> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/squash/quick-guide/nodes/crop.md). # Crop Crop images to an aspect ratio or a social media size Choose a **Ratio** in the Crop section to crop your exported images. The default, **Original**, keeps the whole image; choose it again to turn cropping off. To compare with and without the crop, use the switch in the section's header; see [Turning a section off for a moment](/squash/quick-guide/nodes.md#turning-a-section-off-for-a-moment). ![The Crop section set to a 1:1 ratio with Smart placement and Match orientation on, and the preview showing a square crop frame over a bowl of oranges, with the frame's size, 1,060×1,060, below it](https://1309898043-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9hJwt9oZ5CYj9I9YIUa9%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bea434e2d29af8da271ede9baf33d9fbb5af4771%2Fsquash-4-crop.png?alt=media) Crop always takes the largest area of the ratio that fits inside the image. It never zooms in, so you don't lose more of the picture than the ratio requires. Cropping happens after [Rotate](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/rotate.md) and before Resize, Adjustments, Effects, Borders and Watermark, so watermarks are placed on the cropped image. ### Ratios The **Ratio** submenu lists common ratios: **1:1**, **4:5**, **5:4**, **3:4**, **4:3**, **2:3**, **3:2**, **9:16**, **16:9**, **1.91:1**, **2:1**, **3:1** and **21:9**. Choose **Custom**, just below **Original**, to enter your own width and height. Use the two-way arrow to swap them. Below the Ratio submenu, each social platform has a submenu of sizes. Every entry shows its ratio and pixel size. | Platform | Sizes | | --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Instagram | Square 1080 × 1080, Portrait 1080 × 1350, Grid portrait 1080 × 1440, Landscape 1080 × 566, Story / Reel 1080 × 1920 | | Facebook | Feed portrait 1080 × 1350, Link 1200 × 630, Story 1080 × 1920 | | X | Post 1600 × 900, Header 1500 × 500 | | LinkedIn | Post 1200 × 627, Square 1200 × 1200, Banner 1584 × 396 | | Pinterest | Pin 1000 × 1500 | | YouTube | Thumbnail 1280 × 720 | | TikTok | Photo / cover 1080 × 1920 | | Threads | Portrait 1080 × 1350 | | Web | Open Graph 1200 × 630 | ### Placement **Placement** decides which part of the image the crop keeps: | Placement | How it works | | ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Smart | Keeps the subject in frame. Faces count most, then people, then the main object in the picture. | | Center | Keeps the middle of the image. | | Top, Bottom, Left, Right | Keeps that edge of the image. | Smart uses Apple's Vision framework on your Mac. Nothing is uploaded. If a group of faces is too wide to fit, Smart keeps the most prominent one. When Smart finds no face, person or subject in an image, it centres the crop and the image's thumbnail in the list shows an **amber badge**. Check those images in the [preview pane](/squash/quick-guide/editor.md). ### Match orientation With **Match orientation** on, common ratios follow each image's orientation. With 16:9, a landscape photo is cropped to 16:9 and a portrait photo to 9:16. This is useful for batches with mixed orientations. Turn it off to crop every image to exactly the ratio you chose. Social sizes always keep their own shape. ### Resize to preset size With a social size, **Resize to preset size** scales the cropped image to the platform's exact pixel size. The Resize section is then turned off; click the **i** in its header to see why. Images smaller than the preset keep their cropped size unless you turn on **Enlarge smaller images**. Turn Resize to preset size off to crop to the platform's shape but keep the image's own resolution. You can then use [Resize](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/resize.md) as usual. ### Adjusting a crop by hand Select an image to show it in the [preview](/squash/quick-guide/editor.md). Click the crop icon floating at the bottom of the preview to see the whole image with the crop frame. The area outside the crop is dimmed, and the floating bar shows the crop's size in pixels. * Drag inside the frame to move it. * Drag a corner to resize it. The frame stays locked to the ratio. * Click the circular arrow (**Reset to Smart**) to go back to the automatic crop. * Click the checkmark (**Done**), or press Return, to go back to the before and after view. Adjusted images show a crop badge in the list. A hand-made crop belongs to that image only. If you change the ratio afterwards, the crop keeps its centre and fits itself to the new shape. Output sizes, file names that use pixel-size tokens, and descriptive filenames all update when a crop changes. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters: ``` GET https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/squash/quick-guide/nodes/crop.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.