Unit 3 · NovemberUpcoming

Photo Editing & Cropping

Edit with purpose. Crop with impact. Learn editing tools and how cropping changes composition and meaning.

Photo editingCropping & compositionColor gradingPrint preparation

Vocabulary

Crop

Removing the outer edges of an image to change its composition, focus, or aspect ratio. Cropping is one of the most powerful editing decisions a photographer makes.

Aspect Ratio

The proportional relationship between an image's width and height (e.g. 4:3, 16:9, 1:1). Different aspect ratios suit different uses and create different feelings.

Tone

The overall lightness, darkness, and color temperature of an image. Adjusting tone is the foundation of photo editing.

Histogram

A graph showing the distribution of tones in an image from pure black (left) to pure white (right). A well-exposed image usually has tones spread across the full range.

Color Grade

Adjusting the colors of an image to create a specific mood or aesthetic — warmer, cooler, more saturated, more muted. Color grading is distinct from color correction.

Print-Ready

An image file that has been prepared for printing — correct resolution (300 DPI), correct color mode (CMYK or RGB depending on printer), and correct dimensions.

Composition (in editing)

Editing decisions — crop, straighten, remove distractions — that affect how the viewer reads the image. Editing is a second chance to compose.

Projects — 3 total

Editor's Portfolio — 5 Edits

Select 5 of your own photos and edit each one with intention using Lightroom or Photoshop.

Cropped Compositions — 5

Take 5 existing photos and create dramatically different compositions through cropping alone.

Print-Ready Image for Printmaking

Edit and prepare one of your photos as a high-contrast, print-ready file for use in Unit 4 printmaking.

Unit 2: Texture Grid — From Photo to Print (Bridge Unit)Unit 4: Adobe 12 Days of Creativity (Digital Design)