How to crop large pictures to a 4:3 aspect ratio to then shrink to640x480 pixels?

My SLR takes large pictures which I often crop by hand but I
wish to crop at a 4:3 aspect ratio for when I shrink the
cropped results to 640x480 pixels.

The problem is that I don't know how to crop a photo by hand
to a 4:3 aspect ratio (I use Gimp & Kolourpaint on Linux).

Is there a way to lock the manual crop to a 4:3 aspect ratio?

On 2013-03-05 19:03:38 -0800, "Danny D." said:

My SLR takes large pictures which I often crop by hand but I
wish to crop at a 4:3 aspect ratio for when I shrink the
cropped results to 640x480 pixels.

The problem is that I don't know how to crop a photo by hand
to a 4:3 aspect ratio (I use Gimp & Kolourpaint on Linux).

Is there a way to lock the manual crop to a 4:3 aspect ratio?

In Lightroom & Photoshop there is, as for GIMP, the regular users of
GIMP in the photogroups might be able to provide a solution.

--
Regards,

Savageduck

On 03/05/2013 07:03 PM, Danny D. wrote:
My SLR takes large pictures which I often crop by hand but I
wish to crop at a 4:3 aspect ratio for when I shrink the
cropped results to 640x480 pixels.

The problem is that I don't know how to crop a photo by hand
to a 4:3 aspect ratio (I use Gimp & Kolourpaint on Linux).

Is there a way to lock the manual crop to a 4:3 aspect ratio?

GIMP...

Tools | Selection Tools | Rectangle Select
Checkmark "Fixed: Aspect ratio"
Enter "4:3"
Select the 4:3 area you want.
Image | Crop to selection

On Wed, 06 Mar 2013 03:03:38 +0000, Danny D. wrote:

My SLR takes large pictures which I often crop by hand but I wish to
crop at a 4:3 aspect ratio for when I shrink the cropped results to
640x480 pixels.

The problem is that I don't know how to crop a photo by hand to a 4:3
aspect ratio (I use Gimp & Kolourpaint on Linux).

Is there a way to lock the manual crop to a 4:3 aspect ratio?

http://shallowsky.com/blog/gimp/gimp-tool-presets.html

Dave

--
Registered Linux User #444770
Fedora

On Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:29:35 -0800 Savageduck wrote:

In Lightroom & Photoshop there is, as for GIMP, the regular users of
GIMP in the photogroups might be able to provide a solution.

I do not have or know Lightroom or Photoshop (I'm a freeware addict);
but, how do 'they' do it?

Do they simply give a readout at the bottom of the ratio, which you
manually adjust as you're drawing out the cropping borders?

Or do they have a 'cookie cutter' type stamping tool where you can sweep
out an area and then click a button to force it to the 4:3 ratio?

On Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:30:03 -0800 Hurtlin' Squirty wrote:

Is there a way to lock the manual crop to a 4:3 aspect ratio?

GIMP...
Tools | Selection Tools | Rectangle Select Checkmark "Fixed: Aspect
ratio"
Enter "4:3"
Select the 4:3 area you want.
Image | Crop to selection

Ooooooh. That's EXACTLY what I was looking for!

Here's a screenshot of that operation in action on a photo of
google bikes I took yesterday at google hq:
http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12350919.png

The "aspect ratio" setting locks the crop box so that you can't crop any
other aspect ratio save the one chosen!

Thanks!

On Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:51:30 +0000 Danny D. wrote:

I do not have or know Lightroom or Photoshop (I'm a freeware addict);
but, how do 'they' do it?

No need to respond to this one as The Gimp did the trick, and,
I see 'how' they do it.

Basically, you just type in the desired aspect ratio, and the crop
command won't let you sweep out a box of any other aspect ratio.

Elegant & simple!

"Danny D." wrote:
On Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:51:30 +0000 Danny D. wrote:

I do not have or know Lightroom or Photoshop (I'm a freeware addict);
but, how do 'they' do it?

No need to respond to this one as The Gimp did the trick, and,
I see 'how' they do it.

Basically, you just type in the desired aspect ratio, and the crop
command won't let you sweep out a box of any other aspect ratio.

Elegant & simple!

Do take a look at other things which can be done with
options in the "Tool Option" dialog box for the
Rectangular Select tool.

It can be switched from "portrait" to "landscape" mode
with the buttons to the right of the entry form for the
ratio. And below that are forms to set the exact size
and location of a selection. There is also an option
for "Highlight", which will darken the part of the image
that is not included in the selection. And there is the
option to display a grid of "guides" which can be for
the center, for the Rule of Thirds, or for Golden
Sections.

--
Floyd L. Davidson http://www.apaflo.com/
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)

On 2013-03-06 04:51:30 -0800, "Danny D." said:

On Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:29:35 -0800 Savageduck wrote:

In Lightroom & Photoshop there is, as for GIMP, the regular users of
GIMP in the photogroups might be able to provide a solution.

I do not have or know Lightroom or Photoshop (I'm a freeware addict);
but, how do 'they' do it?

Do they simply give a readout at the bottom of the ratio, which you
manually adjust as you're drawing out the cropping borders?

Or do they have a 'cookie cutter' type stamping tool where you can sweep
out an area and then click a button to force it to the 4:3 ratio?

In both LR and PS the "crop" tool is a rectangular selection tool
(separate from the actual rectangular selection tool which is not
locked to selected ratios) which can be set to a specific aspect ratio
or size and resolution. It is then used to select the area to be
cropped. There are standard presets available and you can create your
own set of custom crop tools.

That is the way they do it, as I said with GIMP you will have to get
advice from others. I have GIMP installed, but my preferred editors
remain LR4 and CS5.

--
Regards,

Savageduck

On 2013-03-06 05:16:45 -0800, "Danny D." said:

On Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:51:30 +0000 Danny D. wrote:

I do not have or know Lightroom or Photoshop (I'm a freeware addict);
but, how do 'they' do it?

No need to respond to this one as The Gimp did the trick, and,
I see 'how' they do it.

Basically, you just type in the desired aspect ratio, and the crop
command won't let you sweep out a box of any other aspect ratio.

Elegant & simple!

The same idea, but executed differently.
I am glad you got a solution.

--
Regards,

Savageduck