 Linda Buchanan |
Avoiding Cropping I have a photo that is a rather extreme closeup of my daughter and grandson. I want to print this as an 8x10 exactly as it is, I don't want to crop anything. When I upload the image to MPIX and select 8 x 10 I get the box that indicates it needs to be cropped. I don't want to crop this and I want an 8x10. What can I do? I have Photoshop CS2 and if I need to do something there PLEASE patiently give me step by step instructions. I am old AND blonde! Thanks.
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Jon Close |
You can't have both without digitally stretching your image, which will distort your subject. You camera records a rectangular image in a specific proportion. For 35mm film and Digital SLRs the proportion is 2:3, which can be printed as 4"x6" or 8"x12" without cropping because those sizes are also in 2:3 proportion. But to print any other size such requires a portion of the image be cropped. To get 8x10 you need to essentially enlarge to 8x12 (which is the full 2:3 proportion) and crop 2" from the long side. Similar for most compact digital cameras that record on a sensor that is in the proportion of 3:4. This will enlarge to 8"x10.67" which is close to 8x10, but still requires a bit of cropping.
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Linda Buchanan |
Thank, that is the best explanation I've seen, since it is the one I finally understand. So, in the future, I should allow extra room for cropping, but I don't really want to crop the photo until I upload to MPIX and see where the crop lines are, at least until I get used to this, correct?
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Christopher A. Vedros |
Whether to crop before or after uploading is up to you. If you upload the uncropped file, then you can get multiple print sizes made from the same file, and it will give you the chance to crop each one as needed. For this particular picture, how about getting it printed as an 8x12? This size has become more popular and frames are getting easier to find. Chris A. Vedros
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Linda Buchanan |
Yes, I am going to print the 8x12. I haven't looked for frames yet, that was my main concern. Professional framing is out of my budget, so I was hoping for ready made frames. Thank you all for your help. Merry Christmas!
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W. |
8x12" is a 2:3 dimensional relationship. Which is - well, the other way around, actually, 3:2 - which is precisely the dimensional relationship 35mm film has had for almost 70 years... So it's hardly a novelty. ;-) So standard print dimensions have been 3:2 for the past 70 years. Then along came digital, which was developed from CRT ('TV') monitors. Which are 4:3... That's not possible to print on 2:3 paper stock without either losing some image, or wasting some paper. Which is why some cameras specifically offer the choice of a 3:2 image size/dimension setting in the image size menus. Very convenient.
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David A. Bliss |
Chris, do you have links or physical stores where you can find 8x12 frames and mats? I am finding that it is still more difficult than it should be to find precut 8x12 mats. I have been cutting my own, but would love to find a place to get precut 8x12.
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Christopher A. Vedros |
David, www.matshop.com and www.framesbymail.com will do mats & frames in any sizes you need. I've bought 8x12 frames at Michael's before, but I haven't found precut 8x12 mats there. W.S. - It's true that a 35mm film frame has a 3:2 aspect ratio and it has been around for a long time, but standard print dimensions have never matched this ratio. Standard prints were 3-1/2"x5" for a long time, then were gradually replaced with 4x6 prints which could be printed full frame. But for many years, standard enlargements have been 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, etc. which have always required cropping. So while the 3:2 image ratio is nothing new, 8x12 prints are rather new. Chris A. Vedros
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David A. Bliss |
Chris, thanks! I haven't had any luck with 8x12 at the Michael's near me. That is where I buy the mat sheets. Plenty of 8x10 precut! ;-) I will try the two online stores. Thanks again!
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W. |
That could be it then, Chris, because in western Europe - where I am - the standard print size has been, and still is, 15x10cm (6"x4") since at least 1975. And for big prints DIN A4 photo paper (11.7"x8.3") has been the widely available standard size here since the sixties. Obviously, the mixing and matching of systems requires some tweaking and modifying. Call it 'give & take'. It's like life itself... ;-)
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Christopher A. Vedros |
No problem, W.S. I hadn't even considered that you might be talking about European sizes. You know how Americans are - we see everything from our own point of view. ;-) Chris A. Vedros
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