Photo app to "cookie cutter" to set aspect?

I recently acquired an MP3 player that I also want to use to store photos. The resolution is 1:1 aspect (square). I thought it would be nice to be able to just go into my photos, resize the square to the cookie cutter size I wanted while maintaining aspect ratio, cut out within the square what I want, and then resize, or have it auto-resize that cutout to my pre-determined resolution (180x180).

Anyone have any ideas? Know what I'm talking about? I'd prefer a simple freeware app, but will pay a nominal fee if needed.

Thanks!

 

If you have photoshop
1. Open photoshop
2. Open an random image
3. Click the action button
4. Click the "new action" button
5. Click Record button
6. Right click the background layer, convert it to smart object
7. Click image menu-> canvas size
8. Change the values to 180x180 pixles and click ok
9. Click end action button

The above step will automate canvas resize step.
If you have multiple files that you want to resize to 180x180, then click
1. file menu-> automate -> batch
2. Select your recorded action
3. Select all the settings
4. click ok and all of your image will be resized to 180x180.
Then you'll have to resize the image (optional step)
1. Select the smart object layer
2. Click edit menu-> transform -> scale
3. Scale to whatever size you want

Then you might want to move your picture to appropreiate position
1. Drag the your picture around to make it fit the 180x180 canvas.

 

Thanks. I don't have photoshop, unfortunately. I'm looking for a simple free solution if it exists.

 

This little program is effective:

Mihov | Image Resizer Program

 

Thanks, that looks like a nice program. However, it doesn't seem to crop. I'm looking for a quick and effective way to crop a square out of any photo, and resize that cookie cutter square to any size I need so I can grab whatever part of the photo I want.

 

JPEGCrops + batch resizing app of your choice (XnView works for me...).
You may have to add the 1:1 aspect ratio in the Preferences window, I don't remember if I added it myself or if it was there to begin with.

 

IrfanView would be my choice.

 

If you're using Vista, you've got a great picture manager right in your system: Microsoft Office Picture Manager. It can crop and resize, as well as perform a whole host of other functions.

 

Well, you said "Microsoft Office" Picture Manager. I don't have Office (well Office XP). So that is a no go. Thanks though. Maybe once I get Office 2007 I can use that (hopefully soon).

I didn't think it would be a big deal to make a perfect square to crop photos with, but doing it manually can be a pain, making sure your pixels are equal for X and Y. This is why it would be nice to be able to drag a square cookie cutter around the photo, resize the cutter on the fly maintaining the square aspect, and then just click to crop the photo where I want it.

 

And as I said, you can do that in IrfanView...

 

Thanks! +1 REP! It took me a bit to figure it out, but that's EXACTLY what I wanted. SUPER COOL! Surprised more image editors don't have this feature!

 

I deliberately left out the details because there are so many cool things that program can do...