by Allison Hickman

Created on: June 23, 2009

The thought of cropping photos can be daunting if you don't have a plan of action. Go through the photos to be used and place them in piles according to a loose theme; trips taken, kid's birthdays over the years or past holidays according to year. Once your photos are in loose categories a big part of this undertaking is already in motion.

With the variety of tools offered now, cropping is much easier than in the past. Dependant on the amount of time you have to spend on cropping, there are several tools available to help you whip through this task. It's all about creativity without spending a lot of time preparing the photos.

The first and quickest way to crop pictures may be the corner cutters. They are used to nicely shape the edges of the photos and create an interesting edge instead of the standard straight edge on the photo. The corners of the photo fit nicely into the edger and with one, hard snap it creates a diverse shape depending on the edge one has chosen. Using this method can make cropping pictures a breeze without the time constraint of traditional methods, such as the circle cutting system.

The circle/oval cutters are a good investment in addition to the corner cutters. This system is not only useful to crop pictures, but can also be used to cut out paper stock and creative borders for photos. The different shapes can create versatility in the presentation of photos, and is an easy way to add background to a picture. When using this cutting technique, make sure to apply enough pressure while tracing your work with the blade to ensure a clean cut. Also, make sure to lay it on a flat, hard surface. This gives resistance and accuracy while cutting. Interchanging this method along with the corner cutter is a great way to present photos without the time constraint

If time and cost are a factor, a good pair of sharp scissors can be used to create a nice presentation of photos as well. Snipping off the corners of photos, cutting out individual faces, and trimming unwanted background can give the picture a new, fresh look without a lot of time and effort. A pair of embellished-edge scissors may also be used and are sold separately or in a variety pack. These scissors can change an ordinary straight edge into a work of art just by using them to trim the sides of a photo. For instance, an anniversary album with scalloped-edge photos can appear more interesting and lovely as opposed to the typical straight edge.

Using any of the above techniques for cropping photos can be used individually or in unison to aid in creating a personalized, original photo album that can be cherished for years to come.

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