Is cropping, resizing or colour correction an adaptation?
No. Cropping, resizing and colour correction are not automatically adaptations under a Creative Commons 4.0 license. The license terms treat a format change as a separate question from a creative modification. The decisive rule is in Section 3 of every 4.0 legal code: "Reproduction in a different format alone does not create Adapted Material." Decide whether your change is technical or creative, then test ND, SA and adapter-license consequences.
When Cropping, Resizing or Colour Correction Is an Adaptation
The 4.0 definition of Adapted Material requires a change that needs copyright permission. Cropping a photo to remove a border is a format change. Cropping a photo to remove a person from the composition, then sharing that new composition, may require permission under copyright law. The license does not draw that line for you. You must check the copyright law that applies to your use.
What the 4.0 Legal Code Says
Section 3 of the 4.0 legal code (BY, BY-SA, BY-NC, BY-NC-SA, BY-ND, BY-NC-ND) states that reproduction in a different format alone, such as resizing an image or converting a TIFF to JPEG, is not Adapted Material. Colour correction that merely adjusts white balance or exposure in a digital tool is also a format change under this rule. The exception is when the change alters the expression of the work in a way that creates a new copyrightable work. That judgment belongs to applicable law, not to the license.
ND and SA Consequences
If the source work carries a NoDerivatives license, you may not share Adapted Material at all. Since cropping or colour correction could be an adaptation under copyright law, sharing the result under an ND license risks breach. The consequence is automatic termination of your license rights under Section 6 of the 4.0 legal code. You can cure the breach within 30 days after discovering it, which reinstates your rights automatically from the date of cure. If the source work carries ShareAlike, and your change is an adaptation, you must license your output under the same SA license or a Creative Commons designated compatible license. The official compatibility list on the Creative Commons site controls that choice; you cannot assume any two SA licenses are compatible.
Is Cropping, Resizing or Colour Correction an Adaptation? The Three Tests
Run these three checks before you share a modified version of a CC-licensed work.
Test One: Format Change Only?
If you resized, recoloured or cropped without adding new creative content, the 4.0 definition says it is not Adapted Material. Share it under the original license conditions.
Test Two: Creative Modification Under Your Law?
If you cropped to change the meaning, combined images, or adjusted colour to create a new artistic expression, applicable law may treat it as an adaptation. The license does not preempt that law. When in doubt, treat it as an adaptation.
Test Three: Does the Source License Block Adaptations?
ND prevents sharing Adapted Material. SA requires your adaptation to carry the same SA license. NC restricts adaptations to noncommercial purposes only. If you cannot meet the condition, do not share the modification.
| License | Format Change (e.g. resize, colour fix) | Adaptation (e.g. creative crop, composite) |
|---|---|---|
| CC BY 4.0 | Allowed; attribute the source work | Allowed; attribute the source work and mark changes |
| CC BY-SA 4.0 | Allowed; attribute the source work | Allowed; must license the adaptation under BY-SA 4.0 or a compatible license |
| CC BY-ND 4.0 | Allowed; attribute the source work | Not allowed to share under the license; private adaptation permitted |
| CC BY-NC 4.0 | Allowed for noncommercial use; attribute the source work | Allowed only for noncommercial purposes; attribute the source work and mark changes |
| CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 | Allowed for noncommercial use; attribute the source work | Allowed only for noncommercial purposes; must license the adaptation under BY-NC-SA 4.0 or a compatible license |
| CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 | Allowed only for noncommercial sharing; attribute the source work | Not allowed to share under the license; private adaptation permitted |
The Decisive Exception: Translation and Synchronisation
The 4.0 legal code gives two categorical examples of what is always Adapted Material. Translation into another language is normally an adaptation. Synchronising music with a moving image is expressly Adapted Material under 4.0. Neither cropping, resizing nor colour correction appears in those examples. That silence reinforces the rule that format changes alone are not adaptations, but it does not protect you if your edit crosses into creative territory.
A common failure case is excerpting a portion of a work. Whether cropping, excerpting, editing or combining creates an adaptation can depend on applicable copyright law. If you extract a 10-second clip from a 3-minute video and share it, a court may treat that as an adaptation. The license does not say yes or no; your local copyright law decides. The same applies to colour correction that dramatically changes the visual tone of a photograph.
The Safest Next Step
Document your change. Record the source URL, the creator, the exact license and version, and the date you accessed it. Describe what you did, "resized, adjusted white balance, cropped 10% from left edge", and whether you believe it is a format change or a creative modification. If the source license is ND, do not share the result. If the source is SA and you made a creative modification, apply the same SA license to your output. If the source is NC, restrict your use to noncommercial purposes. The single thing that most often goes wrong here is assuming that any small edit is safe under any license. It is not safe under ND if the edit is an adaptation, and the line between a format change and an adaptation depends on your country's copyright law, not on the license text.
Common Questions
Can I crop a CC-BY photo for use in a thumbnail and share it?
Yes, if the crop is a format change. Resizing the photo is reproduction in a different format, which the 4.0 definition says is not Adapted Material. You must still attribute the creator and indicate that you cropped the work.
What if I crop an ND-licensed image for personal use?
Adapted Material may be made for private use under an ND license. You cannot share that cropped version with anyone else. The 4.0 legal code permits private adaptations; sharing them violates the ND condition.
Does colour correction affect SA requirements?
Only if the colour correction creates an adaptation under applicable copyright law. A simple white balance adjustment is a format change, not an adaptation, so SA does not trigger. A heavy colour grade that produces a new copyrightable work is an adaptation and must be licensed under the same SA license or a compatible license.
How do I mark changes for a cropped image?
Under 4.0, you must indicate the modifications you made. A caption such as "cropped from original" or "resized and colour corrected" satisfies the requirement if it is clear and reasonably accessible. Preserve the original attribution notices and the license URI.
What happens if I misjudge and share an adaptation under an ND license?
Your rights under the license terminate automatically for the period of violation under Section 6 of the 4.0 legal code. You may cure the breach within 30 days after discovering it, which reinstates your rights automatically from the date of cure. You remain liable for the infringement during the violation period.