Artistic Cropping
This tutorial assumes that you have a basic knowledge of PSP's tools. If you need assistance with the specific operation of any tool, please refer to PSP's help files or the program manual. |
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Trick #1: Create a visualization aid.
Before we get started on actually cropping an image, we will first create a "cheat". It will be a frame or mat of a sort that will assist in eliminating distracting elements while you search for the best composition. We will create a preset of vector line properties for the purpose of previewing our crop. Eventually, you will not need this trick to aid your visualization. As with anything else, practice will improve your eye for this. Open any image, we won't do anything to the image, we just need something open so that the tool ribbon will become active. Click on the  Preset Shape tool. Set your foreground swatch color to black and the background swatch to null. In the tool ribbon, choose the Rectangle shape.
- Retain style and Anti-alias unchecked.
- Create as vector checked.
- Set the Width to 30 or higher, if you are using high resolution images, you will probably want a thicker line.
- Click on the preset drop down then the
 Save button. Give the preset a name and click OK.
What we have created here is not a new preset shape, rather it is saving the line style information.
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See a screen capture of this step. |
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Using the trick.
Open a few images to practice using our customized shape. You can make the "frame" any color you like by changing the foreground color swatch. In this sample, I've left it black. Drag out the shape, it does not have to be exact. Click on the  Object Selector tool to drag the edges where you would like them. Remember that we are only concerned with what appears inside the shape, the window if you will. When you are happy with your crop, click on the  Magic Wand tool in the Selection tools flyout. Leave the values for this tool at default, except uncheck Anti-alias. Click inside the vector "window". Image-> Crop to Selection.
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Trick #2: Grid by Cells script.
One of the basic compositional rules in photography is the Rule of Thirds. Look at the photo to the left and note that the image was intentionally composed to take advantage of the Rule of Thirds. Grid lines have been placed horizontally and vertically to illustrate this effect. The scene has been arranged so that specific parts of the object fall on or near points where the lines intersect. Images composed or cropped using the Rule of Thirds tend to be visually appealing. You can check your image for thirds "compliance" easily in PSP8 with the help of the Grid by Cells script. Open any image. In the Select Script drop down, find the "Grid by Cells" script. Click on the  Run Script button. When the dialog appears, input 3 for both values.
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A few more things to know.
- Make the subject the subject. Decide what it is about the photo that you most want to convey to the viewer. This is your subject and it should be immediately apparent to anybody who views it what that subject is unless you are intentionally going for an abstract. Fill the frame with your subject.
- Eliminate the distracting and the extraneous. Crop away cluttered backgrounds or the stranger that walked through the edge of the frame while taking a photo of your best friend.
- Moving objects need room. Anything that would obviously be moving in a photo needs extra room to "move into". I will show an example of this later as it's much easier to see than describe.
- Consider negative space. If there is going to be space around your subject, consider the shape and placement of this element.
- Odd vs. Even numbers of objects. Odd numbers of objects are almost always more interesting than even numbers of objects. A photo of three flowers is more appealing than a photo of either two or four flowers.
- Horizons generally should be on a "third" line. When working with landscapes, pay attention to the placement of the horizon. If you place it so that it bisects the image, it needs to be done with some thought.
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Let's continue on to some examples.
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