How to Crop an Image into a Circle in Adobe Photoshop Quickly

Cropping images into circles can enhance the aesthetic appeal and focus on the subject. Whether you need to create professional-looking logos, personal branding, or simply add a creative touch to your designs, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cropping Images into Circles in Photoshop

Open Your Image
Open the image you want to crop in Adobe Photoshop. Launch Photoshop and navigate to File > Open or drag the image directly into the Photoshop window. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool
From the toolbar on the left side, select the Elliptical Marquee Tool. If you don't see the option, click and hold the Rectangular Marquee Tool to reveal it. Draw a Circle
Hold down the Shift key to maintain a perfect circle and click and drag over your image to create a circular selection. Adjust the position as needed. Invert the Selection
Go to the menu and select Select > Inverse, or use the keyboard shortcut Shift Ctrl I on Windows and Shift Command I on Mac to select everything outside the circle. Delete the Outer Area
Press the Delete key or go to Edit > Clear to remove the outer areas of the image, leaving only the circular selection. Deselect the Selection
Go to Select > Deselect or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl D on Windows and Command D on Mac to remove the selection outline. Save Your Image
Save your cropped image by going to File > Save As and choosing your preferred format. Ensure that your format supports transparency, such as PNG or GIF.

Optional: Adding a Background

If you want to place the circular image on a different background:

Create a New Layer
Add a new layer beneath your circular image layer. Fill the Background
Use the Paint Bucket Tool or the Brush Tool to fill the new layer with your desired color or design. Apply a Clipping Mask (Optional)
For a more precise fit, draw a circle with the Shape Tool, place your photo on the layer above the circle, right-click on the image layer, and select Create Clipping Mask. This ensures the image fits perfectly within the circle without overlapping the edges.

Alternative Method

Another quick method involves using the Clipping Mask directly:

Open Your Image in Photoshop Unlock Your Layer
Click the lock icon from your layers panel dialog box to unlock the layer. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool
From the toolbar, right-click and select the Elliptical Marquee Tool. Create a Circular Selection
Hold down the Shift key and drag around your subject to make a selection. Position the selection as needed. Fix the Selection Alignment.
Once the selection is created, you can adjust it by dragging the corners of the selection or simply refining the edges by clicking and dragging on the selection edge. Invert the Selection
Invert the selection by pressing Shift Ctrl I on Windows or Shift Command I on Mac. Delete the Pixels
Press the Backspace key to delete the outer pixels, leaving only the circular selection. Deselect the Selection
Use the shortcut Ctrl D on Windows or Command D on Mac. Crop to Image Bounds
Go to Image > Trim and check Transparent Pixels. Click OK to close. Save Your Image
Save your image as a File > Save As with your preferred format, such as PNG.

By following these steps, you can quickly crop images into circles in Adobe Photoshop, enhancing your designs and adding a professional touch to your work.