Cropping (Basics)

[ElizabethAtkinson]

I'm struggling with the concept of cropping and implications of not cropping correctly.

Why is it some photos are cropped automatically by the machine when you get them printed (eg. Kmart etc.) and it won't allow you to resize the photo to capture the complete photo?

Are there any techniques you can share. I have googled cropping (google is my best friend) and seen different sizes with no description as to what the sizes are - are they a measurement in inches, centimetres, what? Is there a preferred size to crop photos at so, no matter what size they are printed, you retain the whole photo?

Thanks for your help. Liz.

[Mary Anne]

There are quite a few Threads here on AP about Cropping Photos
In the Search Bar up top on the right side type in Cropping Ratio, there are three threads on the first page.. Happy Reading :th3:

[ricktas]

Photos at Kmart etc are are cropped to fit the paper. Photo paper for small prints are generally 4 x 6, so if your photo does not fit this aspect ratio, it gets cropped.

In photoshop, once you select the crop tool, and it appears just under the menu, you can click on the tool in the menu bar (not in the tools palette) and choose an aspect ratio that you want to crop to, then do your crop. It is a matter of cropping to the same aspect ratio as the print will be.

So no use cropping to 4 x 8, if you are printing on 4 x 6 paper, otherwise your lose some of the image.

[ameerat42]

...Why is it some photos are cropped automatically by the machine when you get them printed (eg. Kmart etc.) and it won't allow you to resize the photo to capture the complete photo?...
Are there any techniques you can share...Is there a preferred size to crop photos at so, no matter what size they are printed, you retain the whole photo?...

Liz.

Specifically about the machine letting you re-size. Wherever I go it lets you do this - it's in the "editing" options.
If, for instance, I am printing a 4:5 aspect print, I use the "reduce/enlarge" option to fit the top and bottom of the image on the paper. This leaves white space at the sides. I usually just print on 6x4-inch (3:2 aspect ratio) paper.

This:

...Photo paper for small prints are generally 4 x 6, so if your photo does not fit this aspect ratio, it gets cropped...

certainly happens if you do not re-size the image to fit the paper. Typically, if you had a 5:4 aspect image printed on 6x4-inch paper AND DIDN'T re-size, you'd lose the top and bottom of the image.

If you do not find any other threads on cropping, notify in this thread.

Am.

PS: I just remembered. There are what's called "aspect ratios", and also what's called "print sizes". They are not interchangeable. One is a ratio of the length to the width of an image, while the other is the actual size of the printed output.

For example, an aspect ratio of 3:2 can be printed without any cropping of the image on the following paper sizes: 6 x 4 -inch (15 x 10 cm), and 12 x 8 -inch (30 x 20 cm).

[Mark L]

..... It is a matter of cropping to the same aspect ratio as the print will be.
....

Exactly.
Though you're not limited to this. If you have done a crop that you like and that size is not available, then find an aspect ratio that the printer supplies, which is larger (though close) to what you have. You'll get a print with some white around the outside, which you can then cut off. Hope that makes sense!

[OzzieTraveller]

G'day Liz

Am is pretty close to answering your original Question with 'aspect ratios'

Photo paper follows from film size/shape from years ago, where the 4" x 6" is an exact match for the shape of the film-negative
However digital cameras - except for SLRs - follow a computer screen shape, of about 4-1/2" x 6" > thus prints crop off the top & bottom of your carefully framed image

In Kmart + similar places, after you load the image, choose 'zoom & crop' and in those screen choices, choose 'NO' zoom & crop and you will get a print as Am describes, with white edges on 2 sides but 100% of your photo intact

Hope this helps a bit
Regards, Phil