Python PIL Example: get a thumbnail by resizing and cropping an image.

cuter.py

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

import Image

def resize_and_crop(img_path, modified_path, size, crop_type='top'):
    """
    Resize and crop an image to fit the specified size.

    args:
        img_path: path for the image to resize.
        modified_path: path to store the modified image.
        size: `(width, height)` tuple.
        crop_type: can be 'top', 'middle' or 'bottom', depending on this
            value, the image will cropped getting the 'top/left', 'midle' or
            'bottom/rigth' of the image to fit the size.
    raises:
        Exception: if can not open the file in img_path of there is problems
            to save the image.
        ValueError: if an invalid `crop_type` is provided.
    """
    # If height is higher we resize vertically, if not we resize horizontally
    img = Image.open(img_path)
    # Get current and desired ratio for the images
    img_ratio = img.size[0] / float(img.size[1])
    ratio = size[0] / float(size[1])
    #The image is scaled/cropped vertically or horizontally depending on the ratio
    if ratio > img_ratio:
        img = img.resize((size[0], size[0] * img.size[1] / img.size[0]),
                Image.ANTIALIAS)
        # Crop in the top, middle or bottom
        if crop_type == 'top':
            box = (0, 0, img.size[0], size[1])
        elif crop_type == 'middle':
            box = (0, (img.size[1] - size[1]) / 2, img.size[0], (img.size[1] + size[1]) / 2)
        elif crop_type == 'bottom':
            box = (0, img.size[1] - size[1], img.size[0], img.size[1])
        else :
            raise ValueError('ERROR: invalid value for crop_type')
        img = img.crop(box)
    elif ratio < img_ratio:
        img = img.resize((size[1] * img.size[0] / img.size[1], size[1]),
                Image.ANTIALIAS)
        # Crop in the top, middle or bottom
        if crop_type == 'top':
            box = (0, 0, size[0], img.size[1])
        elif crop_type == 'middle':
            box = ((img.size[0] - size[0]) / 2, 0, (img.size[0] + size[0]) / 2, img.size[1])
        elif crop_type == 'bottom':
            box = (img.size[0] - size[0], 0, img.size[0], img.size[1])
        else :
            raise ValueError('ERROR: invalid value for crop_type')
        img = img.crop(box)
    else :
        img = img.resize((size[0], size[1]),
                Image.ANTIALIAS)
        # If the scale is the same, we do not need to crop
    img.save(modified_path)

awsome man... I will use it in my project...

For middle crop (the most popular case, imho) you can use ImageOps.fit.

thumbnail = ImageOps.fit(
    thumbnail,
    (height, width),
    Image.ANTIALIAS
)

@ProDG: You're the real MVP!!

good hint @ProDG
but his script is faster
PIL : 0.029497146606445312
Script: 0.023000240325927734
Good job 👍

Thanks! @ProDG