
Microsoft Paint is a simple yet effective tool for cropping images and is easily accessible as it comes pre-installed on computers with the Windows operating system. To crop an image, you must first identify the dimensions of your image file, which are usually measured in pixels and can be found in the status bar at the bottom of the window. Next, use the Select tool on the top right of the toolbar to draw a frame around the area of the image you wish to keep. Anything outside this frame will be cropped out. After making note of the new dimensions of your cropped image, click Copy or use Ctrl + C on your keyboard. Finally, open a new file and paste your cropped image using Ctrl + V. You can now save your newly cropped image.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Image dimensions | Larger images may appear zoomed in, while smaller images may have white space around the edges |
| Image size | Measured in pixels (e.g. 1024 x 768) |
| Cropping tool | Select the "Select" tool (a dotted rectangle) from the top-right of the toolbar, then click and drag a box around the desired area |
| Copying the cropped section | Use the Copy function from the Edit menu or press Ctrl + C |
| Pasting the cropped section | Open a new file, then use the Paste function from the Edit menu or press Ctrl + V |
| Resizing the new file | Before pasting, adjust the canvas size by scrolling to the bottom right corner and dragging the cursor |
| Saving the cropped image | Use Save from the File menu or press Ctrl + S; choose a file format such as JPEG, PNG, or JPG |
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What You'll Learn

Identify image dimensions
To identify the dimensions of an image in Microsoft Paint, first, make a copy of the image you want to resize so you still have the original copy. Then, open the image in Microsoft Paint by right-clicking on the image, selecting 'Open with', and clicking 'Paint' in the pop-out menu.
Once the image is open in Paint, you can view its properties by holding down the 'Ctrl' key on your keyboard and pressing 'E' (Ctrl+E). This will open the image properties window, which will display the image size in three different units: inches, centimetres, and pixels. You can also access the image properties window by going to 'File > Properties' in the menu.
If you want to resize the image, you can do so by clicking the Resize button in the Image section of the Paint toolbar. Make sure that Percentage is selected at the top of the Resize window so that your image's changes will be measured in percentages. For example, changing the image's values to 75 will make it three-quarters of its original size.
Additionally, check the Maintain aspect ratio box to ensure that your image doesn't get distorted when you resize it. This will ensure that any changes you make to one aspect of the image (e.g. vertical size) will scale with the other aspects. Finally, type a percentage between 1 and 500 into the 'Horizontal' text box to shrink or expand your image when you press 'OK'.
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Use the 'Select' tool
To crop and paste an image into a new document using Paint, you will need to use the 'Select' tool. This tool allows you to choose the portion of the image you want to keep, and discard the rest.
First, locate the image you wish to crop and right-click on it. A drop-down menu will appear. Hover your mouse over 'Open with' and then click on 'Paint'. This will open your image in the Paint program.
Once your image is open in Paint, you can access the 'Select' tool. Click on the 'Select' option, found in the 'Image' section of the Home tab. This will bring up a further drop-down menu. From this menu, you can choose the shape of the selection area you wish to create. The options include 'Rectangular selection' and 'Free-form selection'. If you choose 'Rectangular selection', simply click and drag your cursor over the image to create a rectangular dotted line around the area you want to keep. Anything inside the dotted line will remain when you crop the image. If you need to remove a border from a photo, click in the top left corner and drag diagonally to the bottom right corner.
If you choose 'Free-form selection', you can draw a crop area freehand. This is useful if you want to crop an image into a shape that is not a rectangle. However, if you use this option and your cropped image has white edges, you may need to take an extra step. Under the drop-down for the 'Select' tool, choose 'Transparent selection'. This will remove the white edges, but only if the entire background is the exact same shade. If there are darker patches around the edges, this method may not work. In that case, you can use the color-picker tool to select the exact shade of the background and make it transparent.
After you have made your selection, simply click 'Crop' to remove the unwanted portions of the image. Now, you can copy and paste your cropped image into a new file.
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Copy and paste
Microsoft Paint is a simple but effective tool for cropping images. It comes pre-installed on computers as part of the Windows operating system.
To crop and paste an image into a new file using Paint, first, find your file and right-click on it, opening it with Paint. Next, select the tool on the top-right of the toolbar that looks like a dotted rectangle ("Select"). Click and drag a box around the part of the image you wish to keep. Anything outside this selection frame will be cropped out.
Now, from the Home tab, click "Copy" or use Ctrl + C on your keyboard. Then, from the menu, click "File", "New" (this should be a blank file). The cropped portion of your image can now be pasted into this new file by clicking "Edit", "Paste" or by using the shortcut Ctrl + V.
If your image is larger than 819 x 460px, you may find that Microsoft Paint has increased the image size to fit your cropped image. If your image is smaller, you may find that there is white space around your image. In this case, you need to resize the new image dimensions before pasting. You can use the Undo button from the Quick Access Toolbar to undo the paste function. Now enter the horizontal and vertical dimensions of your cropped image, and paste your image again.
Finally, save your newly cropped image by selecting "File", "Save" or by pressing Ctrl + S on your keyboard. Enter a relevant file name and choose the image type you wish to save as. Popular options include .png and .jpg.
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Adjust canvas size
To adjust the canvas size in Microsoft Paint, you can use the drag points around the edge of the canvas to make it bigger or smaller. It is easier to do this if you zoom out first, which can be done by pressing Ctrl and scrolling with the mouse wheel. If you are using an older version of Paint, such as Vista or older, you may not be able to zoom out. In this case, you can make the Paint window smaller, scroll to the bottom corner, and drag outwards from there to increase the canvas size.
When adjusting the canvas size, it is important to note that the image dimensions will also change. Image dimensions are usually measured in pixels and are represented by the horizontal size (width) and vertical size (height) in pixels (e.g. 1024 x 768). If your image is larger than the canvas, it may appear zoomed in, and you can use the "View" tab to zoom out.
To avoid this, you can make note of the current image dimensions and adjust the canvas size accordingly. If your image is smaller than the canvas, you may end up with white space around the edges. In this case, you can resize the image dimensions before pasting it onto the canvas.
Additionally, when working with multiple images, you can automatically adjust the canvas size to fit each image as you paste it. However, there is currently no option to extend the canvas in a specific direction when working with multiple images.
For more advanced canvas size adjustments, you may consider using alternative software such as Clip Studio Paint, which offers various features for changing the canvas size, including the ability to change the canvas height, width, and scale, as well as trim parts of the canvas.
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Save in chosen format
Once you have cropped the image in Microsoft Paint, you can save your work by selecting File > Save or by pressing Ctrl + S on your keyboard. A dialogue box will appear, prompting you to enter a relevant file name and choose the image format you wish to save your cropped image in.
Popular image formats include .png and .jpg or .jpeg, which are common file formats for digital images. These formats are widely used and supported by most operating systems, web browsers, and image-editing software. The .png format supports transparency, making it ideal for images with transparent backgrounds, while the .jpg format is often preferred for online use due to its compression, resulting in smaller file sizes.
When choosing an image format, consider the intended use of the cropped image. For example, if you plan to use the image online, such as on a website or social media, .jpg might be a better option due to its smaller file size. On the other hand, if you need transparency or plan to edit the image further, .png could be the preferred choice.
Additionally, you can save your cropped image in other formats supported by Microsoft Paint, such as .bmp, .gif, or .tif. However, these formats are less commonly used and may not be suitable for all purposes. For instance, the .bmp format is uncompressed, resulting in larger file sizes, while .gif only supports 256 colours, making it less suitable for photographs.
It is important to note that the chosen image format will impact the file size, compatibility, and visual quality of your cropped image. Therefore, consider the trade-offs between file size and image quality when selecting a format. Saving your image in the appropriate format will ensure it can be easily shared, viewed, and used in various applications while maintaining the desired visual appearance.
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