This lesson covers the Crop and Slice tools. Crop reshapes composition; Slice cuts a single image into pieces.
2026 note: This lesson was recorded on Photoshop CS6 in 2014. Adobe no longer sells the CS line — Photoshop now ships via Creative Cloud subscription. About 95% of the menus and shortcuts shown in the video still match the modern version; only the iconography is a bit fresher.
Crop Tool (C)
- Pick an aspect ratio from the top bar: 1:1 (Instagram), 4:5, 16:9 (YouTube), and so on.
- Turn off Delete Cropped Pixels for non-destructive crops — you can always re-crop later.
- Click Straighten and draw along the horizon to level the photo.
- Enable Content-Aware to let Photoshop fill any empty edges automatically.
Slice Tool
Cuts a web layout into pieces so you can Save for Web each as its own asset. CSS Grid/Flexbox have made it rare in 2026, but it’s still handy for infographics or email templates.
2026 Add-on — Generative Expand
To enlarge a canvas, drag the Crop handles outward and set Fill to Generative Expand. Adobe Firefly completes the new area to match.
