SizeSpec

How to crop a photo in Photoshop without losing quality

Updated · 2 min read

Short answer

Press C for the Crop tool, pick a ratio or W x H x Resolution in the options bar, drag the frame, and press Enter. Leave Delete Cropped Pixels unticked so you can adjust the crop later.

Crop with the Crop tool

  1. 01Open the photo and press C to select the Crop tool.
  2. 02In the options bar, open the ratio menu and pick a shape such as Original Ratio, Square (1:1), 4:5 or 16:9.
  3. 03Drag the handles of the crop box. Drag inside the box to move the picture.
  4. 04Press Enter (or click the check mark) to apply the crop.

Crop to an exact pixel size

In the ratio menu choose W x H x Resolution, then type the width, height and resolution, for example 2000 x 2000 px. Photoshop crops to that shape and scales the result to those pixels when you apply the crop. If the area you keep is smaller than the target, Photoshop enlarges it, which softens the picture. See how to crop a photo to a specific size.

Keep the crop non-destructive

Next to the ratio menu is Delete Cropped Pixels. With it unticked, Photoshop keeps the parts outside the crop, so you can select the Crop tool again and drag the frame back out. Tick it only when you want to throw the rest away to save space.

Export a JPEG

Choose File > Export > Export As, pick JPG and a quality such as 85 to 92 for photos. Export once, from the original, so the picture is compressed only once. See does cropping reduce image quality.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Crop and Image Size in Photoshop?
Crop cuts away the edges and changes the framing. Image > Image Size scales the whole picture to new pixels. See crop vs resize.
How do I crop many photos in Photoshop?
Record the crop as an action, then run File > Automate > Batch on a folder. It needs some setup, and it uses the same crop for every photo. See how to crop multiple photos at once.
Why can't I crop in Photoshop?
A locked layer, a selection that is too small, or a smart object can get in the way. See why can't I crop a photo.

Selling online? Do a whole batch at once

SizeSpec crops and resizes a batch of product photos to the size each marketplace asks for and gives you one ZIP. It crops from the centre or pads the image on white, and it works in your browser, so your files are never uploaded. It does not offer free-hand cropping of a single picture.

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