Using Photos to edit images on a Windows PC

Overview
Editing an image in Photos (video walkthrough)
Editing an image in Photos
Reducing an image's file size
Cropping an image or changing its aspect ratio
Testing an image for contrast
Other editing actions

Overview

The Photos app is already installed on all Windows computers and is useful for editing an image before adding it to a WordPress website or an Emma mailing campaign. Editing functions include:

Reduce an image's file size and change its file type (png, jpg, tif, and bmp are all supported)
Resize or crop an image, or use a preset aspect ratio
Make basic edits: alter the lighting and color contrast, or add a filter

Editing an image in Photos (video walkthrough)

The video below demonstrates how to copy an image, crop it and use aspect ratio presets, and reduce the image file size for uploading to WordPress.

Editing an image in Photos

Quick guide

Step 1: Open the image in Photos

Open File Explorer and navigate to the image location. Double-click the image to open it in Photos.
If the image does not open in Photos: Right-click the image. Select Open with, and select Photos.

Step 2: Create a copy of the image

We recommend making a copy of the image as a backup. This way, if you edit and save your changes but later decide that you preferred the original version, you can easily return to it.

At the top, select the See more icon and then select Save as.
Photos creates a copy of the image, and you can name and save the copy.

Step 3: Use the editing toolbar to edit the image

In the upper left, click Edit.
The editing toolbar appears at the top, and you can begin making edits.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Step 1: Open the image in Photos

Open File Explorer and navigate to the image location. Double-click the image to open it in Photos.
If the image does not open in Photos: Right-click the image. Select Open with, and select Photos.

Step 2: Create a copy of the image

We recommend making a copy of the image as a backup. This way, if you edit and save your changes but later decide that you preferred the original version, you can easily return to it.

At the top, select the See more icon and then select Save as.
Photos creates a copy of the image, and you can name and save the copy.

Step 3: Use the editing toolbar to edit the image

In the upper left, click Edit.
The editing toolbar appears at the top, and you can begin making edits.

Reducing an image's file size

File size too large? You may need to resize an image if, for example:

The image exceeds 5 MB, which is the limit for uploading images to Dornsife WordPress websites
The image exceeds 25 MB, which is the limit for Outlook email attachments
The image is a TIFF or BMP file, and you need to convert it to a JPG or PNG file

Quick guide

To exit the editing toolbar, click the Back icon in the upper left.
At the top, click the See more icon and select Resize image.
You can enter a reduced height or width or adjust the Quality slider. You can also change the file type: typically, JPGs are smaller than PNGs.
Confirm that the file size listed in the New field works for you, and click Save.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

To exit the editing toolbar, click the Back icon in the upper left.
At the top, click the See more icon and select Resize image.
You can enter a reduced height or width or adjust the Quality slider. You can also change the file type: typically, JPGs are smaller than PNGs.
Confirm that the file size listed in the New field works for you, and click Save.

Cropping an image or changing its aspect ratio

You may need to crop an image or change its aspect ratio (its width to height proportion) if, for example:

You want to trim the image on any of its sides
You have a square or landscape-oriented image but need to upload it in portrait orientation for your Dornsife website profile (5:7 aspect ratio)
You are uploading an image to a WordPress component with specific requirements (refer to the image size guidelines reference table for exact dimensions in pixels or for the aspect ratio)

Quick guide

Make sure the Crop icon is selected in the toolbar. (Don't see this icon? Select Edit in the upper left to display the editing toolbar.)
To crop the image on any of its sides, drag the adjustable handles on the image frame.
To change the aspect ratio:
1. At the bottom, click Free.
2. Select an aspect ratio.
3. To expand or reduce the selection, drag the adjustable handles. To move the selection, drag the entire frame. If you selected an aspect ratio, the ratio will be maintained. Once you are satisfied with the selection, click Done.
Save your changes by clicking Save options in the upper right. You can Save the changes to the image or Save as copy to create a new image.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Make sure the Crop icon is selected in the toolbar. (Don't see this icon? Select Edit in the upper left to display the editing toolbar.)
To crop the image on any of its sides, drag the adjustable handles on the image frame.
To change the aspect ratio:
1. At the bottom, click Free.
2. Select an aspect ratio.
3. To expand or reduce the selection, drag the adjustable handles. To move the selection, drag the entire frame. If you selected an aspect ratio, the ratio will be maintained. Once you are satisfied with the selection, click Done.
Save your changes by clicking Save options in the upper right. You can Save the changes to the image or Save as copy to create a new image.

Testing an image for contrast

You can test whether your image will be easy to discern for someone who has color blindness or has difficulty with low contrast images. This can be useful if, for example, your image is a color-coded graph or map, and you want to check that it is still understandable when different colors cannot be perceived.

Desaturating the image lets you view contrast without the distraction of colors:

Quick guide

Click the Adjustment icon in the toolbar. (Don't see this icon? Select Edit in the upper left to display the editing toolbar.)
Scroll down to Saturation. The slider handle is in the center, and the value on the right side is 0.
Drag the slider handle from the center to the left side. This will update the value to -100 and show the image without color.
Once you're done, make sure to drag the slider handle back to the center, or undo your change. The value should again be 0.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Click the Adjustment icon in the toolbar. (Don't see this icon? Select Edit in the upper left to display the editing toolbar.)
Scroll down to Saturation. The slider handle is in the center, and the value on the right side is 0.
Drag the slider handle from the center to the left side. This will update the value to -100 and show the image without color.
Once you're done, make sure to drag the slider handle back to the center, or undo your change. The value should again be 0.

Other editing actions

Action Usage Screenshot Rotate the image

Make sure the Crop icon is selected in the toolbar.
Use the rotate icons in the lower left.

Add a filter

Select the Filter icon in the toolbar.
Select a filter option.
By default, the filter intensity is set to 100, but you can change this by dragging the slider handle.

Blur or remove the background

This option works best with photos featuring a person or other distinct subject in the foreground.

Select the Background icon in the toolbar.
You can blur the background, remove it, or replace it with a solid color.
Changes take effect immediately, but you can undo them by selecting Reset background.

Image source (USC Employee Gateway Flickr).