Photoshop help – cropping to an exact size?

[Dennis]

Hello,

I need some help on how I can make a constrained 1024x768 crop from a 3906x2592 full frame original.

My problem:

• I open a 3906x2592 full frame original and display it at 33% to fit the screen so I can view the full frame.
• The Image Size panel shows it as a 3906x2592 at 240 pixels/inch object.
• I then set the crop area to 1024x768 at 72 pixels/inch.
• I then drag the crop frame, but it does not constrain the crop area to 1024x768.
• That is, it can be dragged to cover all, or very little, of the 3906x2592 full frame??

Help!
After I have opened the original to “fit screen” so I can see the full area, I would be very grateful if someone could explain to me how to:

• Create a crop area 1024x768 that constrains the crop to 1024x768.
• Drag it out so that when the crop frame reaches the 1024x768 size, it constrains me from dragging beyond this.
• Move the constrained 1024x768 crop frame around within the full frame to select the precise 1024x768 pixels.
• Make the crop!

I’m probably missing something extremely simple, but I just cannot figure out to perform what I think should be a very basic crop operation!

Thanks!

Dennis

[Alchemy (Clive)]

open new file at size required (blank one) 1024x 768- File /New set the required settings

copy image you wish to crop

paste this to the new image file you just created

use "V" (this puts it to the tool required) and move image layer to required selection

flatten image

then "Save As" for whatever type you want TIff BMP JPG ........ta da .... done

[Dennis]

Hi Clive

Wow – thanks for the quick reply and the very helpful “how to”. I can report that it works exactly as you described and achieves the objective of producing a constrained 1024x768 final, just as I had asked – you beauty!

However, it would be really nice if…

• Rather than viewing the full sized image through the 1024x768 window of the new file, by dragging the larger, full size original image “underneath” the static new window…
• Is there a way where I can drag a 1024x768 window on top of the original file? Does that make sense?

That is, keep the large original image static and drag the 1024x768 frame around on top to find the best region to crop?

Thanks!

Dennis

[rogerg (Roger)]

In the options for the selection tool you can select "fixed size", and specify 1024x768. You can then drag the selection around.

You could also do that, then mask the layer to that. You could make the mask 50% so you can see through it too. Then once done you could use the selection wand to select the 1024x768 area within the mask and then crop. A bit of a process though, probably better just to do the selection thing above I think

Another way to crop to exact size if you weren't fussy about specific positioning of the crop is to reduce the canvas size to 1024x768.

Roger.

[MrB (Simon)]

Not sure if it's still valid 'coz I have an old version(PS6.0)
Selection tool as Roger said, tho' on my version it's called the Marquee tool(rectangular), press 'M'.
Marquee tool has a custom fixed size rectangle that can be repositioned.
Set in toolbar to Fixed size, and 1024 px by 768 px.
Click anywhere on the image and a 1024x768 dashed rectangle will show.
Click and hold anywhere inside the rectangle to move it around.
When happy with position, press Ctrl+C (Copy), then File, New, Ok... and a new 1024x768 blank is created, press Ctrl+V to paste. Save as.

Hope that makes sense.

[Dennis]

Thanks for the help guys. I’m relatively new to PS; CS3 is my first use of it and I’m loving every minute!

Cheers

Dennis