Lena Rivera
Microsoft Paint is a simple yet effective tool for cropping images, especially if you don't have access to graphic design software. With MS Paint, you can quickly crop images without needing to launch more complex editing programs. This guide will teach you how to crop an image perfectly using Microsoft Paint, including understanding image dimensions, utilising the selection tool, and saving your cropped image without overwriting the original file.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Open Microsoft Paint and then open the file you want to crop |
| Step 2 | Click on the selection tool on the ribbon in Paint. It's on the left side. This should be the rectangular selection by default, if it's not rectangular, click on the small arrow under the icon and select the "Rectangle" option from the dropdown menu |
| Step 3 | Click and drag on the image to create a rectangular selection. The rectangular selection will be completed when you release the mouse button |
| Step 4 | Click on the "Crop" button on the ribbon (keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+X). It can only be clicked on if you have a selection. If it's grayed out, it's because you didn't select anything yet |
| Step 5 | To save your new cropped image, select File > Save or press Ctrl + S on the keyboard. Navigate and select a suitable location to save your new image. Enter a relevant File name and choose the image type you wish to save as: .png, .jpg are popular options |
| Notes | If your image is larger, you may see it zoomed in. To zoom out, select the View tab and use the Zoom-out button. Make a note of the current dimensions of your image file. Use the status bar at the bottom of the window to identify the dimensions. It will also show you the amount of disk space your image takes up on your computer. |
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What You'll Learn
Understanding image dimensions
When working with images, it is important to know that image dimensions and image file size are two different things. Image file size refers to how big the image file is, while image dimensions refer to the height and width of the image. Both are related, as larger image dimensions will result in larger file sizes. However, changing the dimensions of an image will not necessarily have the desired effect on file size, and may cause the image to appear misaligned on screen.
Image dimensions are important when preparing images for web pages or social media platforms. For example, Instagram's recommended image dimensions are 1080 x 1080 px for their distinctive square photos. If you are using a high-resolution digital photograph, you may want to reduce the image dimensions for web use, as larger file sizes take up more storage space and take longer to load.
When using graphics or image-editing programs, you will usually have the option to resize or resample your image to change its dimensions. Some programs may also allow you to view and work with your image in equivalent inches or centimetres. It is important to consider the intended use of your image and the platform on which it will be displayed when deciding on the appropriate dimensions.
In Microsoft Paint, you can find the dimensions of your image by checking the status bar at the bottom of the window. The status bar will also show you the amount of disk space your image takes up on your computer. If your image is large, you may need to zoom out to see the status bar.
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Opening the image in MS Paint
Microsoft Paint is a simple but effective tool for cropping images and is included as part of the Windows operating system. It comes pre-installed on your computer and can be found inside the Windows Accessories folder group. You can also click Start and type 'Paint' to search for the program. Once you've located it, click on the program to launch it.
Before you begin editing your image, it's a good idea to make a copy of the image you intend on altering. This is because MS Paint allows you to save an edited image as a new file, but if you save the new settings onto the original file, it will override its previous settings.
Now that you've made a copy of your image, you can open it in MS Paint. To do this, open Microsoft Paint and then open the file you want to crop. Your image will now be open in MS Paint.
It's worth noting that if your image is on the larger side, you may find that it's zoomed in. If this is the case, you can select the 'View' tab and use the 'Zoom out' button to adjust this.
Now that your image is open and any necessary adjustments to the zoom have been made, you can begin the process of cropping.
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Using the selection tool
To crop an image in Microsoft Paint, you will need to use the selection tool. This tool allows you to draw a frame or a box around the area of the image that you want to keep. Anything outside the selected area will be cropped out.
To access the selection tool, first, open your image in Microsoft Paint. Then, click on the "Select" tool on the toolbar at the top-right or left-hand side of the window. The icon for this tool looks like a dotted rectangle. If you do not see the rectangle, click on the small arrow under the icon and select the "Rectangle" or "Rectangular selection" option from the dropdown menu.
Once you have selected the rectangular selection tool, click and drag your mouse over the image to create a selection. You will see a rectangular dotted line forming over the image. Anything inside this dotted line will be kept when you crop the image. If you want to remove a border from a photo, you can click in the top-left corner and drag diagonally to the bottom-right corner. If you make a mistake, you can click anywhere outside the dotted lines to start over.
After you have made your selection, click on the "Crop" button on the ribbon at the top of the window. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + Shift + X". Your image will then be cropped to your selected area.
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Cropping the image
To crop an image in Microsoft Paint, follow these steps:
First, open Microsoft Paint. You can find it inside the Windows Accessories folder group, or by clicking Start and searching for "Paint". Once Paint is open, open the file you want to crop by navigating to "File > Open" in the menu bar.
Next, select the portion of the image you want to keep. You can do this by using the rectangular selection tool. Click on the selection tool in the ribbon, it should be on the left side. If it is not rectangular, click on the small arrow under the icon and select "Rectangle" from the dropdown menu. Now, click and drag on the image to create your rectangular selection. Release the mouse button when you're happy with your selection.
At this point, you may want to check the status bar at the bottom of the window to identify the new dimensions of your cropped image. This is useful if you need to crop to a specific size.
Now, click on the "Crop" button in the ribbon (or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + X). The image will immediately be cropped.
Finally, save your cropped image by going to "File > Save" or pressing Ctrl + S on your keyboard. Choose a suitable location to save your file, enter a relevant file name, and select the image type you wish to save as (e.g. .png, .jpg). If you want to save your cropped image as a new file, be sure to select ""Save As" instead of "Save" to avoid overwriting your original image.
And that's it! You have now successfully cropped your image using Microsoft Paint.
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Saving the image
Once you have cropped your image in Microsoft Paint, you can save it by selecting File > Save or pressing Ctrl + S on your keyboard. This will open a dialog box where you can select where to save your new file and enter a relevant file name. You can also choose the image type you wish to save as—popular options include .png and .jpg.
It's important to note that if you select File > Save without choosing "Save As," you will overwrite your original image file. To avoid this, select File > Save As and choose the desired image format before selecting the location and name for your new file.
Before saving, you may also need to adjust the image dimensions to ensure your cropped image fits perfectly. If your cropped image is larger than 819 x 460 px, Microsoft Paint may zoom in on the image. In this case, you can use the View tab to zoom out and see the entire cropped image. If your cropped image is smaller than 819 x 460 px, you may see white space around the edges. To fix this, resize the new image dimensions before pasting the cropped image. You can use the Horizontal and Vertical dimensions to ensure your image fits perfectly without any white space.
Additionally, it is always a good idea to make a copy of the original image before making any alterations. This way, you can save the edited image as a new file without overwriting the original file's settings.
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Frequently asked questions
Microsoft Paint can be found inside the Windows Accessories folder or by clicking Start and searching for "Paint".
Click on the selection tool on the ribbon in Paint. It's on the left side. This should be the rectangular selection by default, but if it isn't, click on the small arrow under the icon and select the "Rectangle" option from the dropdown menu.
Click and drag on the image to create a rectangular selection. The rectangular selection will be completed when you release the mouse button. Make sure to check the status bar to identify the new dimensions for your cropped image.
Click on File -> Save as -> PNG picture or JPG picture to save your file. A dialog box will appear so you can select where to save. Don't forget to enter a relevant file name!
