About the Image Cropper
This image cropper cuts a rectangular region out of a photo, either using a common aspect ratio such as a centred square, or an exact pixel region you specify yourself. Aspect ratio crops are centred automatically, which is the fastest way to reframe a photo for a profile picture or a fixed layout slot. Everything happens locally in your browser using the Canvas API, so the original file is never uploaded.
How to use the Image Cropper
- 1
Upload the image you want to crop.
- 2
Pick a preset ratio such as 1:1 for a square, or choose 'Custom region' to enter exact coordinates.
- 3
For a custom crop, set the left and top offset plus the width and height in pixels.
- 4
Download the cropped image once the preview matches what you want.
What people use it for
Creating a profile picture
Crop a rectangular photo to a centred square before uploading it somewhere that expects a 1:1 avatar.
Reframing for a specific layout
Crop to 16:9 for a video thumbnail slot, or 9:16 for a vertical story format, without needing image editing software.
Removing an unwanted edge
Use a custom pixel region to trim a border, a watermark, or someone accidentally caught at the edge of the frame.
How a centred aspect-ratio crop is chosen
Given a target ratio, the tool compares it to the source image's own ratio and works out the largest region of that shape that fits entirely inside the original, then centres it. Cropping a wide landscape photo to a square keeps the full height and trims equally from each side; cropping a tall portrait photo to a square keeps the full width and trims equally from top and bottom. This centring is a reasonable default when the subject is roughly in the middle of the frame, but it is not aware of where faces or objects actually sit — a custom pixel region gives full control when the automatic centring cuts off something you need.
Reading pixel coordinates for a custom crop
Image coordinates start at (0, 0) in the top-left corner and increase rightward and downward, which is the opposite vertical direction from a standard maths graph. The left and top offsets tell the tool where the crop region begins, and the width and height tell it how far to extend from that point. All four numbers together must fit inside the original image's dimensions, which the tool shows once you upload a file — if the offset plus the size would extend past the edge, the crop is rejected with a message telling you why.
Tips
- Note the original width and height shown after uploading — it makes working out custom crop coordinates far easier.
- For a portrait subject, a 4:5 or 3:4 ratio usually frames a face more naturally than a strict square.
- Crop before resizing when doing both, so you are not resizing pixels you are about to discard anyway.