8 Replies Latest reply: Jun 19, 2012 10:35 AM by R_Kelly RSS

    ruler function change in CS6

    robirdman1 Community Member

      In CS4, I could crop a larger picture to a size such as 9"x12" without actually resizing it, just eliminating the unwanted areas.

      It seems this is no longer possible as now when cropping, the positions on the rullers are not marked as I determine the crop size.  So I can set the size to be 9x12, and whatever crops will expand to that, I assume with interpolated pixels and possible detail loss. 

       

      If unconstrained is used, then you don't know what the size will be till the crop is done and it realigns with the rulers.

      Am I missing some setting or can it just no longer work this way.

       

      Before, I could either enter the numbers, such as 6"  8" 300dpi, if I wanted to enlarge a smaller image, as I still can do now. 

      But also, with CS4, I  had made a preset with no numbers, similar to unconstrained, but with the positions showing on the rulers, so I could draw to whatever size I wanted, within a larger image, so when a crop was made, area was removed but there was no refiguring of the size.  This is more like cutting out a picture on paper, while now it seems only a stretching of the area can be done, .

        • 1. Re: ruler function change in CS6
          janelle_f Employee Hosts

          robirdman1-
          I see what you are saying about the ruler indicators not being shown when cropping. You are able to change it back to "use classic" as I displayed below to be able to visually crop with the rulers displaying indicators.
          Screen-Shot-2012-06-12-at-3.27.04-PM.jpg
          regards,
          janelle

          • 2. Re: ruler function change in CS6
            Trevor.Dennis Community Member

            Have you got the HUD turned on in Preferences?  (It shows a little window with sizes next to the curso when draging a handle.)  The default is for the Ruler to be set at 0,0 on the top left corner of the image, so as you drag, you can see exactly how wide or high the image will be after cropping, without having to look at the ruler.  If you want a specific size or resolution, hit the r key, but you have to at least nudge a handle before it will come up.

             

            crop.jpg

            • 3. Re: ruler function change in CS6
              Noel Carboni Community Member

              As a possible workaround, and I don't know why more people don't suggest this, you could use the Perspective Crop Tool.

               

              Just don't drag the corners - drag the handles at the centers of the edges instead.

               

              If you do that, it works just like the old crop tool used to, and it even puts up little marks in the rulers while dragging the edges.

               

              -Noel

              • 4. Re: ruler function change in CS6
                robirdman1 Community Member

                How do you get to that screen?

                • 5. Re: ruler function change in CS6
                  Noel Carboni Community Member

                  Click the little "gear" icon while the Crop Tool is current.

                   

                  -Noel

                  • 6. Re: ruler function change in CS6
                    robirdman1 Community Member

                    That was just what I needed.  thanks very much.

                    • 7. Re: ruler function change in CS6
                      conroy Community Member

                      For the equivalent of physically cropping a photo print, I have a workaround which removes the need to drag the crop boundary to specific sizes.

                       

                      If there's a selection when the Crop Tool is activated, the crop boundary is initially snapped to the selection's x and y extents.

                       

                      Set up presets for the Rectangular Marquee Tool at the fixed sizes which you commonly crop to.

                       

                      Screen shot 2012-06-19 at 15.51.15.png

                       

                      When you want to crop an image, activate RMT, pick the required preset and click in the image. That provides the correctly-sized crop region instead of the maximum region with required proportions.

                       

                      Now activate the Crop Tool to instantly have the correctly-sized crop boundary which just needs moved into position.

                       

                      Alternatively, position the marquee as desired then just use the Image > Crop command instead of the Crop Tool.

                      • 8. Re: ruler function change in CS6
                        R_Kelly Community Member

                        That's a really good workaround. It even says Selection in the tool options bar.

                         

                        I have a script that does basically the same thing in older versions of photoshop.