How to crop an image

Cropping trims away the edges of a photo — to remove distractions, focus on your subject, or fit a specific shape like a square profile picture or a widescreen banner. It's one of the fastest ways to make a photo look better.

Unlike resizing, which changes the whole image's dimensions, cropping cuts parts of the picture away and keeps the rest at full quality. A good crop can turn a cluttered snapshot into a clean, focused image in seconds.

Step by step

1. Open your photo in the PixPolish editor (drag it in or use Open from computer).
2. Select the Crop tool from the toolbar, or open Image → Crop.
3. Drag the crop box. Draw a rectangle over the part you want to keep, then drag the handles to fine-tune the edges.
4. Set an aspect ratio (optional). If you need an exact shape — 1:1 for a square, 16:9 for a banner, 4:5 for a portrait post — set it before dragging so the box keeps those proportions.
5. Apply the crop, then export via File → Save/Export.

Composition tips

• Rule of thirds. Imagine the frame split into a 3×3 grid and place your subject on one of the lines or intersections — it usually looks more natural than dead center.
• Give the subject room. Leave a little space in the direction a person is facing or moving.
• Straighten first. If the horizon is tilted, rotate slightly before you crop so you don't lose more of the image than necessary.
• Crop for the platform. Check the target aspect ratio (square, portrait, landscape) before you start so nothing important gets cut off later.