Design How-To: Cropping Photos for Impact
Every designer at one point in time has to work with a lackluster image — a headshot of a company CEO, for example. You have to include it in your layout, but how to make it interesting?
Instead of using it full frame, try cropping it in unusual ways. With cropping you can emphasize expressive eyes or a dazzling smile. You can add drama to a layout by focusing attention on what makes a person interesting.

In this feature from Before & After Magazine, see how to think outside the box when cropping photographs.
We’ve posted this story as a PDF file. All you do is click this link “Crop Dramatically for Emphasis” to open the PDF file in your Web browser. You can also download the PDF to your machine for later viewing.
This story is taken from “Before & After” Magazine.

This article was last modified on May 1, 2025
This article was first published on January 23, 2003
Commenting is easier and faster when you're logged in!
Recommended for you
Fill Live Text With Any Image in InDesign
Mike Rankin shares the trick for filling live text with any color, pattern, or p...
Simplify Your Photoshop Workflow With Layrs Control
The Adobe Exchange panel is a great resource for finding and installing free goo...
Photoshop 10 Essential Tips: Working with Layers
Photoshop users have been enjoying the ability to shuffle around layers since ve...
