Cropping

B3 Make your shots look great in all formats on Google Maps

Cropping is one of the most basic photo manipulation processes.

By cutting away unnecessary portions of an image you can create stronger compositions. And you get to decide what the viewers' eyes will focus on in your images. Hence cropping is a very powerful tool you need to master.

Cropping can also change the width to height ratio of your pictures (this is also referred to as the aspect ratio or 'the format'). Finally, cropping can remove distracting objects near the edges in your pics.

The main purpose of cropping pics for Google Maps is to ensure that the storefronts and buildings will stand out, look big (fill the frame), be centered, and still not be dismantled, in any of the many different formats (both the wider AND the square formats) used on Google Maps.

Samples

This illustrates exactly what cropping does. It transforms the standard 4:3 format (width:height-aspect ratio) to a wider format which is more fitting for use on Google Maps.

Such wider images can safely be further cropped by Google's automatic crop routines (that are not very intelligent). Notice, how the image also looks great in also the auto-cropped square format.

If you did not already study the detailed cropping samples presented in Rationale and Exceptions under Framing, then now is a perfect time. You can also compare the raw and cropped images from January 15th, 2020 in this album.

Know your cropping tool

Screenshot from PaintShop Pro.

This image shows a cropping tool in action. Notice, how the area outside the cropping area is slightly darker. That part will be removed leaving only the inner and lighter area. You can move the corners and sides to adjust the size and position of the cropping area. Also, notice the vertical grid-lines. They are very useful when centering storefronts.

If you are not familiar with cropping and would like to see a brief demonstration of how to use the cropping tool in Google Photos, please watch the video below.

This video Crop Tool Intro (3:53) is a brief introduction to the cropping tool in Google Photos intended for Android users.

You can find the same video for Desktop users here (3:36).

Enjoy.

If you have never used the cropping tool, please spend some time cropping a few of your photos in Google Photo. Don't be scared. In Google Photos you can always hit Undo edits.

Forget the Framing rules while cropping

Cropping is similar to Framing. But certainly not the same. Framing is done while you are taking the pictures and Cropping is done later while you are editing the images. The Framing rules ensure you have enough cropping space around the storefronts but the Framing rules should never be applied while cropping! When cropping you need to zoom in tighter to get the optimal image for Google Maps.

Instead, use the steps explained below for cropping images for Google Maps.

Steps for cropping images for Google Maps

The following 6 steps may seem a bit cumbersome. But following them step-by-step will ensure you learn to crop perfectly for Google Maps. Later, as you become familiar with the steps you can tweak and reorder the steps to fit your workflow and style of photography.

The steps are designed to compensate for the faulty auto-crop Google Maps apply to all photos. Only by uploading photos in the wider-format with storefronts perfectly centered you can prevent the crappy auto-crop from ruining our work. Your pics will look great in all formats on Google Maps if you follow these steps.

The steps are also explained in a video you find further down on this page.

STEP 1

Upload your images to Google Photos, tap the photo you want to crop. Tap the Edit icon and select the Cropping tool

This is the Edit icon

This is the Cropping icon

STEP 2

Check if horizontal lines are perfectly leveled. If not, adjust the rotation to make them perfectly leveled.

STEP 3

Pull the bottom crop line as far up as the image allows.

STEP 4

Pull the top crop line as far down as the image allows.

STEP 5

Check if the storefront is centered. If not, adjust by pulling in the crop line on the side to which the storefront should move. Looking at the vertical grid-lines can help you get it perfectly centered.

STEP 6

Now, try to predict if you will be happy with how the width of the storefront will fit in the frame after auto-cropping to the square format. This is not easy and takes some practice to master. The width of the square will be the same as the current height. This animation will help you visualize this. Will the red lines cut off parts of that you don't want to lose?

If you want to zoom out you need to make the crop area taller (not wider!). It sounds strange - but it's not a joke.

STEP 6 continued

Alternatively, on mobile devices, you can complete the crop as is by saving and return to editing mode. Here you can see how the square crop will look like. Hence you can see if your crop is perfect or needs further trimming. If you want to zoom out make the wider crop taller (not wider!), then save it and return edit-mode to check if it's Okay now.

You may need to go back and forth a few times to get it perfect.

As you gain more experience your predictions get better and the process will be less timeconsuming.

Don't be afraid to crop too tightly since Google Photos kindly lets you add back anything you previously cropped away.

The index page in Google Photos.

These 2 wider shots are equally wide. The only difference is the height. Notice, how the reduced height makes the square format tighter (more zoomed-in). This animation proves how the width of the square format is dictated by the height only.

This video The 6 cropping steps for Google Maps (11:33) shows how to use the cropping tool in Google Photos to make perfectly cropped images ready for uploading to Google Maps. This video is recorded on an Android phone.

You can find the same video for Desktop users here (12:58).

Enjoy.

Cheatsheet: Cropping steps.

Find all the cheatsheets here: Desktop/print or Mobile.

Preview the square auto-cropped version

As it can be difficult to manually predict the square version you can use this workaround to get to see a preview of the square version on Android, Desktop, and IOS.

Android

Please be aware that the square preview on Android is only updated when you save the image. So you need to save and then go back into Edit-mode to see the updated preview. This is explained below.

Open your image. Notice, the black chimney is nicely centered in the square preview at the bottom.

Lets say you want the chimney further to the left. So you widen the crop on the right. And Hit Done.

Unfortunately, the square preview at the bottom is not updated according to the new crop. The chimney is still centered.

To fix this you need to tap Save and enter Edit mode again. Now the preview is updated correctly and the chimney moved left.

Desktop

On Desktop, you can use the small square images to the right to check if the auto-crop will be doing a good job or if you need to adjust the cropping a bit more to make it perfect.

After cropping your image, hit Done

On the left, you will then see the preview versions showing you how the auto-cropped version will appear. If needed you can go back and adjust the crop until it's perfect.

IOS

On IOS the app shows square versions while in edit-mode, but they are now updated to reflect the current crop. So don't rely on those. Instead, you need to return to the index and hope your image is shown as a square.

Sorry, these square icons are never updated to show the current crop. Don't use these.

You need to save your image and return to this index page. Here, only square icons can be used.

Is this worth the effort?

If all this hassle seems disproportionate please keep in mind that only uploading wider images with the storefronts nicely centered can prevent Googles dumb auto-crop from ruining your shots. You should follow the 6 steps if you want your shots to look great in all the different formats used on Google Maps. And yes, life would be so much easier if only Google auto-crop routines were smarter.

If you don't care if your images look good and represent the places appropriately, you can forget about the 6 steps! Below are some examples of what you will be facing:

If you don't care and ignore STEP 2 this could be the result. Notice, how the store name is not level.

And if you don't care or miss STEP 5 this could be the result.

The six cropping steps are intended for photography connoisseurs wanting to make a perfect cover photo.

Very advanced cropping nerds may also enjoy the extra flexibility cropping gives while shooting. And you might like to revisit the cropping examples shown on these pages: Rationale and Exceptions.

Tightly cropped pics communicate much better

Before moving on to the next topic Adjusting here are a few images to emphasize the importance of making tight crops = zooming in as much as possible.

Here you see 4 badly cropped photos. The building and storefronts are way too small in the frames. A lot of space is wasted on showing irrelevant surroundings. And the important parts are way too small to be seen properly. The cropping was not as tight as possible.

The same 4 images now brilliantly cropped. No space is wasted. Look at how the places are bigger and look a lot more intense and inviting. Relatively they pop out of the screen and demand attention from Maps users. These tight crops are exactly what cover pics should do.

Compare these two even smaller images. Zooming in tight is really important to attract attention and ensure the readability of names and identification when images are shown very small. You may want to revisit the overview of formats used on Google Maps here.

You have reached the end of the Cropping module.

Hitting "Suggested next page" will take you to Adjusting. Adjusting is also a very important tool to enhance your shots. Don't miss out!

This is an inconvenience but seing the preview is valuable when you want ensure the auto-crop to be perfect.

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