Hi there! As an seasoned photographer and image editing specialist, I‘m going to walk you through the ins and outs of cropping images on your Mac. Whether you‘re a casual iPhone shooter or aspiring creative pro, cropping is an essential skill for perfecting your compositions.
Cropping can help you:
| Use | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Remove distractions | Draw focus to key subjects |
| Change aspect ratio | Fit specific layouts |
| Zoom in on details | Emphasize important areas |
| Improve framing | Enhance overall shot |
Luckily, Apple makes cropping easy with built-in Preview and Photos apps. In this guide, I‘ll compare both options using step-by-step instructions, power user tips, and real image examples. Let‘s dive in!
Cropping with Preview
Don‘t underestimate Apple‘s basic Preview app. For straightforward cropping tasks, Preview gets it done quickly.
I‘ll be demonstrating the cropping tools by editing this wide shot to better frame the Eiffel Tower:
Step 1: Open Image
Double click to open image directly into Preview‘s clean workspace:
Step 2: Access Editing Tools
Click Tools > Edit Toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + T to open advanced editing features:
This menu provides additional options beyond basic previewing.
Step 3: Select Crop
Choose the Crop icon (dotted rectangle). Mouse pointer changes to crosshair for cropping:
Step 4: Adjust Selection
Drag crosshair diagonally over Eiffel Tower area to crop. Preview shows cropped region:
Tip: Use overlay grid for perfect alignment!
Step 5: Apply Crop
When selection looks good, Tools > Crop finalizes the edit:
The Eiffel Tower pops as the new focal point!
Step 6: Export
File > Save As to export cropped version. Many formats like JPEG, PNG, TIFF are supported.
Here‘s a before and after:
By cropping in Preview, I removed visual clutter and framed the subject effectively.
Preview Cropping Advantages
- Lightweight app with fast editing
- Handy keyboard shortcuts
- Grid overlays aid composition
- Supports major image formats
So when basic cropping is all you need, Preview delivers excellent results. Next let‘s see how Photos measures up.
Cropping with Photos
Apple‘s Photos app offers advanced editing tools plus deep integration with other Apple ecosystem apps.
For this example, I‘ll crop a group shot to highlight just 2 people:
The steps will look very familiar if you‘re comfortable in Preview already!
Step 1: Import Image
Double click image file or Open With > Photos to import:
Photos automatically tags images by date and detects faces too!
Step 2: Tap Edit
Click Edit button (three sliders icon) in top right:
This reveals the Edit workspace with all tools displayed on the right.
Step 3: Select Crop
Choose Crop tool (dashed square icon) to activate cropping:
Grid lines appear to assist with alignment.
Step 4: Adjust Selection
Drag crop borders over just two people:
Photos shows live preview of cropped area.
Step 5: Finalize Crop
When ready, click Done to complete:
Just two people now remain!
Step 6: Confirm Changes
Click Revert to Original or Save Changes to finalize. All EXIF and metadata is retained.
Before and after:
By cropping away extra people, I created a tight portrait of just the couple.
Photos Cropping Advantages
- Advanced editing filters and tools
- Facial recognition and organization
- Cloud syncing across devices
- Alternative to Adobe Lightroom
The Photos app transforms basic images into professionally edited masterpieces!
Now that you‘ve seen cropping in action across both apps, let‘s talk about techniques that level up your skills even more.
Pro Tips for Impeccable Crops
Apply these extra features during your workflow for flawless cropping:
Straighten – For crooked shots, drag edges to realign with grid. No more tilted horizons!
Flip – Instantly reverse image orientation with horizontal and vertical flips.
Overlay Options – Toggle grid, rule of thirds, and golden ratio for perfectly balanced frames.
Fixed Ratios – Crop to standard dimensions like 5:4, 16:9, 1:1 square and more. Ideal when printing or posting to Instagram Stories, Facebook, YouTube etc.
Reset – Undo all cropping to start over with original photo.
Here are some examples of properly cropped images using these advanced tools:
<insert nicely cropped image 1>
<insert nicely cropped image 2>
<insert nicely cropped image 3>
See how everything aligns according to composition rules? That‘s the mark of expert cropping skills!
Preview vs Photos: Which is Better?
So when should you use Preview over Photos for cropping images? Here‘s a comparison:
| Preview | Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Very fast | Slightly slower |
| Interface | Clean and simple | Elaborate editing tools |
| Ecosystem Integration | None | Seamless Apple sync |
| Advanced Editing | Limited | Filters, corrections etc. |
| Use Case | Basic crops | End-to-end workflow |
For quick one-off crops, Preview offers excellent speed and convenience.
For intensive post-processing, Apple‘s Photos ecosystem provides deep integration not matched by Preview.
Both apps make cropping on a Mac super simple though!
Let‘s Recap Cropping Photos on Mac
Thanks for following along this in-depth guide on professionally cropping images with Preview and Photos!
To recap, here are the key takeaways:
- Cropping removes clutter, changes formats, and improves composition
- Preview delivers fast performance for basic crops
- Photos links robust editing with cloud organization
- Overlay guides, fixed ratios, and flipping allow perfect frames
- Try both apps to see which workflow you prefer
Practice makes perfect when mastering these cropping techniques. But Apple definitely makes the learning process enjoyable.
Hopefully you now feel empowered to crop images like a pro. Trim away those distracting elements and highlight your incredible moments. Have fun capturing your exciting life!
Until next time,
John the Photo Wizard 🧙♂️
