GIMP
I use GIMP to crop photos. The program "GIMP" is a free-software work-alike to the program "Photoshop". You can download and install GIMP from https://www.gimp.org/
Cropping Photos
The "Rectangle select" tool is what you use to select a rectangular area of your image.
The tool has many options, but one of the most basic options is the size and type of select[1].
Brief
Click the tool option for Fixed: and use "aspect-ratio"; and set the size to the size wanted (e.g. 4:6 for a 4" x 6" print, or specific size spec 2265:5385) [2] "Click and drag" somewhere on the photo to create a selection. Once created, you can click and drag any "handle" (hot corners) of the selection to grow/shrink it.
Rectangle Select Tool
- Load an image into GIMP (Drag and drop a file onto the GIMP window, or choose "File -> open" in the menu)
- (-) Zoom out on the original photo so that you can see the whole photo. (Pressing the "-" key will zoom out.)
- (r) Click the rectangle select tool in the toolbox window to activate it. (Click 'Tools' -> 'Select Tools' -> 'Rectangle Select' in the menu) or just press "R"
- Click and drag anywhere on the photo using the rectangle tool, and settings mentioned above. Release the mouse.
- Then use the "hot corners" or "handles" to resize and relocate the selection to exactly where you want it.
- (Ctrl C) Press "Ctrl + C" to copy the selection (or click 'Edit' -> 'Copy')
- (Ctrl Shift V) Press "Ctrl + Shift + V" to paste the selection as a new image. (or click Edit -> Paste As -> New Image)
- (Ctrl E) Press "Ctrl + E" to export the new image as a png graphic. (or click File -> Export)
- Once you have an image in png format, at the right dimensions, you're ready to upload to VistaPrint.
- Rinse, Lather, Repeat as needed :-)
Note: (Ctrl S) In step 8, we only exported the new graphic. We didn't actually save it in GIMP's native format. If you want to possibly edit the same cropped/exported image, you should save your work using GIMP's native format which is .xcf. To save, click "File -> Save" in the menu or press the "Ctrl + S" keys.
Related
- There are lots of tutorials on YouTube for using GIMP e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXR0QMWqZHY
- See also: Free Software for Windows
References
- ↑ https://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-tool-rect-select.html#tool-rect-select-options
- ↑ Using a full pixel dimension will give you the most accurate aspect ratio if not a standard size.
