Cropping a layer

[Cees Coenen]

Hi, I can't crop a layer:
- I have a background layer
- I have add two images (as new layers)
- I have resize the images (like two portrait pics)

I now will remove space at both side of the pics (layers). How can I do that?

[Andrius]

Hi Cees, it might seem a little counterintuitive at first, but to crop a layer, you don't use the Crop tool. That's designed to crop the entire image/design. To crop individual layers, you'd need to use the Rectangular Selection tool (or some of the other selection tools, based on the shape you need). Here's one way of doing this:

1. In the Layers sidebar, click to select the layer you'd like crop
2. Choose the Rectangular Selection tool
3. Draw a selection of the areas you'd like to keep
4. Choose Edit > Invert Selection (or press the Shift-Command-I keyboard shortcut) and then choose Edit > Delete (or press the Backspace key)
5. Chose Edit > Deselect (or press the Command-D keyboard shortcut) to clear your selection

Hope that helps!

[Cees Coenen]

Hi Andrius,

Many thanks! Its works

[Andrius]

Awesome, glad to hear it!

[Michael Friend]

I've been trying to figure out a way to crop layers. Thanks for this tip! I was going crazy!

[Andrius]

Heh, you aren't the first to get stumped by this — glad to hear you were eventually able to find this thread.

[R0bD]

Hey - I'm following this method but when I hit delete the entire layer gets deleted, rather than just the inverted selection....what am I missing?

Thanks

[Cees Coenen]

Maybe first deselect all?

[R0bD]

Maybe first deselect all?

...thanks for the response but I tried that..

[Andrius]

Are you possibly trying to delete a shape or text layer? If so, they aren't affected by selections, so you'd need to convert the layer into pixels first (Format > Convert into Pixels). If you'd rather keep the layers editable, you can also use masks to achieve the same result. In that case, while the selection is active, in the Layers sidebar, Control-click the layer you'd like to 'crop' (i.e. mask) and choose Add Mask.

Hope that helps!

[R0bD]

Hey Andrius - converting to pixels worked - many thanks!

[Andrius]

Awesome, glad to hear it worked!

[Jin Baek]

So great! Thank you Andrius.
I also found a great tip to make the fit size. images >> trim canvas and remove unused space.
Great tool!

[gpillsbury]

Thanks for the explanation - this worked for me as well. Trimming an existing layer is way too difficult at the moment in Pixlemator Pro.