Are you looking to crop an image into a perfect circle? Whether you need it for a presentation, a thumbnail for a YouTube video, or any other purpose, I’ve got you covered. In this guide, I’ll show you how to crop an image into a perfect circle using two popular software options: Paint and Paint 3D.
Why Crop an Image into a Circle?
Before we dive into the process, let’s understand the importance of cropping an image into a circle. While many online tools and editing applications allow only horizontal and vertical cropping, circular crops offer a unique and visually appealing look. Circular images are commonly used in presentations, social media profiles, websites, and more to add a touch of creativity and professionalism.
Now, let’s get started with the step-by-step instructions for cropping an image into a perfect circle using Paint and Paint 3D.
Using Paint to Crop an Image into a Circle
Paint is a simple yet powerful image editing tool that comes pre-installed on Windows computers. Follow these steps to crop an image into a perfect circle using Paint:
Open Paint on your Windows computer. You can access Paint by typing “Paint” in the search bar and selecting the application from the results.
Click on File in the top-left corner of the Paint window and select Open. Choose the image file you want to crop into a circle and click Open.
Once the image is opened in Paint, click on the Select dropdown menu in the top toolbar and choose Elliptical selection. This tool allows you to make circular selections.
Click and drag your mouse to draw a circle around the area you want to crop. Make sure the circle covers the desired portion of the image.
With the circle selected, go to the Home tab in the top toolbar and click on the Crop button. This will remove the areas outside the circle, effectively cropping the image into a perfect circle.
Finally, click on File and select Save As to save the cropped image. Choose your desired file name, location, and file format (such as JPEG or PNG) and click Save.
That’s it! You have successfully cropped an image into a perfect circle using Paint. Now, let’s move on to using Paint 3D for more advanced cropping options.
Using Paint 3D to Create a Circular Crop
Paint 3D is an upgraded version of Paint, offering more features and flexibility when it comes to image editing. Follow these steps to crop an image into a perfect circle using Paint 3D:
Open Paint 3D on your Windows computer. You can find it by typing “Paint 3D” in the search bar and selecting the application from the results.
Click on the New button to start a new project in Paint 3D.
Go to the Menu in the top-left corner of the Paint 3D window and select Insert. Choose the image file you want to crop into a circle and click Open.
Once the image is inserted, go to the 2D Shapes section in the top toolbar and select the Circle shape. This will allow you to draw a perfect circle on the image.
Click and drag your mouse to draw a circle around the area you want to crop. Adjust the size and position of the circle until it covers the desired portion of the image.
With the circle selected, go to the Brushes section in the top toolbar and choose the Marker tool. Set the Thickness to 100 percent.
Color the area outside the circle with black using the Marker tool. Make sure to fill in everything except the circular area you want to keep. If you make any mistakes, you can press Ctrl + Z to undo.
Once you have filled the area outside the circle with black, click on the Magic Select button in the top toolbar and then click Next on the right side of the window.
The software will automatically detect the circle boundary, as shown in the preview. If needed, you can manually add or remove sections to refine the cutout.
After making any necessary adjustments, click on Done to finalize the circular crop.
You can now move the circular crop away from the rest of the image by clicking and dragging it. This will separate it from the background.
To make the background transparent, go to the Canvas section in the top toolbar and turn on the Transparent Canvas option.
Finally, go to File and select Save As to save the cropped image. Choose your desired file name, location, and file format (such as PNG) and click Save.
Congratulations! You have successfully cropped an image into a perfect circle using Paint 3D. These simple steps allow you to create visually appealing circular crops for various purposes.
Conclusion
Cropping an image into a perfect circle can add a touch of creativity and professionalism to your presentations, social media profiles, websites, and more. In this guide, we explored two popular software options, Paint and Paint 3D, for creating circular crops. With the step-by-step instructions provided, you can easily crop your images into perfect circles and enhance their visual impact.
Remember, while Paint offers a straightforward method for circular cropping, Paint 3D provides more advanced features and flexibility. Choose the software that best suits your needs and start creating stunning circular crops today!
If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it with others who might benefit from learning how to crop images into perfect circles. Happy cropping!
