In this article, you will learn the different methods on how you can crop pictures in MS Word.
3 Ways to Crop a Picture in MS Word
- Crop a picture by manually setting the crop area
- Crop a picture to a shape
- Crop a picture to an aspect ratio
Method 1: Crop a Picture Manually by Setting the Crop Area
The first on the list of methods allows you to directly manipulate the cropping handles.
Cropping handles are the lines that appear around a picture when you select a Crop option.
You will adjust them manually until you crop your picture into your preferred look.
Step 1: Open the document that you need to format.
Step 2: Access the Format tab under Picture Tools
Click on the Picture. It will make the Format tab active on the Ribbon.
Go to Crop under the Format tab.
Step 3: Display Cropping Handles
Click the Crop Button
Notice that cropping handles will appear around your picture. You can now adjust them to crop your picture.
Step 4: Adjust / Move the cropping handles
Define the area you want to keep and remove by adjusting the cropping handles. Click and drag each handle until you achieve your preferred crop area.
If you intend to keep the original ratio, hold down the Shift key while dragging the corner cropping handles.
You can also keep the cropping area centered by holding down the Ctrl key while adjusting the handles.
As you adjust the cropping handles, you will notice that areas outside the cropping handles are highlighted in dark color. This shows you a quick preview on how your picture will look like once you complete the crop command.
In some situations, you need to adjust the picture area so that you can fix the layout of other objects in your document. You can also use the cropping handles to do this. Simply adjust the cropping handles outside the picture to extend the area that it will occupy. A sample image applying this concept is shown below.
When you apply this concept, you can move the picture in this area. Any portion of the picture that will extend beyond the area will be cropped.
Step 4: Finish applying the crop command and make necessary changes if needed.
Finalize your crop area and click anywhere outside the picture to apply the crop command. Upon doing so, you will notice that the selected picture will be cropped accordingly.
Keep in mind that, MS Word stores the complete data of a photo even if you crop it.
Suppose you want to readjust the crop area, you can always do it by repeating all the steps.
Method 2: Crop a Picture to a Shape
As the title implies, MS Word also offers a feature that allows you to make a selected picture take the form of a shape. You can choose from a collection of available shapes and apply it to your picture. This method will also make use of the Crop drop-down list that is available on the Format tab.
Below are the steps on how you can do it.
Step 1: Find and open the document that contains the picture.
Step 2: Make the Format tab under Picture Tools active.
Selecting a picture in your document will display the Format tab on the ribbon. Make it active by clicking the picture you need to edit and subsequently, click the Format tab under Picture Tools. This tab contains the controls you will use for the next step.
Step 3: Select the shape that you will apply as the picture’s new form.
Focus on the Size group of the Format tab. In here, click the Crop drop-down button to display a list of additional commands. Move your mouse pointer over the Crop to Shape option. This will display a collection of shapes that you can apply. Decide on the shape that you need to apply and click it from the collection. Your picture will be cropped according to your selected shape.
Method 3: Crop a Picture to an Aspect Ratio
The last method on the list allows you to crop pictures into standard formats. You can choose among square, portrait, and landscape formats depending on your need. Use this method if you intend to crop a picture into a more formal appearance. A scenario that best exemplifies this is when you need to crop your own picture into an ID picture size.
To use this method, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Locate the document that contains the picture and open it.
Step 2: Select the picture that you need to crop and open the Format tab.
In your document, click on the picture that you intend to crop. Notice that as you click on it, the Format tab appears on the ribbon. Activate the Format tab by clicking it. From the Format tab, locate the Size group. This contains the Aspect Ratio command that you will use in the next step.
Step 3: Select the desired aspect ratio
From the Size group, click on the Crop drop-down button to view a list of extra commands. Move your mouse pointer over the Aspect Ratio option to display the formats that you can apply. The Aspect Ratio options are grouped by Square, Portrait and Landscape. Click the option that satisfies your need. Upon clicking, the selected picture will automatically adapt to your option.
Conclusion
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