Photoshop CS6 - Cropping box size to smallest before resampling limit

[Arzaloued34050870p5u4]

I am often cropping my 12Mp images to zoom in on a bird or another critter with a preset of 1333 px x 1000 px (my final image). But I want to use the available pixels, no more, no less (no resampling).

So far, I have been playing with the crop box corner handle for matching box actual pixel size with the number of pixels I want to keep (1333x1000). Seems kind of primitive to me, and it's tricky to get the box exactly that size by moving the corner handle with the mouse.

→ Is there a short-cut or another way in PS CS6 to make the crop box size itself to the preset pixel size over the displayed document so that I will then just have to position and possibly rotate the box before applying the crop? Or if no short-cut, an equivalent trick?

[Semaphoric · Accepted solution]

You could use the Rectalgular Marquee tool set to Fixed Size, place the selection in the desired location, and Image > Crop.

[Arzaloued34050870p5u4]

Thanks! I just tried on a series. It does work well, and it's faster than trying to adjust the crop box.
But... I lose the convenient integrated crop box rotation adjustement with grid lines for horizon matching (I can still call a transform on the marquee that enable rotation, but it's not as fast, accurate & convenient).
Anyway, still a good work around!

[mglush]

Hi!

Using Semaphoric's great suggestion above would allow you to rotate the selection also if you needed to. 

Another option if you have a number of images you want to crop is to create a new document the size that you want (1333 x 1000) and then drag the images into this document as layers. you can then move the image around or rotate it to place the "critter" exactly where you want it, and when you export as a jpg, you will have just the image size you want (1333 x 1000). This method will also allow you to keep the whole image just in case you want to move it around at another time.

I don't have CS6 anymore, so I am not sure of this next bit of info is pertnent--Check File>Export and see if you can Export Layers to Files? If you can and you have a number of images you want to crop, just drag them all over into this new document, postion them where you want, and then use Export Layers to Files to crop and export all of them at one time—which is a real timesaver!

Michelle

[Arzaloued34050870p5u4]

Thanks. Just tried your suggestion:
In CS6 I did not find the way drag files into the canvas as layers. From what I just read, to import as layers, I have to use File/Scripts/Load files into Stack... And if I do that, PS open another new document where it stacks the called images instead of using the document I previously created and sized to 1333x1000 as you suggest. The new docment is sized as the originals, not 1333x1000. Maybe I am not doing it right....

[Arzaloued34050870p5u4]

Correction: I can drag a series of files into the canvas (just tried again), but I have to work on that function because I am not familiar with it, and so far, it squeezes them according to some parameters, leaving a huge margin around, and cutting out the rest. Will be back soon...

[mglush]

Hi! Using the loading the Files into stacks is a good idea--Let it open all of the files into a new document. Then having both documents open, click on all of the layers in your "Original sized document" and drag them over into the correctly sized file. A shortcut is to drag the Layer up to the title bar of the 1333 x 1000 document and then when that document opens up, drag the files down into the new document. Another way is to have both files side by side and then you can select the image in the one and drag it to the other.

Are your files Smart Objects? Because you should just be able to drag and drop the files and they will spill over the edge of the correctly sized document, but they shouldn't be cropping or squeezing them.

[Arzaloued34050870p5u4]

Thanks for the suggestion, I just tried. Unfortunately, hovering with my dragged packet of layers over the 1333x1000 document title tab does not open it. And it does not work either with a receiving 4000x3000 sized doc, so apparently if CS6 doest not react, it's not because it has no idea how to insert layers into a smaller canvas, but rather because it just does not understand the famous "hovering-above-doc-tab-with-dragged-layers-to-open-doc" action.

[r-bin]

maybe?

Menu->Image->Canvas Size (1333px x 1000px).

Then move, rotate as necessary.

[Arzaloued34050870p5u4]

I tried that. CS6 tells me that it is going to clip if I reduce the canvas. Is there a way to keep layers larger than the canvas inside the document?

[r-bin]

To avoid cutting, turn the background into a regular layer

[Arzaloued34050870p5u4]

There is no "background" in the doc CS6 creates when it stacks files as layers.

[r-bin]

So you don't need to do this step. )

Nothing will be cut off, try it.

[Arzaloued34050870p5u4]

As I wrote before, I tried, and CS6 will clip. See screen capture.
Your version of PS may behave differently?

[r-bin]

I have CS6. You were told not to pay attention to the message (or turn it off with a tick).

[Arzaloued34050870p5u4]

???  Can you point me where I was told "not to pay attenton to the message (or turn it off with a tick)" ? and by who?
I am trying to consenciously follow instructions. If I am missing messages, it's going to get very complicated.
Thanks for trying to help regardless.

[r-bin]

???  Can you point me where I was told "not to pay attenton to the message (or turn it off with a tick)" ? and by who?
I am trying to consenciously follow instructions. If I am missing messages, it's going to get very complicated.
Thanks for trying to help regardless.

By @Arzaloued34050870p5u4

https://disk.yandex.ru/i/f9JOXs0wPfjWTg

[Stephen Marsh]

I thought of this topic:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/crop-to-selection-action/td-p/9035702

However, CS6 is so old that it may not be compatible with newer features.

[Arzaloued34050870p5u4]

Thanks Stephan!

I'll look at that. I am learning tons even if not really solving my question!
... which was if there is a simple way, keyboard shortcut or macro, to force the crop box, once opened, to size itself to the preset size in order to not involve any resampling. I have the feeling that it does not exist. That's fine.

Just to "reframe" the context of my question : I am processing my pics one after the other in CS6 and they almost all involve some reframing and rotating using the crop tool before saving to 1333x1000. I wanted to save a few seconds, not going into designing a completely different workflow.

Cheers,

[mglush]

The Background layer is not in the doc--it is in the Layers panel--it is the bottom-most layer that says background. If you double click on it, it should turn it to a layer. Then try opening up Canvas Size and changing the size of the file to 1333x1000. If it comes up with a dialog box that says it will clip the canvas, go ahead and say yes and see if it is just going to clip that layer. If it does clip everything you can hit Control-Z to undo.

Try it and let us know?

Michelle

[Arzaloued34050870p5u4]

Thanks Michelle,

I do know that the "background" is the bottom layer, usely locked from the start.
This solution is interesting but not satisfactory for my purpose because horizon matching by rotation (which is part of my croping step) requires me to see all the image (the horizon is often out of the 1333x1000 frame). Unless there is a way to display the whole layer even if a large part is out of canvas?
But even if there is, again, I am trying to gain a few seconds (adjusting more quickly the crop box to 1333x1000). If the "solution" anihilates some of the crop tool other functionalities (rotating with the help of grid lines reference while seeing the whole image), it's not going to fly for me.

Thanks all for trying to help. I have learned quite a bit looking at your suggestions.

[mglush]

I understand--could you use a guideline to make it simpler and faster?Dragging out a guideline would give you something to reference when you crop and rotate. 

In any case, I wanted to give you another option to work with, but ultimately whatever gives you the most flexibility and gets the job done is the best option!

Let us know if you have any other questions!

Michelle

[Arzaloued34050870p5u4]

The horizontal and/or vertical ref. I use must by nature be contained in the image itself. Could be the horizon, a post, a building, etc. They are never the same and have all been accidentally rotated by a certain angle that must be corrected. When I reframe, I rotate the image to have those internal ref. parallele to the crop tool grid lines, so that what should be horizontal or vertical will end up as such in the final image. Once the horiz-vertic. is done, I size what I want to keep and finally, accept the crop.

I don't know what you call a "guideline" and how you would dragg it out and how it would make it simpler and faster to restaure true horizontality (is that a word?). I am quite happy with the way I proceed, except for these extra seconds required to get my crop box to measure 1333x1000, but may use Semaphoric option in certain circunstances where it may in fact be faster without hampering a correct horiz-verti. adjustement.

And I will sure come back to you guys if I have other questions! You rock!

Cheers!

[mglush]

I am glad you found a process that works!

Just a note--a guide is a line that you can drag out from either the horizontal or vertical ruler to align your image to. If you place your cursor on top of the ruler and then hold down the mouse button and drag into your document you will create a guide. I use them all the time and they are very handy!

Blessings,

Michelle

[Stephen Marsh]

Thanks Stephan!

I'll look at that. I am learning tons even if not really solving my question!

By @Arzaloued34050870p5u4

I'd probably just setup an action to create the marquee selection at the desired pixel size with Image > Crop and move on without the rule of thirds or other crop tool bells and whistles. Of course, you can use the place command to place your own custom vector crop shape with Golden Spiral, rule-of-thirds or other add-ons and then crop based on that, there are many possibilities.