
Microsoft Paint is a simple yet effective tool for cropping screenshots. It is easily accessible, either pre-installed or in the Windows Accessories folder, and offers basic editing functions. With MS Paint, you can crop rectangular or free-form sections of an image, resize, and adjust dimensions. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to crop a screenshot using MS Paint, covering everything from launching the program to saving your cropped image.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Software | Microsoft Paint |
| Use | Simple cropping and resizing of images |
| Availability | Pre-installed on Windows PC |
| Tools | Rectangular selection tool, free-form selection tool, resize tool |
| File Types | .png, .jpg |
| Shortcuts | Ctrl + S to save |
Explore related products
$14.99 $17.99
What You'll Learn

How to crop a screenshot using MS Paint
Microsoft Paint is a simple yet effective tool for cropping screenshots. It is easily accessible, as it comes pre-installed on Windows PCs. To crop a screenshot using MS Paint, follow these steps:
First, open your screenshot in MS Paint. You can do this by clicking the Start button, then clicking All Apps, and scrolling to the P section to find Paint. Alternatively, you can click Start and simply type "Paint" to search for the program.
Once your image is open in MS Paint, you can begin the cropping process. If your image is large, you may want to zoom out to see the entire screenshot. To do this, go to the View tab and click the Zoom Out button.
Now, you can select the area of the screenshot you want to keep. There are a few ways to do this. One way is to use the rectangular selection tool. Click on "Select" in the top left corner, and from the dropdown menu, choose "Rectangular Selection". Then, click and drag your cursor over the part of the screenshot you want to keep. Make sure you are satisfied with the placement because if you let go of the mouse button, you will have to start again.
Another way to select the area you want to keep is to use the free-form selection tool. This allows you to draw a custom shape around the part of the screenshot you want to crop. To switch between selection tools, click the "Select" drop-down menu and choose your desired tool.
Once you have made your selection, right-click and choose "Crop". This will remove the portions of the screenshot that were outside of the selected area.
Finally, save your cropped screenshot by going to File > Save or by pressing Ctrl + S on your keyboard. Choose a location to save your file, enter a relevant filename, and select the image type you wish to save as (such as .png or .jpg). Your cropped screenshot is now ready to use!
How to Paint Over Hot Glue: A Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Zooming in and out on your screenshot
Microsoft Paint is the default drawing and image-editing tool in Windows 7. It can be used to zoom in on or out of an image with the click of a button.
To zoom in or out of a screenshot in Microsoft Paint, simply click the Zoom In or Zoom Out button. This will allow you to see a larger version of part of your image.
The Zoom tool can be used to accomplish tasks that require attention to detail, such as making very specific, detailed edits to an image.
It is worth noting that older versions of MS Paint do not have a zoom option, so you will have to rely on the magnifying glass tool instead.
Concealing Touch-Up Paint: Mastering the Art of Disguise
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$19.99

Using the rectangular selection tool
Microsoft Paint is a simple yet effective tool for cropping images and is easily accessible if you are using a Windows operating system. It is pre-installed on your computer and can be found inside the Windows Accessories folder group. To open Microsoft Paint, click the Start button, then click All Apps, and scroll to the P section to click on Paint.
Now, to use the rectangular selection tool for cropping your screenshot, follow these steps:
- Open your image in MS Paint.
- Locate the "Select" option at the top left of the image tools.
- From the dropdown menu, choose the Rectangular Selection option.
- Click and drag your cursor over the part of the image you want to keep. Ensure you are satisfied with the placement before releasing the mouse button.
- Once you have the rectangular box in the desired position, right-click within the box and select "Crop."
- This will remove the portions of the image outside the rectangular selection, leaving you with your cropped screenshot.
Note that you can also use the pixels indicator at the bottom left of MS Paint to keep track of the pixel dimensions as you crop. This is helpful if you need to crop the image to an exact size. Additionally, remember to save your cropped image by selecting "File > Save" or using the Ctrl + S keyboard shortcut.
Giotto's The Crucifixion: A Historical Painting Masterpiece
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Cropping unusual image sections
Microsoft Paint is a simple software that allows users to perform basic editing techniques such as resizing and cropping images. To crop an image in Paint, you simply grab the part of the image you want and remove the rest. This can be done using the rectangular selection tool or by dragging the edges of the image.
If you wish to crop unusual image sections, such as a circle around an object, you can use Microsoft Paint 3D. First, open the image file in Paint 3D. Next, use the 2D shapes function to draw a circle around the target object. Ensure that the Fill is set to None and the Line type is solid with sufficient thickness. Then, choose the Magic Select function to automatically detect the edge of the object and crop away everything else.
Once all the necessary manual adjustments are made, click Done, and the circle-cropped image will be generated. If you want to make the background transparent, choose the Canvas function and turn on the Transparent canvas toggle switch. You can also use the Brushes function and select the Eraser to erase any remaining white portions.
It is important to note that the Magic Select function may not always be 100% accurate, and you may need to manually refine the cutout by adding or removing sections. Overall, Microsoft Paint and Paint 3D provide simple and effective ways to crop images, including unusual sections, without the need for complex editing software.
The Rainy Bridge: Unveiling the Painting's Inspiration
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Saving your cropped image
Once you have cropped your screenshot in Paint, you can save your new cropped image by selecting File > Save or pressing Ctrl + S on your keyboard. This will open a window where you can navigate and select a suitable location to save your new image. Here, you can also enter a relevant file name and choose the image type you wish to save as. Popular image formats include .png and .jpg.
It is important to note that if your cropped image is smaller than 819 x 460 pixels, you may find that there is white space around your image. In this case, you will need to resize the new image dimensions before pasting the cropped image. You can do this by using the Undo button from the Quick Access Toolbar to undo the paste function. Then, enter the horizontal and vertical dimensions of your cropped image before pasting it again. This should ensure that your cropped image fits perfectly into the image area without any white space showing around the edges.
Additionally, if your image is on the larger side, you may find that it is zoomed in. To zoom out, select the View tab, hover over Zoom, and then click the Zoom Out button. Alternatively, you can use the Ctrl + PgDn (Page Down) shortcut on your keyboard. It is a good idea to make a copy of the image you intend to alter. While MS Paint allows you to save an edited image as a new file, saving the new settings onto the original file will override its previous settings.
Uncork Your Creative Side at a Wine and Paint Class
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
To crop a screenshot in Paint, first, open the screenshot in MS Paint. Then, click on the "'Select' tool" and choose the rectangular selection option. Drag your cursor over the part of the image you want to keep and right-click to select "Crop". This will remove the portions outside the rectangular box.
To select the area you want to crop, you can use the rectangular selection tool or the free-form selection tool. Click and drag the cursor over the desired area to create a frame. Make sure you don't let go of the mouse button until you're satisfied with the placement.
To save your cropped screenshot, go to "File > Save" or simply press Ctrl + S on your keyboard. Choose a suitable location to save your file and enter a relevant file name. Select the image type you wish to save as, with .png and .jpg being popular options.











































