Any owner of a modern smartphone, be it a flagship Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or a budget series model Galaxy Asooner or later faces the need to change the composition of the picture. The built-in editor Galleries in the One UI shell provides powerful framing tools that often surpass third-party applications in speed and system integration. The process of changing the edges of an image is intuitive, but hides many nuances that allow you to achieve the perfect result without losing quality.
Cropping a photo is not just removing excess space around the edges. This is a way to correct composition errors, remove random objects from the frame, or adapt the image to the requirements of a specific social network. Image processing algorithms in processors Exynos and Snapdragon allow you to perform these operations almost instantly. It is important to understand that standard cropping in most cases is non-destructive editing, which makes it possible to return to the source at any time.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods for resizing a photo on Samsung devices. You'll learn the differences between simple cropping and intelligent cropping, consider working with different aspect ratios, and understand how to preserve maximum detail. Regardless of the Android version or interface update, the basic principles will remain the same, ensuring a stable workflow for photographers and ordinary users.
Basic cropping through the Gallery application
The most common way to change the boundaries of a photo is to use the standard application Gallery. Open the desired image and click on the pencil icon at the bottom of the screen to enter editing mode. Immediately after this, select the tool Cropping, which is usually located first in the toolbar. A frame will appear on the screen with markers on the corners and sides, allowing you to manually set a new visibility area.
For precise fitting, you can use a grid that is automatically superimposed on top of the image. It helps to follow the rule of thirds or level the horizon if the photo was taken at an angle. Move the frame by grabbing its corner points, or rotate the entire image by dragging your finger just above the top border of the frame. After completing the manipulations, be sure to press the button Saveto commit the changes.
It is worth noting that when saving, the system offers two options: overwrite the original file or create a copy. Choosing the option Save as a copy is a safer solution, since the original remains untouched. This is especially true if you are planning further processing or if the first crop was unsuccessful. The copy file will have the same name with a "(2)" or similar index at the end.
⚠️ Attention: When saving the same file multiple times and overwriting (without creating a copy), micro-degradation of quality may be observed due to JPEG recoding. Always try to work with the original or use the format HEIC to minimize losses.
If you accidentally cut off excess, immediately use the "Undo" button (left arrow) before exiting the editor. After closing the application, you can return to the original borders only if you chose the option to save a copy or if the "Revision History" function is active for this photo.
Working with fixed proportions and formats
Often there is a need to bring a photo to standard sizes, for example, for publishing on Instagram, TikTok or installing on an avatar. In cropping mode, click on the icon with two intersecting rectangles to open the menu Aspect ratio. There is a wide selection of preset formats, from classic 3:2 and 4:3 to specific 1:1 and 16:9.
The choice of a specific aspect ratio fixes the framing frame, preventing its shape from being changed arbitrarily. You can only move the selection area within the original image or change its size, maintaining the specified proportions. This is the ideal tool for preparing a series of shots in the same style. If none of the standard options are suitable, you can select the option Free or set custom width and height values.
For videos, the operating logic is similar, but here it is critical to take into account the resolution of the source material. Trimming a video to 9:16 on a 19.5:9 device may result in black bars or missing important parts of the frame. Always check the preview before final saving, especially if the content is intended to be viewed on large screens.
| Format | Description | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| 1:1 | Square image | Avatars, posts in Instagram |
| 4:5 | Vertical portrait | Instagram feed, Pinterest |
| 16:9 | Widescreen | YouTube, desktop wallpaper |
| 9:16 | Full screen vertical | Stories, Reels, TikTok, Shorts |
| 3:2 | Classic photo | Print photos 10x15 |
Intelligent cutting of objects (Object Eraser)
Modern Samsung models, such as Galaxy S24 or Z Fold 5, are equipped with artificial intelligence-based functions that go beyond simple cropping. The tool Object eraser allows you not only to crop a photo, but also to remove unnecessary elements, automatically filling the free space with the background texture. This function is available in the editing menu under the "Tools" tab.
The cutting process is as follows: you trace with your finger or stylus S Pen the object you want to delete, and the algorithm AI analyzes the environment and reconstructs the background. New versions of One UI now allow you to simply tap on an object to select it, which makes your work much faster. After confirming the action, the system offers to save the result, essentially creating a new image with a changed composition.
This technology works especially effectively on uniform backgrounds, such as the sky, grass or walls. However, with complex textures or intersections of objects, artifacts may occur. In such cases, it is recommended to use a tool Recovery for manual finishing of small parts. Smart Framing can also automatically suggest improved composition, shifting frames slightly for better visual balance.
The secret to precise selection
For complex objects with unclear edges (like hair or foliage), use Eraser mode with a small brush size and stroke gradually, in small sections. This will allow the algorithm to better understand the context and avoid the “soapy” effect on the boundaries.
Batch processing and editing of several photos
When you need to crop a series of photographs taken at once in the same location or under the same conditions, processing each file one by one becomes ineffective. In the Gallery application there is a Batch editingmode, accessible through the "More" menu or by long pressing on the thumbnail. By selecting several images, you can apply the same cropping and rotation parameters to them.
After selecting a group of images, click on the editing icon. Any changes made to one photo (such as cropping to 1:1 and rotating 5 degrees) will be automatically applied to all other selected files. This saves a huge amount of time when preparing reports or uploading albums to the cloud. The system processes files in the background using multi-core processor power.
Before you start bulk processing, make sure that all selected photos actually require the same cropping. If the selection includes an image with a different composition, it is better to exclude it from the group so as not to spoil the frame.
☑️ Preparing for batch processing
Fine-tuning: straightening and perspective
Cropping often goes hand in hand with geometry correction. In the same editing menu, next to the crop tool, there are sliders for Straightening and change Perspectives. If the horizon is obstructed, a simple turn can result in white margins appearing in the corners. In this case, you have to additionally crop the image, sacrificing some of the edges for the sake of a straight line.
The perspective correction tool allows you to correct distortions that occur when shooting tall buildings or objects from a lower angle. By moving the vertical and horizontal sliders, you can “stand” the building straight, but this will inevitably require cropping, since the image rectangle will turn into a trapezoid, which the system will again reduce to a rectangular appearance. The algorithm will automatically fill empty areas or trim them.
For professional work with geometry, it is recommended to use the level grid, which is displayed during rotation. The precise alignment of frame lines with elements of reality makes the photograph visually stable. Don’t be afraid to trim away excess for the sake of perfect geometry - the viewer’s eye is much more sensitive to curved lines than to the loss of a couple of centimeters of background at the edges.
⚠️ Attention: Strong perspective correction in low-resolution photographs can lead to a noticeable loss of detail and the appearance of “ladders” on straight lines. Try to shoot with the correct geometry initially, using a level in the camera viewfinder.
Preserving quality and file formats
The issue of maintaining quality when cropping worries many users. Standard cropping in Samsung Gallery uses a JPEG oversaving algorithm, which may have a slight impact on detail, especially at the edges of high-contrast objects. To minimize losses, you can enable shooting in the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) format in your camera settings, which provides better quality with a smaller file size.
If you plan on serious post-processing, consider shooting in the RAW (DNG) format. RAW files contain raw data from the sensor and allow cropping without any degradation in quality when saved in the editor. However, working with them may require more advanced applications, such as Lightroom Mobile, although the basic Gallery also supports viewing and simple editing.
When saving a cropped photo, the system by default uses the same compression settings as the original. If the source was heavily compressed, saving again may make the artifacts worse. In this case, it is advisable to use third-party converters or export settings in professional editors, where you can manually set the quality level to 100%.
RAW and HEIC formats are preferable for subsequent cropping, as they contain more information about color and light, allowing compression algorithms to work more efficiently when resizing the image.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to restore the original photo after cropping and saving?
Yes, if you did not select the "Overwrite" option, but saved the file as a copy, the original remains in the gallery. If the file was overwritten, but not much time has passed since saving, check the "History" menu in the editor - some versions of One UI allow you to roll back changes even after closing the application, if synchronization with the cloud or local backup is enabled.
Why did the photo become blurry after cropping?
Blur can occur if you crop a small part of a large image and then view it on full screen. You simply increase the pixel scale. This is also possible when resaving a low quality JPEG. Try reducing the viewing scale or checking the original resolution of the photo.
How to crop a photo exactly to the size of a document (for example, a passport)?
In the aspect ratio menu, select “Custom” or enter exact values if the editor allows it. However, for documents it is better to use specialized scanner applications (for example, Google Drive or Adobe Scan), which automatically align the perspective and crop the sheet along the contour taking into account the requirements for proportions.
Where are cropped copies of photos stored?
By default, copies are saved in the same folder as the originals (usually DCIM/Camera), and have the same name with an added number or the word "Edit". If you moved files to albums, the copy will appear in the same album as the original.
Can you crop a video the same way as a photo?
Yes, the crop tool in the Gallery works for videos too. However, video trimming requires more computing resources and rendering time. Make sure your smartphone has enough battery power, as the process of encoding a new video fragment can be energy-intensive.