1. Choose a desired resolution. The intended use of an image determines its ideal resolution. Images that will be printed should be 300 dots per inch (DPI), or more if your printer supports higher resolution. There is no advantage to sending files to a printer at a higher resolution than the printer can support.
2. Determine the desired size of the image. Prints are commonly 3 by 5, 5 by 7, 8 by 10, or 8 by 12 inches. A common size will allow the use of off-the-shelf frames and matting, which are much cheaper than custom sizes. Adjust the size of images targeted for LCD screens to fill as much of the screen as desired.
3. Choose the cropping tool and set it for the size you want the finished photo to be. Most software packages allow you to define the size of the cropping tool, and many provide a locking aspect ratio feature. Locking the aspect ratio will prevent distortion of the horizontal and vertical perspectives.
4. Select the portion of the picture you wish to use, and outline this with the cropping tool. There is no single correct way to crop a photo, and the way you crop a photo can significantly affect the artistic impact of the photo. The resources provided offer a few tips.
5. Configure your image software for the number of DPI you wish to have in the image. Printed photographs are usually resolved to 300 DPI, while those being displayed on a LCD monitor are usually 72 or 96 DPI. This adjustment is usually located in the 'Image' menu, and may be part of the resize command.
6. Accept the cropping result. Your software should generate a new image with the requested resolution and size. If the size is still incorrect, most software packages offer a resize command to adjust the image size. If you wish to resize your image to a considerably larger size, many software packages provide better results if the resizing is done is several smaller steps.
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