How to Create a Circular Image in Photoshop

If you are a designer or a photographer, you may often find yourself needing to create circular images for your projects. Whether it’s for a website, a graphic design, or even a personal logo, knowing how to create circular images in Photoshop can be a valuable skill.

In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of creating a circular image in Photoshop. With these simple steps, you will be able to easily transform any image into a perfect circle, adding a professional touch to your designs.

Step 1: Open your image in Photoshop

First, open your image in Photoshop by going to “File” and selecting “Open”. Browse through your computer files to locate the image you want to work with, then click “Open”.

Step 2: Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool

To create a perfect circle, we will use the Elliptical Marquee Tool. You can find this tool in the toolbar on the left side of the Photoshop window. It looks like an oval-shaped selection tool. Click and hold on the rectangular selection tool to reveal the elliptical option, and then select it.

Step 3: Draw a circular selection on your image

With the Elliptical Marquee Tool selected, click and drag on your image to draw a circular selection. Hold the Shift key while dragging to constrain the selection to a perfect circle. Adjust the size and position of the circle as needed.

Step 4: Crop the image to the circular selection

Once you have drawn your circular selection, go to “Image” in the top menu and select “Crop”. This will crop your image to the circular selection, creating a perfect circle.

Step 5: Save and export your circular image

After creating the circular image, go to “File” and select “Save” or “Save As” to save your work. Choose a file format that suits your needs, such as JPEG or PNG, and select the desired location on your computer. You can also export the image for web use by going to “File” and selecting “Export” > “Save for Web”.

That’s it! You have successfully created a circular image in Photoshop. Now you can use this skill to enhance your designs and add a professional touch to your projects.

Step 1: Open Image in Photoshop

To create a circular image in Photoshop, you first need to open the image you want to modify. Follow these steps to open your image in Photoshop:

Step 1.1: Launch Photoshop

Start by launching Adobe Photoshop on your computer. You can do this by double-clicking the Photoshop shortcut icon on your desktop or by searching for Photoshop in your computer’s application menu.

Step 1.2: Open the Image

Once Photoshop is open, go to the “File” menu at the top of the screen and select “Open”. This will open a file browser window, allowing you to navigate to the location where your image is saved.

Navigate to the folder that contains your image and select the file. Click “Open” to open the image in Photoshop.

Note that Photoshop supports a variety of image file formats, including JPEG, PNG, GIF, and TIFF. You can open any of these file types in Photoshop.

Step 1.3: Adjust Image Size (optional)

If your image is not already square, you may need to adjust its size to create a circular shape. This step is optional and depends on the desired outcome of your circular image.

To adjust the image size, go to the “Image” menu at the top of the screen and select “Image Size”. In the dialog box that appears, you can specify the desired width and height of the image. Make sure to constrain proportions to preserve the original aspect ratio of the image.

Once you’re satisfied with the image size, click “OK” to apply the changes.

Step 2: Create a Circular Selection

After opening your image in Adobe Photoshop, you can now proceed to creating a circular selection. Follow the steps below:

1. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool

In the left-hand side toolbar, locate and select the Elliptical Marquee Tool. It can be found by right-clicking on the Rectangular Marquee Tool.

2. Adjust the Selection Tool Options

In the top toolbar, you will find the Selection Tool Options. Here, you can set the feather radius, which determines the smoothness of your selection’s edges. To create a sharp circular selection, set the feather radius to 0 pixels.

3. Click and Drag to Create a Circular Selection

Click on the image where you want to start your circular selection, and drag the cursor to define its size. Hold down the Shift key while dragging to constrain the selection shape to a perfect circle.

4. Refine the Selection, If Needed

If your initial selection needs refinement, you can fine-tune it by going to the Select menu and choosing Modify. Here, you can expand or contract the selection, smooth its edges, or perform other adjustments to achieve the desired circular shape.

By following these steps, you can easily create a circular selection in Adobe Photoshop, which you can then use for various purposes, such as cropping or applying special effects.

Step 3: Crop the Image

After you have opened your image in Photoshop, the next step is to crop it to a circular shape. Here’s how you can do it:

Using the Elliptical Marquee Tool

1. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool from the toolbar on the left side of the screen.
2. Click and drag on the image to create a circular selection. Hold down the Shift key while dragging to constrain it to a perfect circle.
3. Once you have made the selection, go to the Edit menu and choose Crop. This will crop the image to the circular selection you made.

Alternatively, you can also use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to create a square selection and then transform it into a circle. Here’s how:

Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool

1. Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool from the toolbar.
2. Click and drag on the image to create a square selection around the area you want to keep.
3. Go to the Edit menu and choose Transform Selection. A bounding box will appear around the selection.
4. Right-click inside the selection and choose Transform. Several transformation handles will appear.
5. Hold down the Shift key and drag one of the corner handles inward to transform the square into a circle. Use the guides to help you align the circle.
6. Press Enter or click the checkmark icon in the options bar to apply the transformation.
7. Finally, go to the Edit menu and choose Crop to crop the image to the circular selection.

Now your image is cropped to a circular shape, ready for further editing or use.

Step 4: Add a Background Layer (Optional)

If you want to add a background to your circular image, you can do so by creating a new layer and filling it with a color or an image. Here’s how:

Adding a background layer can enhance the overall look of your circular image and make it stand out. Keep in mind that this step is optional and you can skip it if you prefer a transparent background.

Q&A:

What is the purpose of creating a circular image in Photoshop?

The purpose of creating a circular image in Photoshop can vary depending on the specific project or desired outcome. It can be used for various design elements such as logos, icons, or social media profile pictures, to name a few.

How can I create a circular image in Photoshop?

To create a circular image in Photoshop, you can use the “Elliptical Marquee Tool” to select a circular area, then go to “Edit” > “Copy,” create a new document, go to “Edit” > “Paste,” and finally, use the “Crop Tool” to trim the excess and make it circular.

Can I create a circular image in Photoshop without using the “Elliptical Marquee Tool”?

Yes, you can create a circular image in Photoshop without using the “Elliptical Marquee Tool.” One alternative method is to use the “Shape Tool” or the “Pen Tool” to draw a perfect circle, and then apply the image as a clipping mask to the circle shape.

Is it possible to create a circular image in Photoshop if the original image is not already in a circular shape?

Yes, it is possible to create a circular image in Photoshop even if the original image is not already in a circular shape. After selecting the circular area using the “Elliptical Marquee Tool,” you can go to “Edit” > “Copy” and then “Edit” > “Paste” in a new document. Use the “Crop Tool” to trim the excess and make the image circular.

Video:

How to Make a Circle | Photoshop CC Tutorial