---
title: Crop, rotate, and change a photo’s appearance
description: Check image framing, rotation and color treatments during an appointment, and confirm how the chosen appearance is recorded.
url: "https://viewips.com/docs/crop-rotate-treatments/"
updated: "2026-10-12"
category: Show and select images
---

# Crop, rotate, and change a photo’s appearance

Select one photo before changing its crop, rotation, or color treatment. These changes affect how it appears in IPS Viewer; they leave the original file unchanged.

## Color, black and white, or sepia

Choose **Image → Color → Color, BW, or Sepia**. The shortcuts are Ctrl+Alt+C, Ctrl+Alt+B, and Ctrl+Alt+S.

Use a note for any extra finishing instructions. You’ll prepare the final files in your usual editor.

## Rotate or flip

Under **Image → Rotate**, choose Left, Right, 180, Flip H, or Flip V. Ctrl+Alt+L rotates left; Ctrl+Alt+R rotates right.

**Rotate → Reset**, or Ctrl+Alt+0, resets rotation, treatment, and flips. It keeps the crop.

## Adjust the crop

Choose **Image → Crop → Adjust Crop** or press Ctrl+Alt+P. An uncropped photo starts on Original. An existing crop opens on Free to preserve its exact bounds.

The choices are Free, Original, 1:1, 2:3, 3:2, 4:5, 5:4, 5:7, 7:5, 13:19, 19:13, and Custom. Switching between portrait and landscape ratios changes the frame shape; it doesn’t rotate the photo.

- Drag outside the crop to draw a new one.
- Drag inside it to move it.
- Drag a corner to resize it.
- Use the arrow keys to move it, or Shift+arrow for larger movements.

Check important details near the edges, especially when moving to a squarer crop.

## Save or cancel

Choose **Save crop** to apply it and close the editor. **Cancel crop** discards the current draft.

**Next image (saves crop)** and **Previous image (saves crop)** apply the current crop before moving. Canceling later won’t reverse crops already saved on earlier photos.

Use **Clear crop** to remove it. From the main window, you can also choose Image → Crop → Clear or press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.

## Check the ordered product

A crop doesn’t restrict the print sizes you can order. Size / option in Price Lists is a label, so check whether the framing suits each product.

Existing order items keep the crop, treatment, and orientation they had when ordered. Changing the source photo afterward won’t update those items.

Check the order thumbnail and notes if a client requests a different appearance. Verify the corrected or replacement item in Order Review and remove any obsolete duplicate. There isn’t a separate crop editor for each existing order line, so use clear production notes for specific finishing instructions.

## Keep the changes

Save the .IPS session, then reopen a copy to check the photos and order items. Generate a fresh PDF with View PDF. Its small thumbnails help identify the images; use precise notes when exact framing matters.

## Related guides

- [Viewing and comparing](https://viewips.com/docs/viewing-comparing-images/)
- [Adding and editing orders](https://viewips.com/docs/order-item/)
- [Photo and order notes](https://viewips.com/docs/notes/)
- [PDF order summaries](https://viewips.com/docs/pdf-order-receipt/)