Smart_Photography_-_December_2015_

LEARNING

Understanding Photography

Cropping: This is done for removing

the unwanted areas in an image to

improve composition and is also used

to change the aspect ratio (width

to height proportion). In addition,

cropping must be done compulsorily

whenever an image is straightened for

correcting the inclination or rotation

for whatever reason. If you use the

Lens Corrections Tool for correcting

improper level (you just read about

this) the cropping is done automatically

while maintaining the same aspect

ratio as the original.

For cropping, first click on the Crop

Overlay tool (Picture 5-5↓1) and then

on Crop Frame tool (Picture 5-5↓2).

Now you will see that an overlay has

appeared on the image. At this stage

you must determine the aspect ratio.

You can do this by clicking on Aspect

(Picture 5-5↓3) and then from the

pop-up menu choosing the aspect ratio.

Choice of Original here will maintain

the same aspect ratio of the original

image. If you are planning to print the

image, I suggest you choose some of the

standard aspect ratios like 8X10, 4X6,

etc.

Pay attention to the Lock symbol

(Picture 5-5↓4). If you choose a specific

aspect ratio, then the Lock symbol will

close (locked, that is) and you will not

be able to change it. You can make the

crop overlay bigger or smaller but you

will be constrained to the aspect ratio

chosen. If you click on the Lock, it will

get unlocked. You can change the aspect

ratio arbitrarily as you wish now and

the word Aspect (Picture 5-5↓3) will

change to Custom to show that it is not

a standard one anymore.

You can easily move the overlay once

you are satisfied with the aspect ratio

and size, by dragging it. (Note: Clicking

and moving the mouse while keeping

the button pressed is called dragging)

I also recommend that you keep the

Constrain To Warp (Picture 5-5↓5)

check box ticked. This will prevent

some problems that might occur when

lens corrections are made.

Manual Straightening: You have

already seen how you can remove

alignment errors automatically

by using the Lens Correction tool.

Lightroom actually does a pretty

decent job of this and I recommend

that you use it. If you still want to align

your images manually, then you can

click on the Angle tool (Picture 5-5↓6).

Now, find an element in the image that

you want to be perfectly horizontal.

Examples are roof of building, a wall,

horizon, water body, etc.). Drag to

draw a line that will be parallel to the

element that you want to be perfectly

horizontal. Press Return key to correct

the problem.

Important Points when using the

Crop Overlay tool:

• Pressing the Return key will
  complete the operation. Alternatively
  you can also click on the Done button
  at the bottom right of the Preview area.


• Remember that cropping throws
  away pixels, hence it is better you
  know the pixel count of the cropped
  image. To see this, activate the overlay
  by pressing the “I” key. The first press

of “I” will give you file name plus

exposure data and the second press the

pixel count. Another press will make

the overlay disappear (See also Table

5-1).

• Pressing “x” key will toggle the
  cropping overlay from Landscape to
  Portrait format and vice versa.

At this stage, you have corrected the

lens errors. Other operations like fixing

inclination, correcting perspective

and cropping are also completed, if

needed. In other words your image is

now properly prepped to go to the next

stage of development.

Picture 5-5: The Crop Overlay tool for cropping and

manually straightening images.

5-5↓1 Crop Overlay tool

5-5↓2 Crop Frame

5-5↓3 Aspect ratios

5-5↓4 Lock for aspect ratio

5-5↓5 Constrain To Warp check box

5-5↓6 Angle tool

98 http://www.smartphotography.in

Smart Photography December 2015