Prepping for print help... - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

04/09/2005 04:05:54 PM · #1

I hate to sound REALLY stupid here, but I was wondering how you guys prepare shots for print. I don't have too much experience getting stuff on paper. I've had full-frame prints made (8x12, 10x15 etc), but as far as cropping for the "standard" sizes I get a little confused. I know I can make crops for each different size that I want made, but is there an easier way from the same file?

I recently had some 8x10 prints made which were fine since I cropped the photos using PS at 8x10, but when I had them printed at 5x7 I got white 3/8" (or so) lines on the left and right sides where it didn't print. So I figure the ratio is different for a 5x7. I also had some wallets made and the tops of peoples heads got cut off. Is this partly the photo labs fault? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

justin_hewlett

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

04/09/2005 04:28:06 PM · #2

What I do is I first figure out the ratio of the print I will be using. Say, if I were getting a 5x7 done, I would take out a calculator and figure out what 5 divided by 7 is. I got about .714 so then I times the longest pixel dimension by that ratio, and get the appropriate amount of pixels for the shorter side using that particular ratio. Then in photoshop I would crop seperately for each print size desired, using those pixel dimensions as a guide.

Hope that helps.

dsidwell

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

04/09/2005 04:40:22 PM · #3

Just crop to the sizes you need. If working from the same file, and you want different crops for some reason, crop it at, say 8 x 10, then use the Save As... command to save it and give it a title, then go back in your history to the uncropped version and crop it at 5 x 7. 5 x 7, by the way, is not the same ratio that 8 x 10 is. 8 x 10 breaks down to 4 x 5 or 16 x 20.

I'm not sure why you'd want different crops for the same photo. I suppose it could be like offering a print in both b/w and color--just different options?

Good luck!

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/09/2005 04:41:20 PM · #4

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

I know I can make crops for each different size that I want made, but is there an easier way from the same file?

No. Each print ratio needs its own crop.

The only real alternative is to do what I do, which is crop the photo however I want, then enlarge the Canvas Size to the next-largest print size(s).

Here's a Table of Print sizes from the DPC Sellers' Tips area.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

04/09/2005 04:48:34 PM · #5

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. I'll get going with the cropping.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

04/09/2005 08:53:25 PM · #6

I do it this way:

04/09/2005 09:27:24 PM · #7

Thanks Fadoi, that's the way I do it too. I learned from that same screenshot a couple months ago. Very helpful, thanks! I was just hoping to find a way so that I wouldn't have to make a separate 5x7 crop, 8x10 crop, etc for each size.

For some reason I thought an 8x10 and a 5x7 were the same aspect ratio and used the 8x10 file for a bunch of 5x7 prints and those got messed up. I guess it could be worse, the 5x7's were $2.50 each compared to the 8x10's which were $7 at this local photo lab I use, so at least I screwed up on the cheaper pics. I'm going to try Mpix now.

Thanks again.

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

04/09/2005 09:41:08 PM · #8

If you use DPCPrints you can get 5x7 for .78 cents, 8x10 for $2.35. Yes it costs to ship...I ordered 34 personal prints recently from sizes of 4x5, 4x6, 5x7, and 8x10 - shipping was $7.45. There may be less expensive vendors out there, but I thought this was pretty reasonable, and the prints were very good quality.

Originally posted by Telehubbie: