Use the Crop tool to change the aspect ratio and straighten images to improve photo composition.
Published
Cropping is useful for excluding unwanted content at the edge of a photo, changing the shape of a photo for a particular use, or improving image composition by reframing a photo. Cropping in Lightroom is not permanent and can be modified at any time.
Crop a photo
When you activate Lightroom’s Crop tool, a crop boundary appears around the edge of the photo where you can change the size and shape of the photo. You can also move the photo around within the crop boundary to choose the part of the image you want to keep or crop away. The crop boundary in Lightroom includes an overlay that lets you reframe the image to take advantage of the Rule of Thirds, which has been used for centuries to improve composition in art.
Change the aspect ratio or shape of the crop
Aspect ratio means the proportion of width to height or vice versa. The aspect ratio of a crop boundary determines the shape of the cropped photo. For example, a 1:1 aspect ratio defines a square crop. Don’t confuse aspect ratio with dimensions. A 1:1 square could be 10 pixels by 10 pixels, or 100 inches by 100 inches.
If you know that you want to crop to a standard aspect ratio, like 1:1 or 4:5, choose it from the Aspect Ratio menu in the Crop panel. This causes the crop boundary to maintain those proportions, no matter how big or small the boundary becomes as you drag its edges.
Straighten a crooked photo
If a photo is slightly crooked, you can correct it with the Straighten controls in the Crop panel. Sometimes all you have to do is click the Auto label above the Straighten slider. If you don’t like that result, you can adjust the rotation manually with a slider in the Crop panel or by dragging outside a corner of the crop boundary in the direction you want to rotate the image.
Cookie Settings
General information
You can control how Adobe websites use cookies and similar technologies by making choices below. But note that if you disable cookies and similar technologies entirely, Adobe websites may not function properly.
Cookies are small text files stored by your web browser when you use websites. There are also other technologies that can be used for similar purposes like HTML5 Local Storage and local shared objects, web beacons, and embedded scripts. These technologies help us do things like remembering you and your preferences when you return to our sites, measure how you use the website, conduct market research, and gather information about the ads you see and interact with.
You can make choices in the menu below about what cookies and other technologies you want us to use on Adobe sites when you visit them from this browser. You can always change those choices later by clicking on the Cookie Preferences link at the bottom of the page.
If enabled:
We can improve your experience by tailoring the site and the content to things we think might be of interest
We can better keep track of your preferences — like what language you prefer to use
We will better understand your likely interests so we can provide you more relevant Adobe ads and content on non-Adobe websites and in non-Adobe apps
It will help us improve the performance of our website and those of our partners who use the Adobe Experience Cloud
If disabled:
We won’t be able to remember you from session to session so the experience may not be tailored to your interests
You’ll still have access to the content of the site but certain features that depend on cookies may not function
You’ll still see ads, they just may not be as relevant to you
General information
You can control how Adobe websites use cookies and similar technologies by making choices below. But note that if you disable cookies and similar technologies entirely, Adobe websites may not function properly.
Cookies are small text files stored by your web browser when you use websites. There are also other technologies that can be used for similar purposes like HTML5 Local Storage, web beacons, and embedded scripts. These technologies help us do things like remembering you and your preferences when you return to our sites, measure how you use the website, conduct market research, and gather information about the ads you see and interact with.
You can make choices in the menu below about what cookies and other technologies you want us to use on Adobe sites when you visit them from this browser. You can always change those choices later by clicking on the Cookie Preferences link at the bottom of the page.
If enabled:
We can improve your experience by tailoring the site and the content to things we think might be of interest
We can better keep track of your preferences — like what language you prefer to use
We will better understand your likely interests so we can provide you more relevant Adobe ads and content on non-Adobe websites and in non-Adobe apps
It will help us improve the performance of our website and those of our partners who use the Adobe Experience Cloud
If disabled:
We won’t be able to remember you from session to session so the experience may not be tailored to your interests
We’ll still count your use of our site and services
You’ll still have access to the content of the site but certain features that depend on cookies may not function
You’ll still see ads, they just may not be as relevant to you
Operate the site and core servicesOperate site and measure engagement
Always active
These cookies are required, and they are used to enable the site and related services core functionality. Without them the site could not operate, so they cannot be disabled.
These cookies enable the site and related services’ core functionality and collect statistics about user engagement, such as counting active use to help us understand trends. These cookies cannot be disabled.
Measure performance
These cookies are used to analyze site usage to measure and improve performance. Without them Adobe cannot know what content is most valued and how often unique visitors return to the site, making it hard to improve information we offer to you.
These cookies are used to analyze site usage to measure and improve performance. Without them Adobe cannot know what content is most valued, making it hard to improve information we offer to you.
Extend functionality
These cookies are used to enhance the functionality of Adobe sites such as remembering your settings and preferences to deliver a personalized experience; for example, your username, your repeated visits, preferred language, your country, or any other saved preference.
Personalize advertising
These cookies are used to enable Adobe and our partners to serve ads more relevant to your interests. Without them you will still see ads, but they might not be as relevant to you.
Personalize advertising
These cookies are used to enable Adobe and our partners to serve ads more relevant to your interests. Without them you will still see ads, but they might not be as relevant to you.
