How to Crop for a Digital Photo Frame

A digital photo frame is a picture frame that displays digital images and photos, often in a slideshow format. However, the picture may display distorted or stretched if you attempt to load an image that is not the proper aspect ratio of the digital photo frame. You can crop an image using a digital image program to make it fit the size of the photo frame and reduce distortion when displayed. You will need to refer to the digital photo frame's manual to determine the proper image size, usually given as numeric values for the image's width and height.

Instructions

Photoshop

1. Click "File" and "Open" to browse your computer for the image you want to crop.

2. Click the "Rectangular Marquee Tool" from the toolbar.

3. Select "Fixed Aspect Ratio" from the "Style" drop-down menu.

4. Type the width and the height of the image in the text boxes located on the top toolbar.

5. Click and drag your mouse across the image. This will create a selection the same size as the aspect ratio you entered.

6. Click the "Image" menu and select "Crop."

7. Save the cropped image to your computer.

Paint Shop Pro

1. Click "File" and "Open" to browse your computer for the image you want to crop.

2. Select the "Crop" tool from the toolbar.

3. Type the values for the width and the height in the "Tools Options" window. A highlighted crop area box will appear on your image.

4. Hold the "Shift" button, click on a corner of the crop area box and drag the corner outward to make the area larger, while maintaining the aspect ratio.

5. Double-click inside of the crop box area to crop the image.

6. Save the cropped image to your computer.

Gimp

1. Click "File" and "Open" to browse your computer for the image you want to crop.

2. Click the "Rectangular Selection Tool" from the toolbar.

3. Place a mark next to "Fixed" and ensure "Aspect Ratio" displays in the drop-down menu.

4. Type the width with a colon, followed by the height in the box below. For example, if the width is 800 and the height is 600, then type "800:600."

5. Click and drag your mouse across the image. This will create a selection the same size as the aspect ratio you entered.

6. Click the "Tools" menu, then "Transform Tools" and select "Crop."

7. Save the cropped image to your computer.

References

• Teacher Link: How to Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool in Adobe Photoshop CS5
• Paint Shop Pro User Guide
• Gimp: Rectangle Selection