What happens when you crop an image in graphic editing software?

When you crop an image in graphic editing software, it effectively removes parts of the image that are outside the designated cropping area. This action typically results in a smaller image dimension as the extraneous portions are excluded. As a consequence, the overall file size of the image is reduced because there is less pixel information to store.

This reduction in file size can be particularly advantageous for optimizing images for web use or for ensuring faster loading times and less memory usage in applications. While cropping does not inherently add detail or enhance color quality, it focuses on the area of interest in the image. Additionally, cropping does not change the image format; that is determined by the file type chosen when saving the image.