[dougsmit]

Hopefully, we all know that we need to allow for the proportions of our final prints when cropping. If we shoot a 2:3 format and want to print 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10 we will have three different shaped prints and three different crops.

My printer of choice (Costco but the same rules will apply to others) started offering 'Package' prints consisting of one 8x12", 2-5x7" and 5-wallets (2 1/2x3 1/2"). I knew that the 5x7 and wallets were the same proportions (1:1.4) while the 8x12 matches the camera format (1:1.5). When I got my prints I was surprised that the big print was cropped to fit on all four sides rather than giving the full file. The crop matched the 5x7 on the short sides but more was lost on the long side. This resulted in the loss of a hair ribbon on one sister in a family group. Knowing this, I could have prepared the file more loosely cropped but the first result was not acceptable. I asked the photo manager what was going on and it seems this was the first complaint they had on the matter. They make a big point on the need to allow for proportions but the input software did not show this as a potential problem. Reprinting the file as a solo 8x12 gave exactly what I wanted so the problem was in the set up for the package. My answer will be not to buy the packages anymore. There is no price break (actually the wallets cost more this way) and individual prints come fully cut apart saving a step for the end user.

This is posted to suggest that those of you having package prints made (whatever the lab) check to see how they handle the question of more than one proportion included in their package. It is no big thing to work around whatever the situation might be but you don't want a surprise if it first turns up on a rush job.