Cropping your way to happiness. Finding the photograph inside your picture.

Rules for cropping: Rule #1 Fill the space with your subject. Step 1: Identify what is not important. Step 2: Identify what is.

This is an 8X10 photograph turned in by an advanced student. What is unimportant?

This area adds nothing to the photo and, as a result, makes the photo less affective.

By focusing in on the important part of the image the image becomes stronger. 8X10 8X12

The size of your crop is always determined by what is important in the photograph. Some images look best at 8X10, some at 8X12, some at a non standard size, and some not at all. Use 8X10 or 8X12 if at all possible. 8X12

Rule #2 Crop the same distance from your subject on at least 2 sides. Step 1: Identify what is important. Step 2: Crop equally from there.

This 8X12 was handed in by a student.

This area is not important.

Before After

In this case the equal sides make the image formally balanced.

Here three equal distances were used and informal balance was achieved.

Rule #3 Crop lines into the corners. Step 1: Consider the dominate line. Step 2: Crop to it.

This is a picture about light and organic line

This is what you should be considering when analyzing this image.

Cropping the lines to the corners will make this image more dynamic.

Before After

Rule #4 Crop out mistakes in framing. Step 1: Did you cut off your subject accidentally? Step 2: Make an error look intentional.

Cutting off a subject is a common error and it is easily fixed through cropping.

Cutting off a little looks like a mistake Cutting off a little looks like a mistake. Cutting off a lot makes it look intentional.

What was wrong with this?

The subject is being dominated by the background The subject is being dominated by the background. While the background is important, less of it can be used to the same effect.

What was wrong with this?

Nice texture, but too much

What was wrong with this?

This isn’t adding anything.

What was wrong with this?

This is strong and should be isolated.

An irregular shape was used in order to bring about these equidistance's.

What was wrong with this?

A center of interest must be found

What was wrong with this?

An 8X10 crop was useful in that the hair still frames the face.

What was wrong with this?

The football was cut off at the top and the rotation wasn’t useful

lastname.1A.newcrop Go To S drive  Handout ANDREASEN Save the Crop These folder into your thumb drive. Open these pictures in photoshop and, using what you’ve learned re-crop these images so that they will be more successful. Save these into a folder called lastname.1A.newcrop