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Crop an image into a circle (transparent PNG)

A circle crop is an ellipse selection turned into a mask, then a PNG export with transparency. Four steps, plus how to get a soft edge, a border, or a perfectly centred circle.

Beginner2 min readUpdated 27 September 2026Editor · Selections, Masks

Steps

  1. Open the photo in the Editor. If it is the background layer, it is already a normal layer here; nothing to unlock.
  2. Press M then Shift+M to reach Ellipse select. Start dragging, then hold Shift to keep it a circle. Release when the face or subject sits inside; if it is off, draw it again, or move the photo under it later with the Move tool.
  3. In Properties under Mask, click Mask from selection. The outside is hidden, not deleted, so you can move the photo inside the circle with the Move tool while the mask stays put.
  4. Choose Image, Trim transparent edges so the canvas fits the circle exactly.
  5. Press Ctrl+E, choose PNG, download. JPG would fill the corners with white.

Variations

  • Perfectly centred circle: after masking, select the layer and use Layer, Align to centre it on the canvas, or read the X, Y, W and H boxes in Properties and set them by hand.
  • Soft edge: set Feather in the options bar to 10 to 30 px before drawing the selection, or Select, Modify, Feather… after.
  • Border: add a Stroke layer style to the masked layer (Layer styles, Stroke, position Inside) in the colour you want. It follows the circle.
  • Exact size for a profile picture: after trimming, Image, Image size… to 400 × 400 or whatever the platform wants. Most platforms crop to a circle themselves, so a square export with the subject centred is often enough.

Why are the corners white, not transparent?

You exported a JPG, or the design has a background colour. Export PNG and, if the checkbox appears, tick Leave out the background colour.

Can I change which part of the photo shows?

Yes. The mask hides the outside; it does not crop the pixels. Select the layer, unlink the mask if needed, and drag the photo with the Move tool.

Open the Editor

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