Crop Image to Specific Size
Need to crop an image to exact pixel dimensions? This guide explains how to get precise sizes for websites, printing, and social media.
Understanding Crop vs Resize
- Cropping removes parts of the image to change composition
- Resizing scales the entire image up or down
For specific dimensions, you often need both: crop to the right ratio, then resize to exact pixels.
Common Aspect Ratios
| Ratio | Common Uses |
|---|
| 1:1 | Profile pictures, Instagram posts |
|---|---|
| 4:3 | Standard photos, presentations |
| 3:2 | Classic photography, prints |
| 16:9 | YouTube thumbnails, presentations |
| 8:10 | Portrait photos, passport |
| 2:3 | Pinterest pins, stories |
How to Crop to Specific Dimensions
Step 1: Calculate the Ratio
Divide your target width by height:
- 1920 x 1080 = 1920/1080 = 1.78 (16:9)
- 1080 x 1080 = 1080/1080 = 1.0 (1:1)
- 800 x 1000 = 800/1000 = 0.8 (8:10)
Step 2: Select Matching Aspect Ratio
Choose the preset that matches your calculated ratio, or use free-form cropping.
Step 3: Crop Your Image
Position the crop box over the area you want to keep.
Step 4: Export at Target Size
After cropping, you may need to resize to your exact pixel dimensions using an image editor.
Common Size Requirements
Social Media
| Platform | Image Type | Size |
|---|
| Post | 1080 x 1080 | |
|---|---|---|
| Story | 1080 x 1920 | |
| Post | 1200 x 630 | |
| Post | 1600 x 900 | |
| Post | 1200 x 627 |
Print Sizes
| Size | Pixels (300 DPI) |
|---|
| 4x6" | 1200 x 1800 |
|---|---|
| 5x7" | 1500 x 2100 |
| 8x10" | 2400 x 3000 |
| 11x14" | 3300 x 4200 |
Tips for Maintaining Quality
- 1. Start large - Always crop from a high-resolution source
- 2. Don't upscale - Enlarging causes quality loss
- 3. Use PNG - For lossless export when quality matters
- 4. Check resolution - Aim for 300 DPI for print, 72 DPI for web