 Dennis S. Brewer |
From the Digital Darkroom to the Developer I am new to digital and have a Nikon CoolPix 4300 4Mp digital camera and I have simply fallen in love with it. I have the camera set to store my photographs at 2272x1704 with an image quality of "Fine". I then transfer the images to software to sharpen and enhance them even further before taking them for development. Here is where I need your help... I will, at times, crop the image to remove unwanted material from the end result. This, of course, changes the original image size of 2272x1704 to varying sizes. Let's say, 1611x1104 just for kicks. I take the images for development and find them not fitting the standard 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10 layouts. The portraits have the tops and bottoms missing and the landscapes are missing image from the left and right. Gads! Any help you can lend me on where I need to concentrate my efforts so that the image I am looking at on the monitor in the software comes out the same on the printed media would be most appreciated. Thank you in advance. Regards,
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Uriah H. Carr |
I've experienced the same disappointment with printed versions of cropped digital image files. I think that with cropping we confront aspect ratio limitations ( image height in relation to image width). When we change the height-to-width ratio by cropping, oftentimes the resultant image cannot be resized to a standard print size (4x6, 5x7, etc.)without grossly distorting the geometry of the image. In such cases, custom printing and framing are necessary. The alternative is to minimize the need for cropping by being more calculating and precise about the composition and framing of a shot before its taken.
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Ms. Shan Canfield |
Dennis If you have Photoshop, you can set up your rectangular marquee tool or your crop tool, to be a specified size (in the top options bar when the tool is selected). If you are doing customized crops, always do this on a duplicated file (to preserve your original). Go to Image>Duplicate. In Photoshop CS there are even preset sizes for both marquee and crop tools which you can select from the top Options tool preview window (4x6, 5x7, 8x10 etc). The crop tool can be dangerous if you don't know alot about pixel interpolation--it can "make up" pixels to fill in the spaces for the sake of upping the resolution (ppi). The Rectangular Marquee is a safer option. But first go to Image>Size and UNCHECK the resample box. Set the Resolution to 300ppi (the W&H inches will adjust showing you the max size without interpolating your file, the Megabyte size will stay the same). 300 ppi is what most digital output print labs prefer. Once this is done Just select the fixed size marqee you need for your image and click in the image window; the marching ants will appear at the size you specified; you can reposition by keeping your mouse inside the borders while leftpress down on the mouse and move. When the borders are where you want them then go to Image>Crop. Even as careful as one can be at the time of the shoot, will not change the fact that a 4x6, 5x7, 8x10 all are of "different" aspect ratios. So make sure that your focal point(s) have some room around them at the time of the shoot, to play it safe...cause the various aspect ratios will bring you closer into the shot. With your given resolution the largest print you'll get at 300ppi without interpolating is about a 5x7, since those pixels add up to around a 5.5 x7.6. The other alternative if you wanted to print the "full" digital frame would be to create an 8x10@300ppi or 10x8@300ppi file with a white or black background (for borders) and drag your uncropped file into this doc, position, save as a 10-12 hiqh quality jpeg (srgb profile; the generic and usable profile for most digtal photo printers to handle without major color shifts) and send that to the printer. You could also use the Canvas command on a duplicate file to achieve the same border effect. Just some food for thought!
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Dennis S. Brewer |
Thank you for your responses. I did have a feeling that this was my fault all along by custom cropping my photos. You are very correct Uriah, I do need to learn to "Frame" my subject better. I read some information on pixel interpolation from cropping, Shan, and wondered if that had anything to do with it as well. You hit the nail on the head. ..."you need to crop the images to the aspect ratio of the intended print".... I need to do that in the cases where I screw up framing my subject matter. For now, I am using ArcSoft PhotoImpression v4.0. However I think I do need to step up to Adobe as it has better tools. I do not think that my software has the ability crop at desired aspect ratios. One of the things I was looking for was a table for these cropping aspect ratios for 4x6, 5x7, etc., and I cannot seem to find it just yet. There has to be one out there somewhere. Thank you again for you personal time to help. Regards,
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George E. Givens Jr |
First of all your camera is really 3871488 (3.8MP). To calculate image ratio divide the large side by the small size. For example; 2272/1704=1.3. This means that the longest sided is .3 longer than the shortest side or stated as 1 to 1 1.3.
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