You can crop a canvas in GIMP by using the Crop Tool, accessible through the Toolbox or the Tools menu.
Here's a breakdown of how to do it:
1. Accessing the Crop Tool:
- Toolbox: The quickest way is to find the Crop Tool icon in the Toolbox. It usually looks like a scalpel or a crossed rectangle. Click it.
- Menu: Alternatively, go to Tools → Transform Tools → Crop in the image window's menu bar.
2. Defining the Crop Area:
- Once the Crop Tool is active, your cursor will change.
- Click and drag on the canvas to draw a rectangular selection. This selection represents the area you want to keep after cropping. You can adjust the size and position of this rectangle by clicking and dragging the edges or corners.
3. Fine-tuning the Crop:
- Options Panel: The Tool Options panel (usually docked below the Toolbox) allows you to further refine your crop. You can set a fixed aspect ratio, specific width and height, or guide lines to help you compose your image. Experiment with these options to get the desired result.
- Adjusting Selection: You can still adjust the selection area by clicking and dragging the handles (small squares) on the corners and sides of the selection.
4. Applying the Crop:
- Once you're satisfied with the selection, you can apply the crop by:
- Double-clicking inside the selection.
- Pressing the Enter key.
Example:
Let's say you have an image that's 800x600 pixels, but you only want a 400x300 pixel section. You'd select the Crop Tool, drag a rectangle to cover the desired area, adjust the handles until it's the correct size and in the right position, and then press Enter to crop the image.
