Cropping an image on a Mac is simple once you know how to use the Preview app. We can easily select and cut out the part of the image we want to keep using Preview’s built-in tools. This helps us focus on the important parts of a photo or resize images for projects without extra software.
Preview comes installed on all Macs, so we don’t need to download anything extra. The app lets us pick the exact area to crop, adjust the size, and save the changes quickly. This makes it a great tool for anyone who wants fast and easy image editing.
Learning these steps saves us time and makes our images look cleaner. Once we get the hang of it, cropping photos for emails, presentations, or social media will feel natural and hassle-free.
Key Takeaways
- We can crop images quickly using Preview’s selection tools.
- Preview helps us save and undo changes easily.
- No extra software is needed to edit images on a Mac.
Getting Started with Preview App
The Preview app is a handy tool on our Mac for opening and editing images. We can quickly open files, work with many image types, and use simple editing tools right at our fingertips.
Opening Images in Preview
To open an image, we can double-click the file in Finder. That usually launches Preview by default. If it opens in a different app, we just right-click the image, pick “Open With,” and select Preview from the list.
We can also open Preview first, then go to File > Open to browse and select the image we want. Another quick way is to drag and drop the image file onto the Preview icon in the Dock.
If we have an image copied to the clipboard, Preview lets us create a new image from it by choosing File > New From Clipboard. This saves time when working with screenshots or images copied from websites.
Supported Image Formats
Preview supports a wide range of image formats. The most common types include:
- JPEG (.jpg)
- PNG (.png)
- TIFF (.tif or .tiff)
- GIF (.gif)
- BMP (.bmp)
- HEIC (.heic)
This range means we usually don’t need extra software to open or edit most images. Preview can handle high-quality photos and web graphics alike. It also works well with PDFs, allowing us to view, edit, and annotate documents.
Knowing that Preview can open these formats helps us avoid file compatibility issues when cropping or saving images.
Navigating the Markup Toolbar
The Markup Toolbar is where the magic happens with editing in Preview. We can reveal it by clicking the pencil icon near the top right of the window.
Inside, we’ll find tools to select parts of the image, draw shapes, add text, and annotate. For cropping, the selection tool is key. It lets us drag over the part of the image we want to keep.
The toolbar also includes options to adjust color, rotate images, and add signatures. Understanding this toolbar is important for quick and precise edits like cropping or resizing images efficiently with Preview.
For a deeper guide, check out how to use the Preview app on Mac.
Cropping an Image in Preview
When cropping an image in Preview, we have several useful tools and methods that make the job quick and precise. We can select the area we want to keep, control the shape and size, and speed up the process with shortcuts. Let’s explore these options step by step.
Using Rectangular Selection Tool
The Rectangular Selection tool is the most straightforward way to crop images in Preview. First, we open our image and choose the selection tool from the toolbar. Then, we click and drag to create a rectangle around the part of the image we want to keep.
We can adjust this rectangle by dragging its edges or corners to fine-tune the crop. Once the selection fits the area we want, we go to the Tools menu and select Crop. This cuts away everything outside the rectangle, leaving only the chosen part.
This tool works well when the area we want to keep is rectangular or close to it. It’s simple and fast, perfect for cropping photos, screenshots, or any standard shape image.
Applying Aspect Ratio Cropping
Sometimes, we need specific dimensions for our image, like a square or a 16:9 ratio. Preview lets us do this by locking the selection box to a fixed aspect ratio. We can do this by clicking the Show Markup Toolbar button and then clicking the dropdown next to the selection tool.
From there, we choose options like Square or input a custom ratio under Fixed Size. This way, when we drag the selection, it keeps the chosen shape, making it easy to crop images that fit exact requirements.
It’s especially useful when cropping for social media posts or presentations, where specific image dimensions matter. Using aspect ratio cropping helps us keep images consistent and professional-looking.
Utilizing Lasso and Smart Lasso
For images with irregular shapes or unique areas, the Lasso and Smart Lasso tools come in handy. These allow us to draw a freeform selection around the part of the image we want to crop.
The Lasso tool lets us manually trace around the image portion. We click and drag to outline the area, then release to complete the selection.
The Smart Lasso is more advanced. It tries to detect edges automatically as we draw, helping us select shapes more precisely without needing pixel-perfect tracing. This is great for cropping objects that don’t fit neatly into rectangles.
After making our lasso selection, we can crop the image just like with rectangular selections through the Tools > Crop option.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Cropping
Using keyboard shortcuts can make cropping faster and smoother. After selecting the crop area, pressing Command + K crops the image immediately, saving us time from navigating menus.
To quickly access the selection tool, we can press Shift + Command + A for the rectangular marquee. This shortcut helps if we want to start cropping right after opening an image.
Shortcuts streamline the editing process, especially when we crop many images or need quick results. Familiarizing ourselves with these saves several clicks and speeds up our work in Preview.
By combining selection tools and shortcuts, cropping an image in Preview becomes an efficient and straightforward task.
For more on cropping images efficiently, check out this guide to crop images in Preview on Mac
Saving, Undoing, and Exporting Cropped Images
When we finish cropping an image in the Preview app, it’s important to know how to save our work properly. We also want to understand how to undo changes if needed and how to share our cropped image in different file formats. These steps help us keep control over our edits and make sure the image looks just right wherever we use it.
Saving Cropped Images
After cropping, the Preview app lets us save the new version of the image. If we save by choosing File > Save, the crop becomes permanent and replaces the original image. This means we can’t undo the crop later in Preview.
To keep the original intact, we can use File > Save As or Export to create a new file. This way, the cropped image and the original remain separate.
Remember that Preview does not create a new file unless we specifically use Save As or Export. Saving directly overwrites the original.
Reverting and Undoing Crops
If we want to undo a crop immediately, we can press Command + Z or select Edit > Undo Crop right after cropping. But once we save, this undo option disappears.
For earlier versions of the image, Preview keeps a version history. We can open this by selecting File > Revert To > Browse All Versions. This helps us go back to how the image looked before the crop.
This history works only if we haven’t deleted the file or closed Preview for a long time. It’s a good idea to keep backups if we expect to need reversions later.
Exporting in Different Formats
After cropping, we often need to export the image in formats like JPEG, PNG, or PDF. In Preview, we use File > Export to select the format and adjust quality settings.
We can change the file format by clicking the Format drop-down menu in the Export window. Setting the right format is key for different uses—JPEG works well for photos, while PNG is better for images with transparency.
Exporting creates a new file with our changes but leaves the original file untouched. This is useful for sharing or using the cropped image in different projects.
For more on cropping in Preview, check out this step-by-step guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
We want to make sure cropping images in Preview is easy and clear for everyone. Understanding how crop settings affect image quality, using shortcuts, and handling both photos and PDFs can help us work faster and better.
Can I crop a photo in Preview without compromising the image quality?
Yes, cropping in Preview does not lower image quality if you do not resize the image afterward. It just removes parts of the picture without changing the resolution of the remaining area.
If you save the cropped image as a new file or keep the original format, the quality should stay the same.
What steps do I take to crop a screenshot on my MacBook?
First, open the screenshot in Preview.
Next, click the markup tool to select the crop area by dragging over the part you want to keep.
Then, use the crop button in the toolbar to remove the unwanted areas.
Finally, save the edited file.
Is there a shortcut for quickly cropping images on a Mac?
While Preview doesn’t have a direct keyboard shortcut just for cropping, we can quickly select the area using the mouse or trackpad and click the crop button.
Using tools like Shift for a perfect square selection or holding other keys to keep proportions can speed up the process.
How do I crop just a section from an image using Preview on a Mac?
We open the image and choose the selection tool from the markup toolbar.
Then click and drag to select the exact section we want.
We confirm by clicking the crop button to keep only the chosen area.
What should I do if I’m unable to crop an image in Preview?
Sometimes bugs or file types may stop cropping from working.
We can try restarting Preview or reopening the file.
If issues persist, converting the image to a different format like PNG or JPEG before cropping can help.
How can I edit and crop a PDF document in Preview?
Open the PDF in Preview and use the selection tool to outline the area to keep.
Then choose the Crop function or save a new document with only the selected pages or sections.
Note that cropping PDFs may remove visible parts but not change underlying file data.
For detailed help, see this guide on cropping in Preview on Mac.