Crop
What is it?
Cropping means selecting a specific portion of visual or data content and using only that part for display or further processing. It is used to focus on a particular area, optimize performance, or exclude unnecessary parts. Cropping usually does not alter the underlying structure, but it does determine which part of the content is actually used.
Practical example
Imagine a sprite sheet containing multiple icons or illustrations in a single image. Instead of loading separate images, you crop to the correct rectangular area so only the selected icon is shown. Another example is creating a promotional image or poster, you start from a high-resolution visual but crop to the key area, such as a face or logo, to improve focus and work more efficiently. In digital workflows, this is often done by scaling and offsetting coordinates to target only the desired part of the image.
Test your knowledge
Why is cropping used in graphic and digital workflows?