 Clayton T. Williams |
Printing Sizes I understand all the physics and history behind why digital photos are a different aspect ratio than film thus some cropping is needed. My question is about what is done about this. What is your work flow esp. for portrait photography such as bridals? Do you print the ratio that is taken and custom frame/matt them to fit traditional size frames, or do you take a photo with more room around the outside and crop yourself? If you print the digital ratio and frame that size where do you get your frames because Michaels and Hobby Lobby type stores don't carry digital size frames. Thanks
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Linda Buchanan |
I do it both ways, depending on the situation. If it is a print for myself, not a client, then I will print at the ratio that gives me the best size to match the image. I have a mat cutter so I cut my own mats, with the outside dimensions to fit the customary Hobby Lobby frames (11x14, 16x20, etc.) and the mat opening to fit the print size. If I am shooting for a client, I zoom out to allow crop room so they can order the standard sizes and still get the image they wanted.
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Alan N. Marcus |
The final print size problem is not exclusive to film formats or digital formats. It has been with us for 100 years or so. The problem is: Photographers tend to compose in the viewfinder and they are hesitant to leave room (dead space) around the principle subject. The 120/620 cameras of yesteryear tried to solve, these were square formats. The photographer was forced to step back a tad. This allowed composing on the enlarger easel. One could make a horizontal or a vertical. If the image has space around the subject one could crop as one composed. What I am saying is; learn to step back or reduce the magnification of your zoom. This is planning ahead. Nowadays you can compose after the fact using your photo editing software. It’s easier now, with digital you don’t need to work in the dark. In the old days we always afraid someone would open the darkroom door and let the dark leak out.
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Clayton T. Williams |
Thanks for the responses. I have done it both ways and it is a pain to find a frame without matting in the 4:3 aspect ratio. Thanks Alan and Linda. Linda, I have been wanting a mat cutter to cut myown mats. What do you have/recommend and does yours do bevel cuts? Travis
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Linda Buchanan |
Clayton, I have the Logan Intermediate. I got it at Hobby Lobby, I printed off a 40% off coupon from their website. They have a weekly coupon that is usually 40%, sometimes 25% off one item. Yes, it bevel cuts and accepts full size mat boards. I love it. It took a little practice, but I do all my own matting now. You won't regret it! You can get replacement blades at Hobby Lobby too, but it will come with enough to get you through several mats. You need to put this on something like a kitchen counter to work on, that height and that sturdy. It makes a big difference. I was trying this on the kitchen table, but the height wasn't right. I moved to the counter and that was just right. Probably more than you wanted to know!
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Clayton T. Williams |
No all this information is great. The more the better. Thanks for the info. Travis
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Lori Hohenstein |
What about aspect ratios when you are burning a client a CD? If I crop pics to a certain size, then if they reprint to another size, it is distorted. Is there a way to crop to a 'standard size' to be printed out to any size photo?
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Clayton T. Williams |
Unless I am misaken, the only time it should distort is if they try to print to a size larger than what it is cropped to or larger than the resolution size. To get around this you can always burn the original size and let them crop if they want. But that is giving them a lot of freedom on your work but I guess they have that freedom if you are giving them CD's that they are allowed to print from anyway. Travis
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
You're misunderstanding aspect ratio. 4x6, 6x9, 8x12 have the same aspect ratio. Given one in either size, you can make a print in either of the other two sizes without cropping. When you make a print like an 8x10 from the normal 35mm aspect ratio, it has a different aspect ratio. So you crop. If your clients are changing the size of the photos you give them and they are coming out distorted, then it's your clients who don't know anything about basic printing from any of the many photo programs out there.
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