Photoshop lets you do almost anything with images. But first, you need to learn the basics.

This guide covers some simple image adjustments:

  • Cropping: This helps remove unwanted parts of an image. It’s like using scissors to cut out what you don’t need.
  • Resizing: You can make an image smaller or larger. But enlarging too much can reduce quality.
  • Rotating: You can change an image’s direction by rotating it left or right.

These are just the first steps in Photoshop. Once you learn them, you can do much more!

You can download our example file to follow along. Right-click the link and save it.


We want to use this image in an online newsletter. But the image is too big for our needs. So, we will crop it first. Then, we will resize it to 800px by 600px.

Cropping Images in Photoshop

There are two ways to crop an image in Photoshop. You can use the Crop tool or the Rectangular Marquee tool. Both methods work differently, so you can choose the one you like best.

Method 1: Using the Crop Tool

  1. Open your image in Photoshop.
  2. Select the Crop tool from the Tools panel.

  3. Click and drag to choose the part of the image you want to keep.

  4. Release the mouse.
  5. Adjust the cropping handles if needed.

  6. Press Enter on your keyboard or double-click the image to apply the crop.

Method 2: Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool

  1. Open your image in Photoshop.
  2. Select the Rectangular Marquee tool from the Tools panel.

  3. In the Control panel, find the Style drop-down menu.

    • Choose Fixed Ratio if you need a specific width and height.
    • Set it to Normal if you want free cropping.
  4. Click and drag to select the part of the image you want to keep.

  5. Adjust the selection box if needed.

  6. Click Image > Crop to crop the image.

Moving the Selection Box

  • To move the selection while cropping, click and drag without releasing the mouse.
  • Hold the spacebar and move your mouse to adjust the position.
  • Release the spacebar when you’re happy with the selection.

Resizing and Rotating Images in Photoshop

Resizing Images

Avoid making an image larger than its original size. Enlarging reduces quality because there is not enough detail.

To resize an image in Photoshop:

  1. Open the image.
  2. Click Image > Image Size.

  3. A dialog box will appear.
  4. Set the unit to Pixels.
  5. Check the Resample box.
  6. Make sure the Lock icon is on to keep the aspect ratio.

  7. Enter the new Width. The Height will adjust automatically.
  8. Click OK to resize the image.

If Automatic is not available in the Resample menu, use Bicubic options for better results.

Try This!

Resize an example image to 800px wide. The height should become 600px automatically. Make sure you have cropped the image using Method 2 before resizing.

Rotating Images

You can rotate images in different ways:

  • Clockwise (CW)
  • Counterclockwise (CCW)
  • Flip horizontally
  • Flip vertically
  • Rotate by a custom angle

Most modern cameras adjust rotation automatically. You may not need to rotate images often.

To rotate an image in Photoshop:

  1. Open the image.
  2. Click Image > Image Rotation.

  3. Select the rotation option.

The image will rotate immediately.

Undoing Changes

Made a mistake? Use these shortcuts:


  • Undo: Press Ctrl+Z (Command+Z on Mac).
  • Redo: Press Ctrl+Shift+Z (Command+Shift+Z on Mac).

For older Photoshop versions:

  • Undo once: Press Ctrl+Z (Command+Z on Mac).
  • Undo multiple steps: Press Ctrl+Alt+Z (Command+Option+Z on Mac) or select Edit > Step Backward.