Cropping an image with the Crop tool is the easiest method. You simply select the Crop tool and drag a rectangle over your image to exclude the unwanted areas. The Crop HUD appears, providing additional controls for setting the aspect ratio of the image and displaying cropping guides to help you visually align the composition of the image according to the rule of thirds.

1. Select a photo.

2. Select the Crop tool in the tool strip or the full-screen view toolbar (or press C).

   The Selection tool changes to the Crop tool, and the Crop HUD appears.

   

3. With the Crop tool selected, drag a rectangle over the image to exclude the areas that you want to trim.

   A Crop overlay appears on the image with resize handles, and the trimmed edges are dimmed.

   

4. Do any of the following:

   • To set the aspect ratio of the Crop overlay: Choose an aspect ratio from the Aspect Ratio pop-up menu, or set a custom aspect ratio by entering values in the Width and Height fields.

     

     Note: Aperture interprets small (single- and double-digit) numbers as inches and larger numbers as pixels.

   • To change the orientation of the crop: Click the Switch Aspect Ratio button.

     

     The values in the Width and Height fields are reversed, and the Crop overlay is updated to show the new orientation. (Entering a number in the Width field that is smaller than the number in the Height field sets a portrait orientation. Entering a larger number in the Width field sets a landscape orientation.)

   • To show cropping guides within the Crop overlay: Select the “Show guides” checkbox.

     

   • To change the size and shape of a Crop overlay: Drag a resize handle on the Crop overlay.

     Note: If you have choosen a fixed aspect ratio from the Aspect Ratio pop-up menu in the Crop HUD, the shape of the crop remains fixed to respect the aspect ratio setting.

     

   • To adjust the placement of the crop on the image: Drag the Crop overlay to the appropriate position.

     

5. When you’re satisfied with the composition of the crop, do one of the following:

   • Click the Apply button in the Crop HUD.

   • Click the close button (with an X) at the top-left corner of the Crop HUD.

   • Select another tool in the tool strip or the full-screen view toolbar.

     For example, select the Selection tool (or press A).

The cropped image appears in the Viewer. To make the trimmed edges visible in the Viewer again, select the Crop tool (or press C).

If you’re unhappy with how an image is cropped, you can remove the Crop and start over.

1. Select the photo with the crop you want to reset.

2. In the tool strip, select the Crop tool .

3. Click the Reset button in the Crop HUD.

You use the Crop adjustment controls when an extra level of precision is required—for example, if a client wants an image cropped to precise dimensions that don’t match the standard aspect ratios.

Aperture uses a simple coordinate system to position the Crop overlay on the image. You simply set x and y coordinates to specify the position of the bottom-left corner of the crop. The x-coordinate moves the bottom-left corner of the crop horizontally, and the y-coordinate moves the bottom-left corner of the crop vertically. Then you set the width and height to determine the area within the crop.

1. Select a photo.

2. If you wish, use the Crop tool to place a rough crop on the image.

3. If the Crop controls aren’t shown in the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD, choose Crop from the Add Adjustment pop-up menu.

4. Use the X and Y value sliders to set the position of the bottom-left corner of the crop overlay relative to the original photo.

   The X and Y values are measured in pixels.

   

5. Specify the size of the crop overlay using the Width and Height value sliders.

   The width and height values are measured in pixels.

6. To apply the crop to the image, press Return.