Basics of Photo Editing (Cropping, Resizing, Aspect Ratio)

Basics of Photo Editing

Cropping is the act of removing portions of an image to enhance the composition or to focus on a particular subject.
This technique can help eliminate distracting elements, change the orientation of an image, or adjust the framing of the subject.
It’s essential to crop judiciously so as not to eliminate vital information or disrupt the balance of the image.
Cropping can be done in various shapes, the most common being rectangular, but it can also be circular, or any custom shape to create a different perspective.
There’s a cropping tool available in nearly all image editing software programs enabling you to define the crop area quickly and easily.

Resizing refers to altering the size of an image, either by scaling down (reducing the pixel dimensions) or scaling up (increasing the pixel dimensions).
Scaling down an image is often needed for web usage, to improve loading times, or to fit a specific display size.
Scaling up is not generally recommended as it can result in a loss of image quality, often resulting in a pixelated or blurry image. If necessary, it should be done in small increments to minimise quality loss.
When resizing, it’s important to maintain the aspect ratio to prevent the image from being distorted.

The Aspect Ratio of an image is the proportional relationship between its width and its height.
Common aspect ratios in photography include 1:1 (square), 4:3 (standard digital camera), 3:2 (35mm film camera), and 16:9 (widescreen).
Altering the aspect ratio can dramatically change the way a photo is perceived, and it often depends on the destination or medium it will be displayed on.
It’s also a tool for creative expression.
Understanding and manipulating aspect ratio in your composition is a valuable skill in photo editing.

Always remember that these basic photo editing techniques are instrumental in enhancing the overall visual aesthetics of your photography.