how do I 'lock in' a cropping proportion I want to use for a bunch of pictures?

[Ken Nielsen]

I have a series of portraits that I want to crop all to the same proportion so they can be seen 'yearbook style' side by side. How do I do this correctly?

[Rob_Cullen]

My method would be to-

1) Select all portrait images

2) Keyboard [R] will open the Crop tool

3) Turn on AutoSync

4) Select an Aspect, or make a Custom ratio, (Keyboard [X] rotates crop 'landscape' <> 'Portrait')

5) Apply the crop 

6) Turn off AutoSync

7) Inspect each image for suitable framing- adjust individually if needed.

Or you can Copy&Paste from one image to multiple selected images (without AutoSync problems)

[Ken Nielsen]

Hmm... this will be several hundred images coming in from shoots over several days. I was hoping there was a way to specify a ratio like 4x6 and just be able to grab the crop tool set to that ratio and then crop. I can set the pixel size later in photoshop as they all will be so close to the same size... no harm done

[JohanElzenga · Accepted solution]

Yes, there are crop presets, and you can define your own presets too. But 4x6 is the same as 2x3, so it already exists and cannot be defined as 4x6. If your images are 3x2 rather than 2x3, then hit the 'X' key to rotate the crop 90 degrees.

[Ken Nielsen]

Bingo! I will now explore. Thank you!

[Conrad_C]

I can set the pixel size later in photoshop as they all will be so close to the same size... no harm done

By @Ken Nielsen

You might not need to do that in Photoshop. If you can get all the edits done in Lightroom Classic, then when you do the final export, you can set pixel dimensions there.

For example, if this is for a printed yearbook so you need all the crops to be the same size and resolution, set that in the Export dialog box.

In total, this would end up being just a two-step process:

1. Bulk-crop to the aspect ratio you want. You want 4x6, so the 2x3 crop works. Apply the same crop to lots of images simultaneously, then check each image and as necessary nudge the crop rectangle position to adjust for slightly different compositions in each image. This is the step Johan was describing.

2. On export, set the required dimensions and resolution. The example below sets the long side to a yearbook-like 1 inch and the resolution to 300 ppi for all 127 selected images in this bulk export.

After it’s done exporting, all you have to do is pick up the correctly cropped and sized images from whatever folder you exported them to.

[Ken Nielsen]

Great reply, I need this information as there are hundreds of images and I want to plow through them like a master! Thanks Conrad_C

[Ken Nielsen]

I have no idea what auto sync is or where it is but I'm sure this relates to what I am looking for. I will look it up and study. Thank you Rob.

[Rob_Cullen]

" ..what auto sync is or where it is.."

In Develop module the large [SYNC] button at the base of the right-side panels will change to [AutoSync] when you click on the 'switch' on the button. When AutoSync is 'on' everything you do to one image (eg. a crop) will automatically sync to all selected photos on the filmstrip. It is a 'Dangerous' setting if you have unknowingly selected many, many photos. Always remember to turn AutoSync 'Off' when not needed.

[Ken Nielsen]

Wow! Powerful and extremely important to know about. Thank you Rob.