cropping in Lightroom 5: When I crop in Lr5, I am only able to create a box and move it within the original. How do I crop only one side, or only the top, while keeping everything else?

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

When I crop in Lr5, I am only able to create a box and move it within the original. How do I crop only one side, or only the top, while keeping everything else?

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Greenguy33 wrote:

When I crop in Lr5, I am only able to create a box and move it within the original. How do I crop only one side, or only the top, while keeping everything else?

In my copy of Lightroom 5.6 (Mac), after I select the cropping tool, the image is surrounded by a border with "handles" at the center point of each edge. All I have to do to crop one side is to select the handle and move it into the image.

There are preferences to constrain cropping (and the Shift key can be used also to cause the crop to maintain its proportional size). Have you checked those?

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

Just Fred wrote:

In my copy of Lightroom 5.6 (Mac), after I select the cropping tool, the image is surrounded by a border with "handles" at the center point of each edge. All I have to do to crop one side is to select the handle and move it into the image.

There are preferences to constrain cropping (and the Shift key can be used also to cause the crop to maintain its proportional size). Have you checked those?

Thanks. I must be doing something wrong. I just can't figure it out. I select the cropping tool, but it just makes the box bigger or smaller. I can't crop just one side.

AZNikon Loc: Mesa, AZ

Greenguy33 wrote:

When I crop in Lr5, I am only able to create a box and move it within the original. How do I crop only one side, or only the top, while keeping everything else?

In the Loupe View and Develop mode, click on the Crop icon. You will see a Padlock which locks your Aspect Ratio when active. To shut off the Aspect Ratio lock, simply click on the Padlock. You can then crop from just one side or more.

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

bobbennett wrote:

In the Loupe View and Develop mode, click on the Crop icon. You will see a Padlock which locks your Aspect Ratio when active. To shut off the Aspect Ratio lock, simply click on the Padlock. You can then crop from just one side or more.

thanks Bob!

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Don't forget that while you're in the Crop tool, you can easily level out your horizon at the same time. Nothing messes with the human mind like an ocean shot that isn't level!

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

Mr PC wrote:

Don't forget that while you're in the Crop tool, you can easily level out your horizon at the same time. Nothing messes with the human mind like an ocean shot that isn't level!

Good advice Mr PC, thanks!

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Mr PC wrote:

Nothing messes with the human mind like an ocean shot that isn't level!

Amen to that! (former Naval officer of 20 years concurs with this assessment).

Hankwt Loc: kingsville ontario

I thought the ocean wasn't flat ??? Damn you C Columbus

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

And....if you have the padlock locked (to maintain the aspect ratio) you can change from portrait to landscape with the "x" key. Not immediately obvious.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Greenguy33 wrote:

When I crop in Lr5, I am only able to create a box and move it within the original. How do I crop only one side, or only the top, while keeping everything else?

There is a little lock icon in the crop control. Click to unlock, and then you can move all four sides independently. Otherwise it will keep the same aspect ratio.

Conversely, once you have the ratio you like, you can lock this in and then resize keep the aspect ratio to whatever you set it.

HTH

jaygreen55 Loc: Westport CT

Greenguy33 wrote:

When I crop in Lr5, I am only able to create a box and move it within the original. How do I crop only one side, or only the top, while keeping everything else?

It's a very simple fix. Click on the lock icon in the right side of the crop dialogue box. This unlocks the aspect ratio and you can move either side, top or bottom independently

anneabc

Hi, I've cropped to 11x17 in Lightroom 5. I realized I wanted instead to crop to 12x18. I've made other changes to the image, and sometimes the crop may be made before I made final changes. Is there a way to go back without pushing reset? When I go to the History panel, nothing shows as far as changes I made. Also, sometimes when I push reset, nothing happens. Thanks

10MPlayer Loc: California

Psergel wrote:

And....if you have the padlock locked (to maintain the aspect ratio) you can change from portrait to landscape with the "x" key. Not immediately obvious.

Thanks for that tip. I've struggled with it before and never managed to figure it out.

dannac Loc: 60 miles SW of New Orleans

Greenguy33 wrote:

Thanks. I must be doing something wrong. I just can't figure it out. I select the cropping tool, but it just makes the box bigger or smaller. I can't crop just one side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvwssH0EV7c