Photoshop Elements is a consumer-oriented photo-editing software package. Geared more toward general consumers than professional photographers, it carries a lower price tag than Photoshop CS5. Like its more expensive counterpart, Elements allows you to choose a crop aspect ratio for your photos to help you shape the ideal image.
What is Cropping?
Cropping is selecting the most important section of your image, cutting out the uninteresting background or distracting edges. Photoshop Elements provides a cropping tool that allows you to crop in a rectangle or square shape. Cropping changes the size of your photo, but it doesn't change the resolution or quality.
What is Aspect Ratio?
The aspect ratio is the ratio of the long side of the photo to the short side. For example, a 4-by-6-inch photo has a 3:2 aspect ratio, while an 8-by-10 photo has a 5:4 ratio. Although both are rectangles in their finished sizes, the two sizes are slightly different shapes, with the 8-by-10 being slightly more square than the 4-by-6.
To crop in Photoshop Elements, click on the crop icon in the tool box. Drag the boxes on the sides or corners until the edges you want to crop out are darkened. Click "Enter."
Crop With Aspect Ratio
To create certain sizes while cropping, change the width and height numbers in the Aspect Ratio window. It will create a cropping window in the size you specify, which you can then scoot around the image to find the best cropping location. Alternatively, choose a preset size in the Aspect Ratio menu, such as 4-by-6. This will create a cropping window with that aspect ratio, ensuring your prints will be the same size and shape as the cropped photo on your screen.
- Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images