Default measurements for the crop tool

[adarlington]

Hi,

When using the crop tool, if you enter a measurement in the height and width boxes and then hit "return", the measurement automatically defaults to centimetres.

As I use Photoshop for the web exclusively, is there any way to make the default pixels instead of cm?

Thanks,

Andy

[Medley]

You know, maybe I'm just wierd (I'm SURE Excruciating would'nt disagree....), but I rarely use the crop tool to crop.

Here's what I do: Use the rectangular marquee to make a selection. Using the tool bar at the top, you can set it to Inches, centimeters, pixels etc. You can also set it to a specific ratio, or even a specific size. While making the selection, you can hold the spacebar down to move it around.

Once I have the selection made, go to Edit> Copy to copy the selection to your computer's clipboard. Now go to File> New. You'll find that the file preset is automatically set to "clipboard" and the new file's dimensions are the dimensions of the selection you just made. Click OK, to open the new file, and then Edit> Paste to paste the selection neatly onto a new layer within that file. Merge down or Flatten the file, and save your "cropped" image.

The real beauty of this method is that the original file is still active in the background, and can be saved for future use.

I've found this technique to be very handy. Thought you might too.

-Medley.

[adarlington]

Thank you, Medley, I shall try that.

Does anyone know about the deafault pixels for the crop tool as well though?

[adarlington]

Hi, can anyone help with this? Please!!!

[bripriuk]

Hi
Post deleted - I was talking rubbish

Brian

[bripriuk]

Another useful tip is to save frequently used crops as a preset - see the pic below. Click on 1, then 2, then 'New Preset'



Brian

[adarlington]

Thanks Brian - that looks really useful.

As for the defaults, am I stuck with cm?

[bripriuk]

Hi
I think what you need is to set Edit>Preferences> Units and Rulers to 'Pixels'. You can also set this by clicking on the '+' in the bottom left-hand corner of the Info pallette (press f8 ).
If you already have a crop setting in pixels, just delete the number and leave the 'px'. You can also type the number, then immediatly right-click and select 'pixels'.


Brian

[adarlington]

It works! Thanks Bri - you're a legend!