How to crop picture on MacBook

Learn how to harness the built-in power of your MacBook to crop and refine your images. This article provides step-by-step instructions on utilizing macOS’s image editing tools to trim and focus your pictures, ensuring they tell the story you envision.

Unlock the magic of picture cropping on your MacBook!

Cropping pictures on your MacBook is a fundamental skill that can help you focus on specific elements, eliminate distractions, and create visually engaging compositions. Here’s a detailed guide on how to crop pictures using built-in macOS tools:

1. Using Preview:
   • Open the image you want to crop in the Preview app. You can do this by double-clicking the image file or right-clicking the image and selecting “Open With” > “Preview.”
   • Click the “Show Markup Toolbar” button in the toolbar. It looks like a toolbox icon.
   • From the markup toolbar that appears, click the “Selection” tool (it resembles a rectangle).
   • Drag your cursor over the portion of the image you want to keep. A dashed selection box will appear.
   • Go to “Tools” in the top menu and choose “Crop.”
   • The image will be cropped to the selected area. To make further adjustments, click and drag the handles on the selection box, and then press “Enter” to confirm the crop.
2. Using Photos:
   • Open the Photos app on your MacBook.
   • To crop an image, double-click on it.
   • Click the “Edit” button in the top-right corner of the window. This opens the editing interface.
   • In the editing interface, click the “Crop” button, which looks like a square icon with corner dots.
   • Adjust the crop frame by clicking and dragging the corners or edges. You can also choose from predefined aspect ratios using the dropdown menu.
   • Once you’re satisfied with the crop, click the “Done” button to apply the changes.
3. Using Preview in Markup Mode:
   • Open the image in the Preview app.
   • Click the “Markup” button in the toolbar. It resembles a pencil inside a circle.
   • From the markup toolbar, click the “Selection” tool.
   • Draw a rectangle around the area you want to keep.
   • Click the “Crop” button in the markup toolbar. The image will be cropped to the selected area.
4. Using Third-Party Apps:
   • If you need more advanced editing features, consider using third-party apps like Adobe Photoshop or Pixelmator. These applications offer a broader range of tools for precise cropping, retouching, and enhancing your images.
5. Undo and Redo:
   • Keep in mind that both Preview and Photos apps offer an undo feature. If you’re not satisfied with a crop, you can use the “Edit” > “Undo” option or press “Command + Z” to revert to the previous state.
6. Save or Export:
   • After cropping the image to your satisfaction, save or export the edited version. If you’re using Preview, simply go to “File” > “Save” or “Export.” In the Photos app, your changes are automatically saved when you click “Done.”

By following these steps, you can effectively crop pictures on your MacBook using the built-in tools. Whether it’s refining an image for a presentation, enhancing a photograph, or creating visuals for your projects, cropping allows you to focus on what matters most in your visuals.

How do you save or export the edited image, and what file formats can you choose?

Once you’ve made edits to an image using the Photos app on your MacBook, saving or exporting the edited version is a simple process. Here’s how to do it:

1. Save Changes:
   • After making the desired edits to your image, click the “Done” button in the upper-right corner of the editing interface. This finalizes the changes you’ve made.
   • The edited image will automatically replace the original version in your Photos library. You can see the changes reflected when viewing the image in your library or within any albums it belongs to.
2. Exporting Options:
   • If you want to save or export the edited image to a location outside of the Photos app, you have a few options. Click the “File” menu at the top-left corner of your screen while viewing the edited image.
   • From the “File” menu, you can choose “Export” to access various export options. These options include exporting the image as a JPEG, TIFF, or PNG file. You can also opt to export the image with the current edits or revert to the original version.
3. Select Export Settings:
   • When you choose to export the image, a dialog box will appear, allowing you to adjust export settings such as file format, quality, size, and naming. For instance, you can choose the JPEG format and adjust the quality slider to balance image size and quality. You can also decide whether to include location data and metadata.
4. Choose Export Destination:
   • After configuring your export settings, select the destination where you want to save the edited image. This can be your desktop, a specific folder, or an external drive.
5. Click Export:
   • Finally, click the “Export” button to initiate the export process. The Photos app will create a new file based on your chosen settings and save it to the designated location.

Commonly used file formats for exporting images include JPEG for compressed, high-quality images suitable for web and general use, TIFF for uncompressed and lossless images ideal for further editing, and PNG for images that require transparent backgrounds or sharp details. The choice of format depends on your intended use and the specific attributes of the image you’re exporting.

Using third-party apps

For mac users looking to take their photo editing to the next level, Luminar Neo is a great gaming-changing choice. As a pro-level photo editor, this app uses Artificial Intelligence technology to instantly enhance photos and provide results in no time at all. Its selection of filters and tools are tailored specifically with more experienced photographers in mind for easy customizability. With its histogram feature, it’s simple to check the balance of one’s image composition before returning final results back to the viewer.

Moreover, cropping images has never been more simple with Luminar Neo’s new feature. The cropping tool allows you to adjust size and proportion quickly and precisely so that only what you want remains visible in the end product. In addition, its intuitive simulating horizon line offers perfect symmetry between adjacent images of the same shots while lightly summoning user attention for suggestions on optimal alignments when necessary. All in all, Luminer Neo is an excellent choice for Mac users who are looking to up their game when it comes to editing photographs with ease!