How to Crop in a Circle in Photoshop for Beginners
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Crop in a circle in Photoshop using the Frame Tool to turn any photo into a circular cutout in under a minute.
Learn how to crop in a circle in Photoshop using the Frame Tool.
This step-by-step Photoshop tutorial for beginners will teach you everything you need to know to crop a photo into a circle.
Quick read: 4 minutes
Key Takeaways
- The regular Crop tool can’t cut a circle. The Frame Tool can, using its elliptical frame option.
- Dropping a photo into a frame automatically converts the layer into a Smart Object, so every adjustment stays editable.
- Holding Shift (Windows) or Shift (macOS) while you drag out the frame keeps it a perfect circle instead of an oval.
- Photoshop can’t truly export a circular image. Exporting as PNG with transparency just hides the square corners.
- You have to unlock a layer before the Frame Tool can crop it.
- The frame and the photo inside it move independently. Click the correct thumbnail in the Layers panel before you drag.
Table of contents
What You Will Learn
- How to enable the Frame Tool and switch it to an elliptical frame.
- How to drag a circular frame over any photo and center the subject inside it.
- How the Frame Tool turns your photo into an editable Smart Object.
- How to export the result as a transparent PNG so the circle actually shows.
Requirements
Before you start
- Photoshop 2023 (version 24.0) or the current version
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Select the Frame Tool | K | K |
| Constrain the frame to a circle while dragging | Shift | Shift |
| Reposition the frame while dragging it out | Spacebar | Spacebar |
Crop in a Circle in Photoshop with the Frame Tool
Unfortunately, the Crop tool does not allow you to crop your images in a circle.
However, you can use other available tools to achieve the same result.
Enable the Frame tool or press K (Windows) or K (macOS).
Tip: The Crop tool has its own hidden trick for matching one image’s size to another. See our Front Image guide for that one.
Then, select the Elliptical frame from the Options bar.
Make sure you unlock your layer before you go over to your image.
Click and drag to expand the Frame.
Initially, it appears as a square/rectangular frame because its sides depict the width of the elliptical frame. As you click-and-drag, hold Shift (Windows) or Shift (macOS) to constrain the crop into a perfect square.
You will see the Width and Height indicators, which should show equal values of pixels.
You can hold Space Bar (Windows) or Space Bar (macOS) while creating the frame to reposition it around the image.
When you are happy with the photo’s framing, release your mouse to show the elliptical frame.
This is how to crop in a circle in Photoshop.
If you go to the Layers panel, you see how the layer was automatically converted into a Smart Object, which means that all the adjustments you apply are completely editable.
If you want to learn more about how this works, make sure that you check out the article on the Frame Tool on Adobe helpx.
Our own Frame Tool guide goes deeper, showing how to use it as an image placeholder before you even have the final photo.
How The Frame Tool Works
Once you create the frame over your photo, you can reposition the image by dragging it around.
If you move the entire layer instead, you need to activate the image from the Layers panel.
A layer thumbnail is active when there is a white outline or focus.
You can click on the image on the layers panel or double-click the image from the canvas until the outline or focus is on the photo.
Then you can drag the photo to reposition to the center.
If the outline is in the frame, then you can use the handles to resize it.
Note: If you look closely, the area outside the elliptical frame shows a checkerboard pattern, which indicates transparency.
Export The Circle Image
To export the image, make sure the focus is on the frame.
Then, right-click and select Quick Export As PNG.
Note: If this reads JPEG, that means you’ve changed your default export settings.
If so, simply click on Export As.
Photoshop can’t actually crop or export in a circle, but we can create the illusion that we’re cropping in a circle by exporting with a file type that accepts transparency.
Under the format Dropdown, select PNG.
Make sure that transparency is checked, and you’ll see that Photoshop will create the illusion of exporting as a circle by making the pixels outside of the circle transparent.
When you’re done, you can click on the blue Export button.
Now that you know how to crop in a circle in Photoshop, you can easily get the perfect profile photo every time!
Frequently Asked Questions
Press K (Windows) or K (macOS) to select the Frame Tool, choose the elliptical frame from the Options bar, then drag it over your photo. Export the result as a PNG with transparency.
No. The Crop tool only makes rectangular crops. Use the Frame Tool‘s elliptical option instead.
The Frame Tool automatically converts any photo you drop into a frame into a Smart Object. That keeps the image fully editable inside the frame.
Hold Shift (Windows) or Shift (macOS) while you drag out the frame. Watch the Width and Height values in the options bar. They should match.
Your layer is probably locked. Click the lock icon in the Layers panel to unlock it, then try again.
Not exactly. Photoshop makes the square corners around the circle transparent when you export as PNG. That creates the illusion of a circular image.
Your default export settings have changed. Use File > Export > Export As, then pick PNG from the format dropdown and check Transparency.
Click the photo’s thumbnail in the Layers panel, or double-click the photo on the canvas, until the white outline is on the photo. Then drag it into place.
Conclusion
Cropping in a circle in Photoshop only takes the Frame Tool and a few clicks.
Once you export the result as a transparent PNG, you have a clean circular photo ready for a profile picture or anywhere else you need one.
Watch the video above, and comment on the video if you get stuck on any step.
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