Wolverhampton Photographic Society

Open required picture on screen

Click on Marquee (Square) button.

On tool bar across top you will see 4 buttons.

Click the first button on the left (the one with a single square in it).

Ignore feather - (unless you want a feathered image).

Style Box - click down arrow.

Click Constrained Aspect Ratio.

Width - enter required width - in this case 6.

Height - enter required height - in this case 4.

Note: This does NOT mean 6" x 4" - You have set a RATIO of 6:4.

Hold down left mouse button and drag a selection from top left to bottom right roughly where you want your crop to be.

You can move the "marching ants" selection by holding down the left mouse button within the selection and moving it around.

When your happy with what you see click Crop in the Image menu and off you go.

However if you decide that you selection is too big or too small you can adjust it whilst retaining the same aspect ratio - in our case 6:4. Remember this is a RATIO - NOT a size.

Proceed as follows:

You have a "marching ants" selection within your picture of 6:4.

Right click within the selection.

A drop down menu will appear.

Left click Transform Selection.

You will see your "marching ants" selection has now changed to fine line selection with 8 node boxes.

Look at the tool bar across the top and you will see it has also changed.

Between the Width box and the Height box you will a locking knot button. Left click it.

It will become active and will lock your RATIO thereby maintaining it.

By holding down you left mouse button on any of the corner 45 degree node boxes you can expand, shrink and/or move your selection until you are satisfied with what you see. (If you try and adjust the NSEW node boxes you will loose your ratio so don't touch them!)

When you are happy double left click within your fine line selection and it will turn back into a "marching ants" selection.

Click Crop in the Image menu and away you go.

Remember you can set any ratio you like to suit your requirements - 10 x 8, 7 x 5, A4 (The ratio for A4 is 297 x 210), 16 x 11 etc. but always remember you are setting a RATIO not a size.

	. Constraining Proportions in Photoshop 6. Open required picture on screen Click on Marquee (Square) button. On tool bar across top you will see 4 buttons. Click the first button on the left (the one with a single square in it). Ignore feather - (unless you want a feathered image). Style Box - click down arrow. Click Constrained Aspect Ratio. Width - enter required width - in this case 6. Height - enter required height - in this case 4. Note: This does NOT mean 6" x 4" - You have set a RATIO of 6:4. Hold down left mouse button and drag a selection from top left to bottom right roughly where you want your crop to be. You can move the "marching ants" selection by holding down the left mouse button within the selection and moving it around. When your happy with what you see click Crop in the Image menu and off you go. . However if you decide that you selection is too big or too small you can adjust it whilst retaining the same aspect ratio - in our case 6:4. Remember this is a RATIO - NOT a size. Proceed as follows: You have a "marching ants" selection within your picture of 6:4. Right click within the selection. A drop down menu will appear. Left click Transform Selection. You will see your "marching ants" selection has now changed to fine line selection with 8 node boxes. Look at the tool bar across the top and you will see it has also changed. Between the Width box and the Height box you will a locking knot button. Left click it. It will become active and will lock your RATIO thereby maintaining it. By holding down you left mouse button on any of the corner 45 degree node boxes you can expand, shrink and/or move your selection until you are satisfied with what you see. (If you try and adjust the NSEW node boxes you will loose your ratio so don't touch them!) When you are happy double left click within your fine line selection and it will turn back into a "marching ants" selection. Click Crop in the Image menu and away you go. . Remember you can set any ratio you like to suit your requirements - 10 x 8, 7 x 5, A4 (The ratio for A4 is 297 x 210), 16 x 11 etc. but always remember you are setting a RATIO not a size. Back to Advice Index Page