Photoshop Elements: Use the Crop Tool to Resize Images
Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 6
March 4, 2008
If you often have to resize images to set sizes and resolutions, the Crop tool comes in very handy. I prefer to use the Crop tool, rather than the Image Size window, to resize images for my Web pages.
For example, I often resize images to the following fixed dimensions:
Width: 300px
Height: 225px
Resolution: 72 pixels/inch
Sometimes, I need to resize to a fixed width and resolution, but I want the height to be proportional to the original image. The Crop tool works great for these images, too.
To use the Crop tool to resize an image:
- Open the image you want to crop.
- Click or press C to select the Crop tool.
In the options bar, set the crop options you want:
- Select the No Restrictions aspect ratio.
- Enter the width, height and resolution you want for the resized image. The aspect ratio will change to Custom.
Click-and-hold where you want the top left corner of the crop to begin. Then, drag to where you want the crop to end and release the mouse button. The crop box will be constrained to the width/height proportions you specified. The cropped area will be highlighted and the area outside the crop dimmed.
- Click OK or press Enter to complete the crop.
Tips
To resize to a fixed width and a variable height, enter only the width and resolution in the options bar. Leave the height blank. The resized image will have the same relative proportions as the original.
- Conversely, to resize to a fixed height and variable width, enter only the height and resolution in the options bar. Leave the width blank. The resized image will have the same relative proportions as the original.
Updated on August 4, 2011