When it comes to the most popular multimedia formats, the digital image format stands second only to video. The popular multimedia format is everywhere, from websites to social media platforms. Digital images play a crucial role in the lives of people all around the globe. For some, clicking pictures is merely a hobby, whereas, for others, such as professional photographers or other creative individuals, it is a means of living and earning a livelihood. According to Medium, images are crucial for creating a social media presence. Moreover, there are numerous places and platforms that require digital images of important files.
However, different platforms have different requirements when it comes to uploading digital images. For instance, some platforms only accept pictures of a specific format. Similarly, other websites’ requirements vary in terms of dimensions. This is where image editing comes into play. Editing an image facilitates individuals to tweak a photograph’s aspects as per their requirements. One of the most common aspects of editing any digital picture is cropping. Editing tools compatible with all major platforms, including macOS and Windows, allow users to crop photos without hassle. This article will shed light on how macOS and Windows users can crop any picture without hassle and list numerous reasons why cropping an image is important. Let us get started:
How to Resize Pictures on macOS and Windows:
There are numerous effective ways following which both macOS and Windows users can crop any digital picture without hassle. Here is a brief look at both:
macOS – Users wondering how to crop image on Mac can easily do it in numerous ways. For starters, they can use the native Preview application to crop any digital image. All they need to do is open the native utility on their Mac, select the image they wish to crop, open it, click on the “markup” tool present at the window’s top, select the area they wish to crop and click on the “crop” button to acquire the final version of the image. Besides this, users can also opt to use the native Photos app to get the job done smoothly. However, users can opt to use third-party applications like Luminar or CameraBag Pro if they want more advanced editing options.
Windows – Like macOS, users can crop any digital picture without hassle. For starters, they can use MS Office apps to get the job done smoothly. All they need to do is select the picture in the document file they wish to crop, navigate to the Format tab, click on the Crop option, make adjustments and press the “Esc” button to complete the process. Besides this, users can also use advanced photo editing applications like Photoshop or Lightroom to crop pictures.
Reasons Why Cropping Images is Important:
Almost every creative professional uses the “crop” feature present in photo-editing applications to make changes to images. Here are some of the most prominent reasons why cropping images is important:
- It Helps in Adjusting a Picture’s Dimensions
As mentioned earlier, there are instances when certain platforms have specific requirements when it comes to digital image dimensions. Users are required to submit pictures featuring a specific length or width. This is when cropping or resizing comes into play. It facilitates users to adjust a picture’s dimensions. Moreover, it also helps reduce the digital image’s size, which in some cases, really helps out users. Thus, cropping an image is deemed a great way to compress images.
- It Facilitates Concentrating on a Picture’s Subject
Cropping a picture also facilitates users to magnify the subject present in the picture and thereby helps in enlarging it. Whenever an individual crops a picture, it enlarges the subject/s present in it. As a result, the magnification of a picture improves and enhances concentration on a subject. Creative professionals use this tactic to emphasize the subject present in a photo and ensure that the audience notices all of the subject’s details.
- It Removes Unnecessary Visual Elements from Pictures
There are times when photographers capture a larger frame to maintain the image’s composition. However, when they review the picture, they realize that it contains too many unnecessary elements and decide to remove it by cropping it. Cropping facilitates individuals to shorten the frame by removing unnecessary visual elements so that the focus of the audience or viewer remains solely on the important portion.
- It Enhances a Picture’s Overall Composition
Enhancing an image’s composition by following the rule of thirds is a foolproof trick that most photographers follow. Cropping an image also adds to the overall composition. A cropped image, therefore, becomes more stylish, elegant, and interesting for users to look at. Hence, it would be safe to say that cropping enhances a picture’s overall composition.
If you wish to crop an image and are wondering how to get the job done easily on your Windows PC or Mac, refer to the detailed steps mentioned above.