Crop and straighten photographs
What you will do
Section titled “What you will do”Start with an imported photograph that needs tighter framing or a level horizon. Use the Cropping panel to choose the composition and angle, then export a separate JPEG without overwriting the source photograph.
Before you start
Section titled “Before you start”Create a project and import the photographs you want to work on.
Decide where the photograph will be used before choosing its shape. A square frame may suit one destination, while another may need more space around the subject. Keep important details away from any edge that will be removed.
Choose the framing and aspect ratio
Section titled “Choose the framing and aspect ratio”- In the photo grid, select a photograph, then open it in the large photograph view.
- Select the crop icon on the right toolbar. The Cropping panel opens.
- Under Aspect ratio, choose the ratio required for the photograph’s destination. Select 1:1 for a square frame.
- Use the rule-of-thirds grid to place the subject. The area outside the crop is dimmed; keep the subject and any details you want inside the bright frame.

Straighten or rotate the photograph
Section titled “Straighten or rotate the photograph”- In Angle, enter a small value and compare a strong horizontal or vertical line with the grid.
- Adjust the value until the line looks level. Change the sign if the photograph moves in the wrong direction.
- Check the subject and all four edges. If the rotation reveals empty areas or removes wanted content, reduce the angle or revise the framing.

The screenshot uses -12.0 to make the rotation easy to see. Use the smallest correction that levels your photograph while keeping the composition you want.
Export a copy without replacing the original
Section titled “Export a copy without replacing the original”- Return to the gallery and select the photograph.
- Export a full-size JPEG copy. Keep any retouching and color corrections that you want in the finished photograph enabled; do not turn them off to match the screenshots in this chapter.
- Choose a new subfolder or add a suffix under Add to the Name, leave Resize to fit off, and start the export.
- Open Export and Render History. The export is complete when it shows COMPLETED.
Optional: inspect the exported copy
Section titled “Optional: inspect the exported copy”This check is optional for a working copy. Before delivering the photograph, open a representative exported JPEG in an image viewer and check its framing, orientation, and details near the edges.
Check the result
Section titled “Check the result”The photograph should have the shape required for its destination without cutting through the subject or removing details you need. Lines that should be level should look level. If you exported a delivery copy, use the file itself—not only its COMPLETED status—to judge the final framing.
Optional: discard the crop adjustments
Section titled “Optional: discard the crop adjustments”Skip this section when you want to keep the crop. If you change your mind, select the circular reset icon beside Angle; its tooltip is Reset. This clears both adjustments: Aspect ratio returns to Free and Angle returns to 0.0.

If it does not work
Section titled “If it does not work”- No crop control is available: make sure the photograph is open in the large photograph view. Zooming the preview does not crop the photograph.
- The ratio changes but the frame does not: wait for the photograph to finish loading, then select 1:1 again.
- The rotation creates empty areas or cuts into the subject: reduce the Angle value or select Reset and try a different crop.
- The exported dimensions are unexpected: check whether Resize to fit was on. Export to a new file while you troubleshoot so the original remains safe.
- The export does not complete: check the task status and error in Export and Render History. Do not use an incomplete file.