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10/13/2005 02:48:42 PM · #1 |
That will allow me to crop a photo in Photoshop and then have it printed in various sizes and still not have heads and such cropped off of my photo by the lab?
I'm not to thrilled at the prospect of having to have a file of the photo for each size I want to have printed.
Admittedly I only know the very basics with Photoshop so I'm hoping to find out there is an easy way to do this!
I'm a compulsive cropper :) Please help me! |
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10/13/2005 02:59:54 PM · #2 |
It's not a Photoshop thing but any program that will crop for you. If you want to control how a picture is cropped instead of letting the lab do it you'll need a file for every aspect ratio that you plan to have printed. You can use the same file for a 4x6 and a 8x12, but you'll need to do a different crop to get a 8x10.
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10/13/2005 03:20:44 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by coolhar:
It's not a Photoshop thing but any program that will crop for you. If you want to control how a picture is cropped instead of letting the lab do it you'll need a file for every aspect ratio that you plan to have printed. You can use the same file for a 4x6 and a 8x12, but you'll need to do a different crop to get a 8x10. |
Yuck, I was afraid of that.
If I leave it uncropped will it print fine any size? Not that I want to leave most of them uncropped, but I might leave a few more if it meant they would print fine and save me so much work. |
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10/13/2005 03:39:26 PM · #4 |
Table of Print Sizes by pixels from the DPC Prints FAQ section. There's more info there (and via links) on aspect ratios and such. If you use these sizes you should always get the predicted results.
Another method (which I usually use) is to crop the photo one time as desired at the highest resolution, and then to adjust the canvas size to achieve the different print sizes; you can cover the excess with a mat, trim it off, use it as a design element with titles and other info, or just leave it as unexposed paper the way old prints used to come. |
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10/13/2005 03:45:16 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Table of Print Sizes by pixels from the DPC Prints FAQ section. There's more info there (and via links) on aspect ratios and such. If you use these sizes you should always get the predicted results.
Another method (which I usually use) is to crop the photo one time as desired at the highest resolution, and then to adjust the canvas size to achieve the different print sizes; you can cover the excess with a mat, trim it off, use it as a design element with titles and other info, or just leave it as unexposed paper the way old prints used to come. |
Thanks :) |
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10/13/2005 04:05:27 PM · #6 |
I'd like to hijack this thread, if you don't mind. We won't go far off course.
Here's what I'm trying to figure out. As far as I can tell, PS only allows cropping as a freehand selection (dragging one outline edge in whatever direction has no effect on the other edges), or by setting a pixels x pixel ratio (which resamples & resizes the image) or a specific inch x inch dimension (which also resamples).
I'd like to know how to crop an image using an aspect ratio. I'd like to select a section of an image with a ratio of 4/1, for example. I don't want that selection resized or resampled. Is there a way to do this?
Message edited by author 2005-10-13 16:07:46. |
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10/13/2005 04:15:37 PM · #7 |
In PS, you can crop to specific aspect ratios using the rectangular marquee tool.
When that tool is selected, you can choose to use it in "normal" or "fixed aspect ratio" (I never use "fixed size").
So, if you want something that will print as a 4x6, 8x12 or similar, then you need to set the aspect ratio to 1 x 1.5 for portrait or 1.5 x 1 for landscape. Once you've set the aspect ratio then select your crop area...go to image > crop.
ctrl + d to deselect
All done.
Edit to add:
If you need to straighten a horizon, use the crop tool first and preserve as much of the original image while you neaten things up. Then follow the instructions for aspect ratio above.
Message edited by author 2005-10-13 16:19:34.
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10/13/2005 04:35:56 PM · #8 |
| Thank you. Makes sense once it's pointed out. Silly me - I just expected it to be in a logical place. |
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10/13/2005 04:40:22 PM · #9 |
Much easier to just press 'c' to select the "Crop" tool. Enter the desired height and width (it is important to specify actual measurement units, not pixels. So enter "8in" in the Width field and "10in" in the Height field. The numbers themselves aren't critical, just the ratio to each other. So you can enter 1.25in & 1in, 4in & 5in or 8in & 10in and the crop tool would act identically because they are all the same aspect ratio). Leave the Resolution field empty to avoid resampling. Drag over image to mark your crop. A major benefit of the Crop tool over the Marquee tool is that you can adjust the size of the crop by using the handles after you've dragged. Click the checkmark (or press Enter) to actually perform the crop.
This is much easier than mucking with the settings for the Marquee tool (after all, the Crop tool was designed for... cropping.)
Message edited by author 2005-10-13 17:11:39. |
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10/13/2005 05:09:24 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by EddyG:
A major benefit of the Crop tool over the Marquee tool is that you can adjust the size of the crop by using the handles after you've dragged. |
Also because you can perform any rotation at the same time. |
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10/13/2005 07:24:21 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by EddyG:
A major benefit of the Crop tool over the Marquee tool is that you can adjust the size of the crop by using the handles after you've dragged. |
Also because you can perform any rotation at the same time. |
If you don't have Elements, this applies. If you have elements there is no such utility as far as I have found.
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10/13/2005 07:41:12 PM · #12 |
You can post photos on //www.smugmug.com and when you order prints of varying sizes, you can choose how the image will be cropped. It's actually a pretty cool feature.
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10/13/2005 07:47:31 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by KaDi:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by EddyG:
A major benefit of the Crop tool over the Marquee tool is that you can adjust the size of the crop by using the handles after you've dragged. |
Also because you can perform any rotation at the same time. |
If you don't have Elements, this applies. If you have elements there is no such utility as far as I have found. |
Drag out a crop box, any size. Position the cursor outside one of the corner drag boxes and see if the cursor turns into a double-headed arrow. If it does, click and drag the mouse, and the image should rotate around the center point. |
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10/13/2005 08:18:43 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by KaDi:
If you need to straighten a horizon, use the crop tool first and preserve as much of the original image while you neaten things up. Then follow the instructions for aspect ratio above. |
an easy way to straighten a horizon is to use the measure tool (under the eye dropper). drag it along your horizon, go to image> rotate canvas> arbitrary. the correct degree of rotation needed for a straight line is automatically entered. click ok. then you can crop.
i don't know if this tool is available in elements... |
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10/13/2005 08:23:49 PM · #15 |
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10/13/2005 08:25:06 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by KaDi:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by EddyG:
A major benefit of the Crop tool over the Marquee tool is that you can adjust the size of the crop by using the handles after you've dragged. |
Also because you can perform any rotation at the same time. |
If you don't have Elements, this applies. If you have elements there is no such utility as far as I have found. |
Drag out a crop box, any size. Position the cursor outside one of the corner drag boxes and see if the cursor turns into a double-headed arrow. If it does, click and drag the mouse, and the image should rotate around the center point. |
Yes, but I don't see where you can set a fixed aspect ratio with the crop tool in Elements.
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10/13/2005 08:25:32 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by wgoodey:
Originally posted by KaDi:
If you need to straighten a horizon, use the crop tool first and preserve as much of the original image while you neaten things up. Then follow the instructions for aspect ratio above. |
an easy way to straighten a horizon is to use the measure tool (under the eye dropper). drag it along your horizon, go to image> rotate canvas> arbitrary. the correct degree of rotation needed for a straight line is automatically entered. click ok. then you can crop.
i don't know if this tool is available in elements... |
No, there is no measure tool in Elements.
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10/13/2005 08:27:48 PM · #18 |
| Why yes, yes there is a magic photoshop setting that will make all your pics look absolutely fabulous. However, to get the keyword to enable that setting is a closely guarded secret. I can sell it to you for a few grand or so. But it will do you no good. I will change it as soon as I get confirmation your money has been deposited in my account. |
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10/13/2005 08:29:50 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by faidoi:
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Must be described in pixels/inch in Elements.
Correct me if I'm wrong (please!).
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10/13/2005 08:40:22 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by KaDi:
Must be described in pixels/inch in Elements.
Correct me if I'm wrong (please!). |
the pixels/inch part is for the resolution. if you wanted a crop to be 300 ppi this is where you would specify that. if you want to crop with a certain aspect ratio, but without resampling, put the ratio (in inches or centimeters) into the height/width boxes and leave the resolution empty.
Message edited by author 2005-10-13 20:43:16. |
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10/13/2005 08:43:14 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by wgoodey:
Originally posted by KaDi:
Must be described in pixels/inch in Elements.
Correct me if I'm wrong (please!). |
the pixels/inch part is for the resolution. if you wanted a crop to be 300 ppi this is where you would specify that. if you want to crop with a certain aspect ratio, but without resampling, put the ratio into the height/width boxes and leave the resolution empty. |
So I can put 1 and 1.5 into those two boxes and, despite the fact it says pixels per inch, it will come out in the proper aspect ratio? (Going to go try that.)
Edit to say: Just tried that...it makes the print size of the image 1" by 1.5" That is unacceptable for most of what I'm doing. It did not affect pixels per inch...but then, I was left with only 1 inch on the short side....
Message edited by author 2005-10-13 20:46:18.
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10/13/2005 08:48:56 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by KaDi:
Edit to say: Just tried that...it makes the print size of the image 1" by 1.5" That is unacceptable for most of what I'm doing. It did not affect pixels per inch...but then, I was left with only 1 inch on the short side.... |
Now go to Menu > Image Size and see if the resolution isn't some insanely high number.
Now, uncheck the "Resample Image" box, change the resolution setting to 300 dpi, and you'll see the final print size. |
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10/13/2005 08:51:29 PM · #23 |
yeah, but go into the image size settings. the resolution (in pixels per inch) should be much higher than what you would print at. uncheck "resample image" and then resize.
or you can start out by cropping with the overall dimesions that you want, and skip this step completely.
Message edited by author 2005-10-13 20:53:43. |
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10/13/2005 09:28:09 PM · #24 |
I'll have to consider what you're saying and try it.
My problem is, I like to create a single file at the aspect ratio I want and save it as a PSD. Then I can use that file for web (72 dpi, 640 px on the longest side) or a 4 x 6 print...or....Maybe this method will allow that...it isn't obvious that it will, but it would certainly save a few steps.
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