Elements cropping question

I haven't figured out how to do this, but I've needed it a lot.
I want to crop with a specific aspect ratio, or even a specific size.
So if my target is a 4" by 6" paper, I want to select length or width,
and crop with the proper ratio. I've had to resort to using the rulers
and that's pretty tedious.

james wrote:
I haven't figured out how to do this, but I've needed it a lot.
I want to crop with a specific aspect ratio, or even a specific size.
So if my target is a 4" by 6" paper, I want to select length or width,
and crop with the proper ratio. I've had to resort to using the
rulers and that's pretty tedious.

I don't know if you have not already considered this, but if there is a
border 4x6 paper does not have a 4:6 ratio.

In any case set the "mode" to fixed ratio. (this is Elements 3.0 I don't
have my older versions still loaded.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

Joseph Meehan wrote:
james wrote:

I haven't figured out how to do this, but I've needed it a lot.
I want to crop with a specific aspect ratio, or even a specific size.
So if my target is a 4" by 6" paper, I want to select length or width,
and crop with the proper ratio. I've had to resort to using the
rulers and that's pretty tedious.


I don't know if you have not already considered this, but if there is a
border 4x6 paper does not have a 4:6 ratio.

In any case set the "mode" to fixed ratio. (this is Elements 3.0 I don't
have my older versions still loaded.


In PS at least... Another option is Image Canvas Size. It'll warn you
that it's going to crop, you can tell it to crop from the center left or
right. Another thing I do to get the real visual crop is copy the full
image before cropping/re-sizing, then paste it back & control-drag to
move the image around. Somehow I find it hard to really see the crop
with just a darkened frame. Double-click the background layer first to
turn it into a 'real' layer and it will retain the area outside the
canvas crop without the need to copy/paste.


--
Paul Furman
http://www.edgehill.net/1
san francisco native plants

Maybe I'm unclear on the problem, but why can't you just set the width
and height of the crop tool to 4 x 6?

Paul Furman wrote:
Joseph Meehan wrote:

In PS at least... Another option is Image Canvas Size. It'll warn
you that it's going to crop, you can tell it to crop from the center
left or right. Another thing I do to get the real visual crop is copy
the full image before cropping/re-sizing, then paste it back &
control-drag to move the image around. Somehow I find it hard to
really see the crop with just a darkened frame. Double-click the
background layer first to turn it into a 'real' layer and it will
retain the area outside the canvas crop without the need to
copy/paste.

I believe that holds true for Elements as well.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

In article ,
Paul Furman wrote:

In PS at least... Another option is Image Canvas Size. It'll warn you
that it's going to crop, you can tell it to crop from the center left or
right. Another thing I do to get the real visual crop is copy the full
image before cropping/re-sizing, then paste it back & control-drag to
move the image around. Somehow I find it hard to really see the crop
with just a darkened frame. Double-click the background layer first to
turn it into a 'real' layer and it will retain the area outside the
canvas crop without the need to copy/paste.

I guess I was hoping for a tool that's the shape and size of what I want
to crop, that I can place over my image and cut. Exactly the workflow
I'd want from a movable easel on the enlarger base.

If I could resize the canvas, but still be able to drag the larger
virtual image around on the canvas, that would work.

The layer idea sounds like what I'm looking for though.

In article .com,
MadHatter wrote:


Maybe I'm unclear on the problem, but why can't you just set the width
and height of the crop tool to 4 x 6?


Precisely what I was looking for! Thanks!

James,

I had the same problem until I realized this tool was right there, just
not very obvious. This works in Elements 2 and 3:

- Start cropping mode by clicking the cropping tool
- Under the toolbar now you should see the cropping settings, including
a box for "width" and "height". In width enter "6 in" and height "4 in"
- Drag the crop tool and you'll notice it will maintain the specified
aspect ratio

If you want to go back to free cropping without an aspect ratio, hit
the "Clear" button, which will clear the two entries you just made.

Hope this is what you were looking for.

Charlie

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