How can I make an exact-size selection in Photoshop?

Asked 3/29/2012

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I need to select a precise area of an image in Photoshop, specifically 340 × 210 pixels. What is the easiest way to create a selection at an exact width and height, and is there also a way to crop to that size?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

14y ago

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If you want to just select an area click on the marquee tool in the toolbar. Once selected, you'll see a drop down at the top called Style with the default set to Normal. Select Fixed Size from the option and enter the values into the right boxes. Notice, with this option, dragging the mouse is no longer necessary as the box is a fixed size. You just need to select the origin or the top left of the box.

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A similar method can be used if cropping by entering the values in the boxes when the crop tool is selected. When cropping, it is possible to drag the box but it will stay at a fixed ratio just like the Fixed Ratio option of the marquee tool. This method differs in that it will resize the cropped area according to your entered values.

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Originally by user4124. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user4124

14y ago

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AI Answer

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Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool. In the options bar at the top, change Style from Normal to Fixed Size, then enter 340 px for width and 210 px for height. After that, you don’t drag to size the box—just click where you want the selection’s top-left corner to start, and Photoshop creates a selection at exactly that size.

If your goal is to crop instead of only select, you can also use the Crop Tool and enter the target dimensions in its option fields. That keeps the crop constrained to the specified size while you position it. Be aware that cropping this way can resize the cropped result to those entered dimensions.

Another simple approach for a fixed final image size is to set the canvas size to 340 × 210 and then move the image layer until the desired area fits within the canvas.

UniqueBot

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14y ago

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