Sizing pics for prints

[Ambrosia76]

Ok when I process my picture I don't usually re-size the pics I am keeping for prints only the ones I am putting on facebook and such. But when I load them up on mpix And try to print say an 8 x10 it crops off a lot of my picture. How can I resize it so I can print certain sizes and retain most of the pic?

[SusanH1970]

Your camera takes photos in a 2:3 ratio, meaning that there will be no cropping if you print a 4x6, 6x9, 8x12, etc. It will be cropped if the ratio is changed, and the ratio for an 8x10 is 4:5. Basically, you need to frame your photos in-camera to leave plenty of room for cropping when printing an 8x10.

[Ambrosia76]

OK thank you I think I may have cropped some of the photo that I am trying to do so maybe I just need to load up the original.

[Hill Country Hack]

Ambrosia,

I usually compose and shoot a bit larger than what I have in mind for the final product to allow for different sizing. I also keep the original file for different cropping if I choose.

[ajax_andy]

What is the advantage of printing 8 x 10?

If our camera's dont shoot in that ratio to begin with i'm confussed as to why we'd then print in it, rather than a ratio that matches the original dimensions?

[Ambrosia76]

Well one advantage is that if someone is going to go to the store and get a frame most places only sell standard sizes, 5x7,8x10,11x14,etc unless you want to get custom framing/

[mad editor]

I just crop my pics on my computer before I upload for processing. No big deal.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by mad editor

I just crop my pics on my computer before I upload for processing. No big deal.

Do you mean you crop for the ratio you want?

[digirebelva]

Yep, thats what I do, I usually crop mine to either 8x12 or 12x18 @ 300dpi before I save it as a final tiff file. I will matt my 8x12 to 12x16 (Michaels sells a number of 12x16 frames by the way).. That way when I send it out to get printed, I dont have to worry about resizing it as long as I am printing to a 2:3 ratio size..(4x6, 6x9, 8x12 etc...).

[ajax_andy]

Originally Posted by Ambrosia76

Well one advantage is that if someone is going to go to the store and get a frame most places only sell standard sizes, 5x7,8x10,11x14,etc unless you want to get custom framing/

Ahh ok I hadn't thought of that... thanks for the reply and it's something I need to bare in mind in future.

So the best option would be to take a couple of steps back when taking the pic to allow for it to be cropped in to these dimensions, and also supply clients with them in one of the sizes you listed?