Preserving Aspect Ratio?

How do you preserve the Aspect Ratio when cropping in CS3?

Such a basic question and I've searched the threads and can't find the answer. Your help is much appreciated, thank you.

When you select the crop tool, in the border of the main window, upper left hand side closest to the image, there are spaces to input "Width" and "Height"

Type in the aspect ratio you would like to crop to there.
These are not specific measurements, but aspect ratios like 4x3.
Leave "resolution" blank so you DON'T change anything there.

Just to the right of that, there is a button labeled "Front Image"

No idea why it's called that, but it tells you the current aspect ratio of the image, and after clicking it, you have preset the crop tool to then crop to that same aspect ratio.

When you want to change aspect ratio, click "Clear" to let go of the "Front Image" results.


P.S. when you click Front Image, the resolution will be displayed, and it will not be any importance, rather it will likely display what the default setting for resolution is for internal PS or maybe camera default.
I'm seeing 72 pixels/inch and can't recall if this is camera of PS default, but it has no bearing on the actual image.

Either that, or crop around the entire image, then press shift while adjusting the crop…
(which is both easier and won't resize the image: "front image" will, unless you clear the resolution box).

Hah, never knew that one! Thanks for the short cut.

Thanks for the tips. I don't know the current aspect ratio so I'm having problems with using the Front Image method. Rene's tip is a whole lot simpler and also allows a variable method that doesn't matter what the size or aspect ratio is and allows me to continuously adjust it to taste which is what I'm looking for. Love it, thank you...

Well if you have a standard uncropped image from a DSLR then the aspect ratio is 3:2, unless it is Olympus which is 4:3. I think just about all compact & PnS cameras along with most of the new MLSC's are also 4:3 ratio. Some PnS cameras also offer other ratios such as 16:9 but that is usually done by cropping the std 4:3 image in camera.

Alan

BushWacker wrote in post #15897009
Thanks for the tips. I don't know the current aspect ratio so I'm having problems with using the Front Image method. Rene's tip is a whole lot simpler and also allows a variable method that doesn't matter what the size or aspect ratio is and allows me to continuously adjust it to taste which is what I'm looking for. Love it, thank you...

Not sure how its possible not to know the aspect ratio. The image is what it is, that's the aspect ratio. So for example 8000 pixels x 5000 pixels is 8 x 5. Or in inches 12 x 8 inches is 3 x 2.

Why would you want to crop to the same aspect ratio?

Clicking front image immediately tells you in the same boxes what the ratio is.. you don't need to know. it tells you and then adjusts at the same ratio.

http://damiensymonds.b​logspot.com.au …p-tool-dont-touch-it.html

So the picture will fit into the frame properly.

Damo77 wrote in post #15897529
Why would you want to crop to the same aspect ratio?

Great article and links, explains it very clearly. Thank you...

Damo77 wrote in post #15897673
http://damiensymonds.b​logspot.com.au …p-tool-dont-touch-it.html

BushWacker wrote in post #15898752
So the picture will fit into the frame properly.

If you're cropping for print, you should crop to the exact print size. The fact that it's the same shape as your camera is completely coincidental, and has no relevance at all.

Understood, thank you...

Damo77 wrote in post #15898777
If you're cropping for print, you should crop to the exact print size. The fact that it's the same shape as your camera is completely coincidental, and has no relevance at all.