Aspect Ratio

[JohnC]

This came up in another thread and I was asked to post the tutorial here.

I'll eventually try to get the text and images into this message, but for now you can see it on the web at http://johncornicello.com/articles/aspectratio.html

[aam1234]

What a timely tutorial, as I've been doing some research on printing.

Thanks a ton, and have a K on me.

[aam1234]

Some questions/comments if I may:

- Are we supposed to see blue and yellow lines in the first pic (with the canoe), if so, I can't see them.

- I would suggest a lighter lines for the 3rd pic, as the black one is not easily visible in the dark(ish) photo.

Thanks again.

[JohnC]

First photo only has red and green lines (as indicated within the photo)

Will change the dark one when I get a chance.

Thanks!

[aam1234]

John, I have a couple of questions, if I may.

When the size of the photo fits that aspect ratio, e.g 8x12 for a 5D, but you want to crop just a little from one of the sides. What would you suggest/recommend in that case. I'm asking because I faced that situation yesterday when ordering prints online.
Didn't crop for fear of messing things up.

Also, I choose the photos that fit that ratio (meaning I didn't crop them for the reason mentioned above), yet the site showed a red line that I interpreted that the photo(s) needed to be cropped to fit the ratio. Why would that happen.

Thanks in advance.

[JohnC]

I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand the questions.

If your image is 8x12 and you crop from one side you also crop from the top and/or bottom. But the aspect ratio remains the same (as long as you set it up in the Crop or Marquee tool).

What site showed the red line?

[aam1234]

Mpix.

[JohnC]

OK, I've used MPix. What size print were you trying to order from them?

[aam1234]

I followed your ratio. 1:1.5

I didn't dare to touch 5D files. They fit your ratio perfectly.

[aam1234]

8x12, 22 of them.

[JohnC]

I just uploaded an 8x12 image (2400x3600 pixels) to MPix and selected an 8x12 print. As expected it has a red line around the entire image (no crop). If I click on the Edit Crop icon below the photo it shows that there isn't any movement available for the crop tool. I also selected an 8x10 and that one shows a red rectangle and the link to edit the crop shows that I can move the red box around on the image.

[JohnC]

I also tried uploading a 200x300 pixel version to see what would happen. There it only lets me select minis (resolution too low for other sizes). So I'm not sure what the red line on your image might mean there.

[aam1234]

Yeah, that baffled me too.

Would like to post some of the pics, but afraid that people might mistake them for the aspect ratio.

In any case, thanks for the help.

[happusa]

Very informative John, have a Karma.

[jfrancho]

Since I love John's article on this, here's a free bump and some images to illustrate cropping and shrinking.

Straight out of the can:


Cropped to 8x10:


Dimensions shrunk to fit 8x10:


You lose a bit of the image when cropping, but I framed with the intent of it being printed in 2:3 aspect ratio (8x12).

When you shrink it to force the new aspect ratio (4:5 for 8x10), you get longitudinal compression, or distortion.

Now, there two other options:

Add a bit of extra material to the longer sides, and trim, if necessary:



Or print in a smaller format, with a mat:



The last four can be printed at 8x10, but each has a distinctly different look.

[aam1234]

Originally Posted by JohnC

I just uploaded an 8x12 image (2400x3600 pixels) to MPix and selected an 8x12 print. As expected it has a red line around the entire image (no crop). If I click on the Edit Crop icon below the photo it shows that there isn't any movement available for the crop tool. I also selected an 8x10 and that one shows a red rectangle and the link to edit the crop shows that I can move the red box around on the image.

I stand corrected. What I meant by a "line" was a line around the photo. Sorry about the confusion.

John (jfrancho), excellent illustration. Thanks.