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puckboy01
Participant
March 26, 2020
Question

Crop to Oval Shape

  • March 26, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 16891 views

I cannot for the life of me figure out how to crop a picture into an oval shape.  I've searched everywhere but must not be using right search terms, can anyone point me in the right direction?  All the tutorials mention the cookie cutter shape which I don't have in my version of photoshop. 

    3 replies

    Conrad_C
    Community Expert
    Conrad_CCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 26, 2020

    Here’s a quick, simple way that’s easy to edit.

    1. Choose the Ellipse tool (not the Elliptical Marquee tool), and set it to Path mode up in the options bar.
    2. Draw your circle, then choose Layer > Vector Mask > Current Path.

     

     

    As long as the vector mask is selected in the Layers panel:

    • You can reposition the circular vector mask using the Path Selection Tool.
    • You can scale it using Edit > Free Transform Path.
    • You can adjust the mask using the controls in the Properties panel, such as the Feather option to soften the edge.

     

    M
    marcihess
    Inspiring
    January 1, 2022

    Conrad C -- 

    Thanks for this. It works great but there's one more step that I need. How do I cut that circle out so I can paste it into a graphics document as a circle?

    Marci

    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 1, 2022

    You didn't say what graphics program you are using. Personally, if it is Illustrator or InDesign, I would do the circle mask/crop in that program. If an Office program, use PNG as suggested. 

     

    As a general rule (there are some exceptions) -- never cut-and-paste between different programs. Place, insert, import, etc.--but not cut-and-paste. 

    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 26, 2020

    You can save a image with transparency in PNG format to have an oval shape image the Document canvas is still a rectangle.

    JJMack
    Semaphoric
    Community Expert
    SemaphoricCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 26, 2020

    A raster image is always rectangular, so you need to mask rather than crop. Use the Elliptical Selection tool, and then Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection.

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