Mac Tutorials
Three Easy Ways to Crop Photos on Your Mac
Cropping photos on your Mac can be easier than you might think. With just a few simple steps, you can make your photos look their best 📸! This step-by-step guide reveals three different ways to crop photos on macOS, all of which require no third-party apps! Let’s get started, shall we? 😊
Method One – Cropping Photos in the Photos app
Most of us use the Photos app to manage our snaps. Here’s how you can crop your photos there: First, open a photo in the Photos app. Clicking ‘Edit’ takes you to the cropping tools. With these tools, you can select and crop any portion of the photo. 😎 Plus, all edits are nondestructive, meaning you can revert to the original anytime with the Edit -> Revert to Original option! 👍
Method Two – Using Preview to Crop Photos
The Preview app, pre-installed on your Mac, is another easy way to crop photos. Open the photo in Preview, and select an area to crop. You can then use the Crop option under ‘Tools.’ However, remember that changes in Preview are permanent, unlike the Photos app. So, be sure you’re okay with that! 😮
Method Three – Markup Tools to Crop without Apps
Here’s a cool trick – you can use Markup tools in Finder to crop photos without opening any apps! 🙌 In a Finder window, select your image and locate the Preview pane on the right. Then, select ‘Markup’ under Quick Actions, and you’ll access a cropping tool. Clicking ‘Done’ applies the changes. Remember, changes are permanent! 🔒
Bonus Method – Cropping Photos in Mail
Want to crop a photo for an email without changing the original file? Here’s a bonus method! 👏 Drag and drop a photo into an email in the Mail app. Then click on the button at the top-right corner of the photo and select ‘Markup.’ Following these steps lets you crop the photo as you wish for your email, while the original file remains unaffected. 💌👌
Conclusion: 🏁
And there you go, folks! Now you have not one, but three easy and efficient methods to crop photos on your Mac, plus a bonus trick for those emailworthy snaps 📧. Whether you’re using Photos, Preview, Finder, or Mail, just remember to crop responsibly as some changes can’t be undone! Happy cropping! 🎉
FAQ
What software can I use to crop photos on my Mac?
You can use built-in software like Preview or Photos, or third-party apps like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP.
How can I crop a photo in Preview on a Mac?
Open the photo in Preview, click on the rectangle selection tool, select the area you want to keep, then click on ‘Crop’ under the ‘Tools’ menu.
Can I crop photos in the Photos app on a Mac?
Yes, you can crop photos in the Photos app by selecting the photo, clicking ‘Edit’, then selecting the ‘Crop’ tool.
What are the steps to crop a photo in Photoshop on a Mac?
Open your photo in Photoshop, select the Crop tool, drag the corner handles to select the area you want to keep, then press Enter to crop.
Are there free tools for cropping photos on a Mac?
Yes, the built-in apps like Preview and Photos are free and allow you to crop photos. Also, open-source tools like GIMP are free.
Is cropping photos on a Mac different than on Windows?
The steps can vary depending on the software you are using. However, most popular photo-editing tools offer similar functionality on both platforms.
How do I manually crop a photo on a Mac?
You can manually crop a photo by selecting the area you want to keep with the selection tool in your photo-editing software, then choosing the ‘Crop’ option.
Can I crop multiple photos at once on a Mac?
Some software, like Photoshop, allows you to automate repetitive tasks, including cropping multiple photos, by creating actions.
I cropped my photo on my Mac, but I did not save it. Can I revert it?
If you haven’t closed the software, you may be able to undo the action. If you closed the software, it’s unlikely that you can revert the cropping unless it allows for ‘non-destructive’ editing like the Photos app does.
How do I crop a photo to a specific size on a Mac?
Photoshop and other advanced photo-editing tools let you specify the size while cropping. In other tools, you may need to do a separate ‘resize’ operation after cropping.
How do I maintain the aspect ratio while cropping on a Mac?
Most photo-editing tools have an option to maintain the aspect ratio while cropping. Ensure this setting is enabled before cropping.
Can I crop a photo without losing quality on my Mac?
Cropping a photo won’t cause a loss in quality. However, subsequent resizing or compressing could.
How can I crop a round image on a Mac?
Preview, Photoshop, and other tools can create a round or elliptical selection which can be used to crop the image.
Is cropping a photo on a Mac faster than on a PC?
The speed of cropping a photo highly depends on the performance of your computer and the software you’re using, not on the operating system itself.
Is the ‘crop’ tool in Mac’s Preview app free?
Yes, the ‘crop’ tool and all other features in the Preview app are free to use on a Mac.
Why is the ‘crop’ option greyed out in Preview on my Mac?
The ‘crop’ option in Preview could be grayed out if no area is selected. Try making a selection on your photo first.
Can I use Mac’s Photos app to crop a screenshot?
Yes, you can use the Photos app to edit and crop a screenshot.
How do I crop a large photo without losing quality on my Mac?
Crop the image as desired using your chosen software. Cropping itself won’t reduce the quality. Quality loss occurs if you subsequently resize or compress the image.
How do I restore a cropped photo in the Photos app on my Mac?
You can revert images to their original state in the Photos app. Select the photo, click ‘Edit’, and then ‘Revert to Original’.
Does cropping a photo reduce its file size?
Yes, if you crop out a part of an image, the file size of the resulting photo will be smaller.
Can I crop a HEIC photo on my Mac?
Yes, you can edit and crop HEIC photos on your Mac using both built-in apps like Photos and Preview, and third-party apps.
How can I crop to a specific aspect ratio in the Photos app on my Mac?
In the Photos app, select the photo, click ‘Edit’, then the ‘Crop’ button. Then click the ‘Aspect’ drop-down menu and choose from the predefined ratios or enter your own.
How can I crop a photo on my Mac without any additional software?
You can use Preview, the default image viewer on Mac, to crop your photos without needing to install any third-party software.
How do I crop photos in bulk on my Mac?
For cropping photos in bulk, you’ll need software that supports batch processing, such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom.
Can I crop photos on my Mac without resizing them?
Yes, cropping does not inherently involve resizing. The dimensions of the cropped part of the photo will depend on the selected region.
Can I rotate and crop my photo on my Mac at the same time?
While not at the same moment, you can quickly accomplish both tasks one after another using photo editing software like Photos, Preview, or Photoshop.
Can I undo a crop on my Mac?
In most photo editing software, you can undo crop alterations as long as the software hasn’t been closed yet. In some applications like Photos, it allows for ‘non-destructive editing’ where you can revert changes even after saving and closing.
What file formats can I crop on my Mac?
You can crop most common image formats like JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and more on your Mac using various photo editing tools.
Can I square crop photos on my Mac?
Yes, most photo editing tools allow you to set a specific aspect ratio, such as 1:1, to create a square crop.
Do I lose metadata when cropping photos on my Mac?
Cropping does not usually affect the metadata of a photo. However, some photo editing software might strip metadata when exporting edited photos, so it’s wise to check the settings.