Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Cropping Graphics.

Cropping Graphics

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated May 9, 2017)

Once you place a graphic in your workbook, you may decide to crop it. Cropping means to cut off part of the graphic so it doesn't show in your workbook. To crop a graphic, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure the Picture toolbar is visible. You can right click on the graphic and select Show Picture Toolbar if it is not.
  2. Click on the Crop tool on the Picture toolbar.
  3. Click on one of the graphic's corner or side handles with the mouse pointer.
  4. Drag the handle towards the center of the graphic, stopping when you have cropped the desired amount.
  5. You can turn off cropping by clicking on the Crop tool again or by pressing Esc.

You should understand that while cropping a graphic makes it look smaller, none of the original graphic is actually lost, it is only hidden. Cropping a graphic will not decrease the amount of storage space required by that graphic in your workbook.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2196) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Cropping Graphics.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He  is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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