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What cropping ratios should be used?


I have noticed that after taking pictures with my Rebel camera that when I take the pictures in for developing some of the picture gets cropped, etc. I am sure this happens with all cameras. Does anybody have an idea what cropping ratios should be used when making 3X5, 4X6, 8X10, and 11X14 prints? Please forgive me if this questions sounds stupid.
Many Thanks


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February 08, 2005

 

Kerry L. Walker
  The only stupid question is the one not asked. If you are using a 35mm Rebel, there should be no cropping in a 4x6. The film is 24mmx36mm, thus a 2:3 ratio, the same as a 4x6 print. All of the other sizes you mentioned will, necessarily, be cropped.


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February 08, 2005

 

Michael H. Cothran
  Your digital camera, like all 35mm cameras, has an image ratio of 2:3. This means that if one side of your image is 2", the other side will be 3". To determine what print sizes you would need in order not to crop any of your image, you must be sure that your print size is of the exact same proportions. Your common proportional print sizes would be 4x6, 6x9, 8x12, 11x16.5, 16x24 etc. Unfortunately, these are all different than 'standard' print sizes. Standard print sizes include 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, etc.
As you can see, only the 4x6 print has the same proportions, or side ratios, as your film or digital file has.
So, if you order ANY of these 'standard' size prints, your image will undergo some cropping. With an 8x10 you will lose 2" of image area, and with an 11x14 you'll lose 2.5" of image. With a 16x20, you'll lose 4", although it will be proportional to what you lose on an 8x10. You can work around this somewhat - that is to say you can print, for example, a 6x9 image onto an 8x10 sheet of paper. Bottom line is no matter what you do, you will have waste! You'll either waste print paper, or image area. Your pick.
This has always been a 'thorn in the side.' Industry standards have never been established for film vs print proportions, and the advent of digital photography makes no difference either. So, you are simply stuck with the nature of the beast.
Michael H. Cothran
www.mhcphoto.net


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February 09, 2005

 

Kerry L. Walker
  Michael, thanks for the info. As a film shooter, I had no idea what the ratio on a digital was. I guess I could have worked it out (pixel W x pixel H) but I never even thought about it. Doesn't really affect me but it's nice to know.
Ray, I really feel your pain. I shoot a lot with a 6x4.5 so NO standard print size fits the negative size. You just learn to compensate for the crop when you shoot.


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February 09, 2005

 

Piotr M. Organa
  You can order print full frame (FF) and they will print it as approx. 6.6x10 instead of 8x10, the ratio of your frame.
No cropping.


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February 12, 2005

 
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