Crop an image for free

Picking the right aspect ratio

The aspect ratio is width : height. Cropping to the right shape keeps a platform from trimming your photo its own way.

How cropping works

Cropping never stretches anything: it cuts a rectangle out of the original image at full resolution, even though the preview on screen is scaled down. The exported area keeps all the detail of your photo.

\[ \text{height} = \dfrac{\text{width}}{\text{ratio}} \quad \text{(for example } \dfrac{1{,}200}{\dfrac{4}{5}} = 1{,}500\text{)} \]

• With a ratio selected, the frame keeps its proportions as you enlarge it.
• In freeform mode you set width and height independently.
• Handles have a 44 px touch target so they stay easy to grab with a finger.

Composition tips

• Rule of thirds: place your subject on one of the grid lines (or crossings) shown inside the frame.
• Leave breathing room in front of a face looking sideways.
• Avoid cutting at joints such as wrists, knees and ankles.
• Crop loosely if you are unsure: you can always crop tighter later, never the reverse.

How to crop an image in 4 steps

First, open the tool to crop an image and drop in your photo. Then everything happens on the preview, with your finger or a mouse.

1. First, drop a JPG, PNG or WebP photo.
2. Then pick an aspect ratio, or "Freeform" if you want to set width and height separately.
3. Next, drag the frame and pull its handles. The exact pixel size shows live.
4. Finally, choose the output format and download the cropped area.

For fine control, use the arrow keys. Each press moves the frame 1 px, and Shift makes it 10 px. That way you can line up a face to the pixel.

Which format should you pick after you crop an image?

The output format changes both file size and sharpness. For example, a screenshot with text stays cleaner as a PNG.

Keep in mind that the quality slider only affects JPG and WebP. When in doubt, leave quality high, because you can always shrink the file later.

Common mistakes when you crop an image

• Cropping too tight: social apps sometimes add their own margins, so leave some room.
• Ignoring the target ratio: check the required shape first, because each platform sets its own.
• Starting from a shrunken copy: always crop the original, or you lose pixels for nothing.
• Saving a JPG at very low quality: flat areas then fill with small blocks.

After you crop, you can resize the image to hit an exact size. If the file is still heavy, run it through the tool to compress an image. To switch formats, open the image converter. Finally, for a profile photo, the background remover gives a cleaner look.

Crop an image for print and for the web

Before you print, crop the image to the paper's shape. For example, a 4 × 6 in print follows a 3:2 ratio, while an 8 × 10 in print follows 4:5. Otherwise, the print shop trims your photo its own way.

For the web, think about where the picture will live. A square thumbnail needs 1:1, while a video banner needs 16:9. That way the face stays visible on a phone and on a desktop.