Enter Crop mode with Cmd+K or via Photo > Crop. The crop tool displays the photo with a crop overlay and controls at the bottom of the window.

Ratio Options

The ratio picker provides the following options:

Option Description
As Shot Original image proportions, no crop applied
Custom Enter a custom width and height ratio
Free Unconstrained crop, any proportions
Square 1:1

Standard ratios are available in Portrait and Landscape orientations:

Portrait: 2:3, 3:4, 4:5, 9:16

Landscape: 3:2, 4:3, 5:4, 16:9

When using a Custom ratio, width and height fields appear with steppers for fine adjustment.

When a ratio is selected, click the X button on the ratio to swap its dimensions (e.g. 3:2 landscape becomes 2:3 portrait).

Gestures

All crop adjustments are made via direct manipulation on the photo:

  • Move: drag inside the crop area to reposition
  • Resize: drag a corner or edge handle to resize the crop. Hold Option while resizing to resize from the center
  • Straighten: drag near the corners (outside the crop handles) to rotate

The cursor changes contextually to indicate the available gesture — a hand for moving, a rotation cursor for straightening.

Rotation

A text field displays the current rotation with 0.1-degree precision. The stepper increments or decrements by 0.1 degrees.

Confirming and Cancelling

Shortcut Action
Return Confirm crop
Escape Cancel crop

Confirming applies the crop and rotation to the photo. Cancelling discards changes and returns to the previous mode.

Resetting Crop

Cmd+R resets the crop when in Crop mode. In other modes, Cmd+R resets the balance.