Cropping Images: Paint's Circular Cropping Tool

how to cut image into a circle in paint

Microsoft Paint is a free image manipulation software that comes pre-installed with Windows. While Paint is not designed to easily crop images into circles, it is possible to do so using a workaround. This can be done by first selecting the Oval shape from the toolbar, dragging the cursor around the image to create an oval, and reshaping it into a circle. The next step is to bold the edges of the circle, select the colour white, and use the Eraser tool to remove everything outside the circle. Finally, the image can be saved. Alternatively, Paint 3D offers a Magic Select functionality that allows users to draw a circle around a target and remove the background outside the circle.

Characteristics Values
Software MS Paint, Paint 3D, Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Excel, GIMP
Tools Crop tool, Magic Select, 2D shapes, Canvas, Brushes, Shapes, Oval, Size, Eraser, Rubber
Shapes Circle, Oval, Rectangle
Image format PNG
Process Select shape, bold edges, choose color, erase, save

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Using MS Paint

MS Paint is a free image manipulation software included with Windows installation. Although MS Paint is not designed to easily crop circles, it can be done with a workaround. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to crop an image into a circle using MS Paint:

Step 1: Load MS Paint

Search for MS Paint on your computer by using the Windows search box and open the application.

Step 2: Select the Oval Shape

In the toolbar, select the Shapes option, which can be found next to Brushes. Choose the Oval shape, which is the third option in the top line. This will load the shape onto your cursor.

Step 3: Drag the Cursor

Go to the image you want to manipulate and drag the cursor around to cover the area you want to include within the circle crop. You can reshape the oval image into a circle crop by dragging the corners of the rectangle that appears on the cropped image.

Step 4: Bold the Edges

Select the Size tool, which will offer different sizing options for bolding the edges of your circle image. Choose the boldest option and then click on the color white. This will turn the bolding on the edges of your circle white.

Step 5: Use the Eraser Tool

Select the Eraser tool from the toolbar to erase the portions outside your circle crop.

Step 6: Save Your Image

Once you are done, save your image. You can also make the background transparent by saving the image as a PNG file and using an online PNG transparency editor to choose the background color to make transparent.

Alternatively, you can use the MS Paint 3D application to circle crop an image. Open the image file in Paint 3D and use the 2D shapes function to draw a circle around the target. Make sure the Fill is set to None and the Line type is Solid. Use the Magic Select function to remove the background outside the circle and make it transparent.

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Using Paint 3D

To cut an image into a circle in Paint 3D, you will need to follow a few steps. Firstly, open the image file in Paint 3D. You can do this by going to Menu > Open. Once the image is open, you will need to use the 2D shapes function to draw a circle around the target area. To do this, go to 2D shapes at the top of the screen and select a circle from the right sidebar.

Now, take your mouse pointer to the area where you want to crop and press and hold the left mouse button. Drag to draw a circle. For a perfect circle, hold the Shift key while dragging the mouse. After drawing the circle, ensure that the Fill is set to None and the Line type is Solid in the right sidebar. The Line type colour should be white. Now, increase the thickness of the circle from the right sidebar—the recommended thickness is 100px.

Once the circle is in place, you will need to erase everything outside of it. To make this step easier, you can first crop the image using a 1:1 aspect ratio up to the outer edge of the circle. To crop the image down to the object boundary, use the Magic Select function and click Next. The software will automatically detect the edge of the object and crop away everything else. However, it may not always be 100% accurate, so you may need to manually mark out which areas need to be refined, and the software will adjust accordingly.

Additionally, if you want to add this newly created circular image on top of another picture in Paint 3D, you can save it as a sticker. To do this, when you complete the first step of the background removal process (using the Magic Select tool), click on the image and hit Make sticker from the sidebar. Now, open the image in Paint 3D on which you want to add this circular image, go to Stickers at the top, and click on the third icon on the right sidebar. Adjust the position and size, and then save the image.

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Using PowerPoint

To cut an image into a circle in Microsoft PowerPoint, follow these steps:

Insert the Image

Open the PowerPoint presentation that contains the image you want to convert. If the image is not already in your presentation, click "Insert" in the top menu bar, then select "Pictures" to add your desired image.

Access the Picture Format Tab

Double-click on the image. A “Picture Format” tab should appear at the top. If it does not, double-click the picture again to make sure the tab appears.

Crop the Image

In the "Picture Format" tab, click the “Crop” button at the right end of the ribbon. From the options that appear, select “Crop to Shape."

Choose the Circle Shape

A menu will appear with various shapes to choose from. Select a circle or oval shape from the list. Your image will now be cropped into a circle.

Adjust the Circle Size (Optional)

If you want to adjust the size of the circle, you can do so by dragging the corner handles of the circle. This allows you to resize the circle while maintaining its proportions.

Finalize the Changes

Once you are satisfied with the circle size and position, click anywhere outside the picture, and your image will be transformed into a circular shape within PowerPoint.

Alternative Method

If the above method does not produce the desired result, you can try an alternative approach. Start by inserting a circle shape into your slide. To do this, click "Insert," select "Shapes," and choose a circle shape from the list. Draw a circle on your slide using your mouse. Once you have the circle shape, right-click on it and select "Fill." Now, insert your image into the shape. You can adjust the size of the image and the circle as needed.

These methods allow you to easily crop images into circles in PowerPoint, enhancing the visual appeal of your presentations.

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Using Word

Microsoft Word has a built-in feature that allows you to crop images into different shapes, including circles. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cut an image into a circle in Microsoft Word:

Insert the Image

To begin, open your Microsoft Word document and insert the image you want to crop. To do this, go to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon at the top of the screen and select "Pictures" from the options. Browse for the desired image on your device and insert it into your Word document.

Access the Crop Tool

Once the image is inserted, click on it to reveal the "Picture Format" tab in the ribbon. Click on the arrow next to "Crop" to access the crop tool.

Select the Crop Shape

In the "Picture Format" tab, you will find the "Crop to Shape" feature. Click on it, and a menu of different shapes will appear. Select the circle shape from the available options.

Resize the Image

After selecting the circle shape, you can adjust the size of the image within the shape. There are two options:

  • Crop > Fill: This option resizes the image so that it fills the entire circle shape. Some outer edges of the image may be cropped away to achieve this.
  • Crop > Fit: This option resizes the image so that it fits within the circle shape while retaining its original proportions. There may be some empty space at the margins of the shape.

Fine-tune the Crop Area

Once you have selected the desired resize option, you can fine-tune the crop area using the cropping handles. These handles appear as small black squares or dots along the edges and corners of the picture. Adjust the handles as needed to perfect your circular crop.

Finalize the Changes

When you are satisfied with the crop, press the "Esc" key on your keyboard or click anywhere outside the picture to submit the changes.

By following these steps, you can easily cut an image into a circle in Microsoft Word. This feature is particularly useful when you want to change the outline of a photo or create visually appealing documents with images that fit within specific shapes.

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Using other image editors

While it is possible to crop images into a circle in MS Paint, the process is not straightforward and requires a workaround. If you are looking for a more elegant solution, you may want to consider using other image editors.

One option is to use Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, or Excel, which all offer the "Crop to Shape" feature. This feature allows you to crop an image into a specific shape, such as a circle or a rounded rectangle. The process is straightforward: simply insert your image, select the "Crop to Shape" option, and choose the circle shape. You can also use the Picture Styles feature in the web version of Word to apply basic shapes to your images.

Another option is to use Paint 3D, which offers more advanced image editing tools than the classic MS Paint. With Paint 3D, you can draw a circle around the desired area of your image and use the Magic Select functionality to remove the background outside the circle, making it transparent.

Additionally, you can explore free alternatives such as GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program), which is a cross-platform image editor available for various operating systems. GIMP provides more advanced image manipulation capabilities than MS Paint and can be a good option if you are looking for more flexibility and control over your image editing tasks.

Each of these alternatives offers its own unique features and capabilities, so the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

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Frequently asked questions

To cut an image into a circle in Paint, you need to use a workaround as MS Paint is not designed to easily crop circles. First, select the Oval shape from the toolbar, then drag the cursor around the area you want to include within the circle crop. Next, bold the edges of the circle shape and select the colour white. Then, use the Eraser tool to erase everything outside the circle. Finally, save your image.

First, open the image file in Paint 3D. Next, use the 2D shapes function to draw a circle around the target, making sure that the inner boundary of the circle covers the target fully. Then, crop the image using a 1:1 aspect ratio, up to the outer edge of the circle. After manually adjusting the circle, click 'Done' and the circle-cropped image will be generated. To make the background transparent, click on the object itself, move it to one side, and erase all the white portions using the Brushes function.

Yes, you can use other Microsoft Office applications such as Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, or Excel to crop images into circles. You can also try using online tools such as Online PNG Tools to remove the background and make it transparent.

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