Quick answer

Image cropping removes part of an image, usually from its edges. It changes what remains in the frame and often changes the pixel dimensions or aspect ratio.

Original example

Turn a wide picture into a square

Cropping a 1200 by 800 image to a centered 800 by 800 square removes 200 pixel columns from each side. The center remains, while the outer left and right areas are discarded from the cropped copy.

What cropping changes

Cropping changes composition by selecting a smaller rectangle from the original grid. It can remove distractions or fit a required aspect ratio.

Keep the original file when the removed area may be needed later. Cropping a saved flattened copy cannot restore discarded pixels.

Common misunderstandings

  • Cropping is not the same as shrinking the entire image.
  • A crop can reduce pixel count even when the visible subject appears larger.

Related answers

Sources

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