3 Image Size dialog box with Set Ruler
the dialog box is selected.
Units menu open
When selected, observe that the Pixel Dimensions menus
and the Constrain Proportions option are active.
This option automatically changes the width as you
change the height, and vice versa. For example, if you
start with an image of 2000-pixel width and 1000-pixel
height (a 2:1 width/height ratio) and change the width to
1000 pixels, the height automatically changes to 500
pixels when Constrain Proportions is checked. Generally,
selecting this option is a good idea.
4. Choose Bicubic Sharper from the Resample Image menu
(Figure 4).
This option is best for reductions because it maintains the
detail in a resampled image.
5. In the Width box, enter the desired width in pixels.
6. Click OK to reduce the image’s pixel dimensions.
Note: After the size reduction, you should apply the
Figure 4 Image Size dialog box with Resample
Unsharp Mask filter to the image by choosing Filter >
Image menu open
Sharpen > Unsharp Mask. This will clear up any
blurriness that results from the reduction.

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 Guide Adobe Photoshop

Increasing an image’s size

Sometimes you need to upsample a picture: take a smaller image and make it larger, or take a small area of a larger
image and scale it up. This can be problematic because when making an image bigger, it tends to get blurry. The
Preserve Details option in the Image Size dialog box helps maintain sharpness when enlarging images.

Figure 5 Original uncropped image (left) and sharp resized image with details preserved (right)

To expand an image’s pixel dimensions:

1. Choose Image > Image Size.
The Image Size dialog box opens.
2. Select Percent for the unit of measurement by clicking on
the triangle next to Dimensions and choose from the
menu (Figure 3).
The Width and Height changes to 100%. Using Percent
as a unit of measurement makes it easier to scale up
image.
3. Confirm the Resample Image option near the bottom of
the dialog box is selected.
When selected, observe that the Pixel Dimensions menus Figure 6 Image Size dialog box with Preserve
and the Constrain Proportions option are active. Details option selected and Reduce Noise slider

4. Choose Preserve Details from the Resample Image menu

(Figure 4).
The Reduce Noise slider becomes active (Figure 6). The
Noise reduction slider is used for smoothing out visual
noise that has been introduced as you upscale the image.
5. In the Width box, enter the desired width in percent to
increase the image size. For example, you might enter
300 into the percent box to make the image 3x larger.
6. Drag the Reduce Noise slider to find the ideal degree of
image sharpness.
7. Click OK to increase the image’s pixel dimensions.

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Adobe Photoshop Guide

Rotating images
There may be times when you open an image in Photoshop to find that it is not in its proper orientation. Alternatively,
a photograph that you have taken is just a little bit crooked. There are easy ways to fix both of these situations.

To rotate an image:
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.
1. Choose Image > Image Rotation (Figure 7), and choose
one of the following commands from the submenu:
• 180° Rotates the image by a half-turn.
• 90° CW Rotates the image clockwise by a quarter-
turn.
• 90° CCW Rotates the image counterclockwise by a
quarter-turn.
• Arbitrary Rotates the image by the angle you
specify. If you choose this option, enter an angle
between 0 and 359.99 in the Angle text box. Select
°CW or °CCW to rotate clockwise or
counterclockwise. Then click OK. Figure 7 The Image Rotation submenu
2. Choose File > Save to save the rotated image.

Cropping Images
You’ll often take pictures that are larger than you need, or you'll want to reframe an image to remove unnecessary
parts. Taking pictures that are larger than you need, at as high a resolution as possible, gives you flexibility in
selecting parts of an image to crop. Cropping is the process of removing portions of an image to create focus or
strengthen the composition.
You can crop an image in Photoshop by selecting an area with one of the selection tools and using the Image > Crop
command. The Crop tool in the Tools panel provides additional options for cropping images. You can use the Crop
tool to select an area to crop, or set the Crop tool to trim an image to a specified aspect ratio. This guide covers how
to use the Crop tool.

Grid overlays
A variety of grids for overlaying an image you are cropping are available from the View menu in the Options bar. The
Rule of Thirds grid, for example, illustrates a general rule of thumb in the visual arts. This grid consists of two
equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines. Visual interest and a strengthened composition are created when objects
are placed along (or at the intersection of) these horizontal and vertical lines.

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 Guide Adobe Photoshop

To crop an image by using the Crop tool:

1. Click the Crop tool in the Tools panel (Figure 8).
The pointer changes to the Crop tool and cropping
marquee appears around the edges of the image.
2. Choose the Rule of Thirds option from the Crop Tool
overlay grid options in the Options bar (Figure 9).
A Rule of Thirds Grid overlays the image. Figure 8 Crop tool

3. Adjust the cropping marquee by:

• To move the selection to another position, place the
pointer inside the bounding box and drag.
• To scale the selection, drag a handle in any of the
corners (Figure 10). To constrain the proportions,
hold down Shift as you drag a corner handle.
• To rotate the selection, position the pointer outside
the bounding box (the pointer becomes a curved
arrow), and drag (Figure 11). To move the center
point around which the marquee rotates, drag the
circle at the center of the bounding box.
Figure 9 Crop Tool overlay options

Figure 10 Drag handle to scale a crop area

Figure 11 Drag handle to rotate a crop area

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Adobe Photoshop Guide

4. Alternatively, you can choose a crop option from the list

of menu of preset aspect ratios in the Options bar
(Figure 12).
For example, you may choose Ratio, which allows you to
crop an image to dimensions that you specify.
Alternatively, you can select from a series of preset
aspect ratios, such as Original Ratio or other common
ratios, such as 16:9, also known as widescreen. If you are
processing several images and want to maintain a specific
crop size, you can save your customized setting by using
the Save Preset option.
5. If necessary, use the Straighten tool to correct for camera
tilt. Click the Straighten tool in the Options bar and then Figure 12 Menu of preset aspect ratios
drag along a line in the image that you want to make
vertical or horizontal.
6. Once you are satisfied with the crop area (Figure 13),
press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS).
The image is trimmed to the selected region (Figure 14).

Figure 13 Crop area

Figure 14 Crop applied

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This document requires Adobe Photoshop CC, June 2013. Technical instructions may differ depending on your version.