Crop assistance tool? - DPChallenge Forums

11/24/2004 10:59:39 PM · #1

Is there a plugin for PS CS that would help to crop shots with the rule of thirds?

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

11/25/2004 11:49:10 AM · #2

~13 hours and 47 views later, no replies?

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

11/25/2004 11:52:17 AM · #3

There's no set crop. It would depend on the image. The photographer would have to decide what the best shot (or crop) is...imo.

Jen

colda

Nikon D800

11/25/2004 11:54:13 AM · #4

I don't use PS so I can't help you on that score, but I have used software that did include a crop tool with a 3rd's grid. I can't say with certainty but I believe that it was ACDSee v6 (the 'pro' not the standard version).

Sorry I can't be more specific - hope this helps

Darren

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

11/25/2004 12:00:16 PM · #5

Oops, sorry. I've never heard of such a thing. So it doesn't crop for you, it just lays out a grid?

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

11/25/2004 12:14:48 PM · #6

Microsoft's Digital Suite's crop tool uses a grid of nine sqaures as you pull it accross the photo to help with the rule of threes. Pretty handy to see the results.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

11/25/2004 03:21:22 PM · #7

butterflysis: yeah, i was looking for something that shows 1/3 guidelines that stretch and move as you change your crop area - i realize my original question was vague. i was not looking for an "auto crop" button. :^)

colda: i'll check it out. thanks!

jbsmithana: that's what i was looking for, but clearly couldn't articulate well last night. i'll check out that one too. thanks!

does anyone else know if there is a crop plugin for PS that works like the other two programs?

magicshutter

Nikon D70

11/25/2004 03:27:02 PM · #8

Hey Bikeracer,

Wuz up, the best tool for cropping that I could find is Nikon Capture 4.1. It'll run you around 100 bucks but it's awesome for things like cropping. And if you use Nikon Raw files it really kicks butt because you can do pretty much anything to a raw file within the program (i.e. change any setting excluding aperture and shutter speed.. You can even change ISO in some instances.)

Don't know if this is an option for you, but will solve your problem.

Joe

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/26/2004 10:44:48 PM · #9

thanks magicshutter. don't think it will work for me since i have a canon. :(

TechnoShroom

Canon EOS-30D

11/27/2004 03:51:16 AM · #10

Here's what you do.

Open CS, then click Edit>Preferences>Guides, Grid & Slices and set "Gridline every:" to 33.3 and percent. Set "Subdivisions:" to 1. Save the preferences and Open one of your photos. Make sure under the View Menu that Extras and Show Grid are checked and Snap To and Grid are checked. You'll see now that the photo has a grid showing the rule of thirds lines.

This will just show you the rule of thirds but for cropping you'd have to guess or make multiple crops to see how things lined up. If you want to do a little more work you can take this and make something very useful.

Create a new layer. Using the rectangular marquee tool select the top row and center stroke it with the color of your choice. A thick stroke and a bright color (ex 5 pt and 255,0,0)make it very easy to see. Repeat this for each row and column.

With this new layer still selected select all and copy. Click File>New and click Ok. Click Edit>Paste. Delete the background layer. Save the file with a useful name like Rule of Thirds Overlay.

What you now have is a layer you can drag onto any photo that shows you the rule of thirds. If you want to crop, just scale the layer (Edi>Transform>Scale) and move it around until you get a pleasing composition. Use the magic wand to select outside the area you want, invert the selection, and click Image>Crop.

As long as you crop to the layer you'll always get a perfect rule of thirds.