Learn how to utilize the Photoshop Crop Tool is this first tutorial from a series of tutorials.

1. Cropping Tutorial 1:
The Crop Tool

2. Starting Out
• This is generally how your Photoshop screen
will appear upon opening the program.
Main
Toolbar
Menu
Windows
Top
Toolbar

3. Photoshop Toolbars
• The Photoshop toolbar has several handy resources that are often called
upon for photo editing. Note the close-up of the crop tool. If you were to
click and hold the button down, you will see there are other photo
deletion tools that operate similarly to the crop.
Main
Toolbar
Crop Tool Other
Options

4. Top Toolbar
•At the top of your Photoshop window you will see a toolbar with different
buttons and options. Users are given the ability to enter the desired
dimensions of their photograph.
(E.G. When you know the dimensions of the photo desired.)
•Users can also alter the measurement of the photograph beside the
dimension within the text box. Users are also able to alter the measurement
of pixilation.
Dimension
Text Boxes
Pixel
Measurement

5. The Rule of Thirds
• The Rule of Third, which is a grid that is used when planning
visual composition. The main focal point of an image should
not be directly in the middle of a page.

6. View Grid, Rulers, and Guides
• Photoshop can also render a grid in over your photo, but it will not break
your photo into thirds. To access this option: Go to View, Show, Grid. You
should also select Rulers, which is located under the View drop down.

7. Create Columns and Rows
• You should create Guides by pulling them from the rulers located on the
sides of your Photoshop window. When you are done, you should have
three equal columns and three equal rows.

8. Preparing the Top Toolbar
• Use your mouse to select the crop tool if you have not done
so already. Be sure that the amount of pixels per inch reads
300. This is the optimum number of pixels to be seen. If you
are attempting to use this photo for the web, the number
should read 72.

9. Cropping the Photo
• Click and hold your left mouse button, on the near the center-point of the
top-right box of the photo. Don’t let go of your mouse. Drag your mouse
over to the middle guideline in a straight movement. Continue to drag
your mouse down to the bottom guide of the center box of the
photo. You may now let go of your mouse. Hit the return key to finalize
the crop.

10. Do you like your crop?
• If you are unhappy with the final crop, you can always use your history
window and go backwards by selecting the edit line you wish to return to.

11. Congratulations!
• You have completed Tutorial One