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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Do you preserve aspect ratio when you crop?
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 01/12/2008 02:11:57 PM · #1
Although I'd love to say I always compose perfectly and don't crop, it's actually pretty rare that I don't need to do some cropping.

So I used to crop to whatever was the best aesthetic. But now, I'm much more sensitive to being "prepared" to print. So I've been trying to preserve aspect ratio when I crop (well, of course, I have the option of any standard print aspect). But in practice, this isn't easy--the best compositions don't always seem to fit.

Just thought it would be interesting to hear whether others do this, or whether you go free form for cropping and just deal with it in custom matting.

Message edited by author 2008-01-12 14:12:17.
 01/12/2008 02:15:15 PM · #2
Not being one that ever prints anything, I only go by standard sizes, and found all of
the aspect ratios I could want on the DPCPrints Prints by Aspect Ratio page.
 01/12/2008 02:17:21 PM · #3
I take print sizes into consideration, but typically I'll crop for best aesthetic.
 01/12/2008 02:27:37 PM · #4
I first attempt a standard sized crop first. If I can't get the composition I'm after then I'll go free-form.

p.s. I have a mat cutter, so I'm not so concerned about std sizes as much. ;-)


01/12/2008 02:34:59 PM · #5
I tend to do my editing to my original without cropping and save a full size. When I want to print, I will do the crop both for visual interest as well as print size. This way if several different print sizes are needed, I won't have to keep cropping the image down.

So my answer is both, depending on the image and print ratio needed.

01/12/2008 02:37:35 PM · #6
I used to crop to whatever looked right. But lately I keep the 2:3 aspect ratio just in case the customer wants a CD or a bunch of 4x6s. That way I don't have to re-crop from the proofs they've seen (saves me time on the product that gives me the least return on the time invested). I've usually cropped in (via Lightroom) when I'm posting the proofs, so if they order something more square (like an 8x10), I'll go back to Lightroom and uncrop the image so that I can get the full size for the 8x10.


01/12/2008 02:47:41 PM · #7
Like David, for weddings I tend to stick to the normal ones, but for fun/DPC its square crop all the way baby!! :-)

Message edited by author 2008-01-12 14:47:55.
 01/12/2008 02:53:58 PM · #8
Originally posted by dwterry:
I used to crop to whatever looked right. But lately I keep the 2:3 aspect ratio just in case the customer wants a CD or a bunch of 4x6s. That way I don't have to re-crop from the proofs they've seen (saves me time on the product that gives me the least return on the time invested). I've usually cropped in (via Lightroom) when I'm posting the proofs, so if they order something more square (like an 8x10), I'll go back to Lightroom and uncrop the image so that I can get the full size for the 8x10.


That's pretty much my workflow now too.

As far as web stuff goes... I do tend to stick with "standard" ratios, because they have proven themselves to work over the centuries.


01/12/2008 03:18:03 PM · #9
I now crop everything 1:1, 1.25:1, 1.5:1, or 2:1 since I read about cropping for prints in the tutorial. I find that it suits most normal formats for prints and framing (as you will see here ... //www.dpcprints.com/help.php?faq_id=61 ... as mentioned above).

Wait a minute ... I just realized the original question. I always have and always will preserve aspect ratio when cropping ... as in I never ever ever let it stretch a photo longer or taller to meet print or framing requirements.

I just wanted to make that clear.

Message edited by author 2008-01-12 15:37:15.
 01/12/2008 03:23:37 PM · #10
I have always cropped at what looks best until recently when I did want a print. I now only crop via preserving aspect ratio.
 01/12/2008 04:01:55 PM · #11
I usually just print for our family 4x6 album. I will take a few of the best and pring 8x10.

I do a pretty good job of framing in camera, but I always have a hard time keeping things straight when my kids are moving around. I'll usually straighten for the horizon or some other obvious object. Maybe crop tighter. Sometimes if there's enough room, I'll change from lanscape to portrate (or the other way around).

Since it's only 4x6s, I can get a way with alot. To answer your question, I mostly print take what I got except for minor rotation adjustments. Otherwise, I'll crop to make it printable.
 01/12/2008 05:51:08 PM · #12
I crop 3:2 wherever possible (or 4:3 from the P&S)
 01/12/2008 06:09:21 PM · #13
For DPC entries I crop to what I think will score the most marks. I don't see any point in restricting myself to the standard aspect ratios. If I want to prepare a DPC print I'll re-crop to the nearest printable aspect ratio. Any other print I make myself can be my original crop.
 01/12/2008 06:19:06 PM · #14
Interesting. I assume "preserve aspect" in the original question does not mean distorting vertically or laterally; confusing, in that the term is used in some pp pgms to do or not do just that.

Since I do not print anything, I always crop aesthetically if I have to crop. Eventually I will make my way to the kiosk, but I plan to add a generous frame or superframe of a hopefully suitable colour/noncolour in order to preserve the original crop.

By the way, I always crop first.
 01/12/2008 06:24:15 PM · #15
Originally posted by tnun:
By the way, I always crop first.

Oh yeah, me too. Makes the histogram easier to work with.
 01/12/2008 07:00:09 PM · #16
almost never keep aspect ratio
(if i do it's by accident)
i also cut my own matte & make my own frames ..
 01/12/2008 07:09:21 PM · #17
Originally posted by jhonan:
I crop 3:2 wherever possible (or 4:3 from the P&S)

ditto
 01/12/2008 07:10:02 PM · #18
Originally posted by ralph:
almost never keep aspect ratio
(if i do it's by accident)
i also cut my own matte & make my own frames ..

I'd love to be able to do this. Just don't know where to start. Any guidance?
 01/12/2008 07:11:07 PM · #19
Originally posted by samchad:
Originally posted by ralph:
almost never keep aspect ratio
(if i do it's by accident)
i also cut my own matte & make my own frames ..

I'd love to be able to do this. Just don't know where to start. Any guidance?


Ditto!
 01/12/2008 07:13:15 PM · #20
FWIW, I wasn't talking about distorting. I do use lightroom and I can recrop later, but often I export to PS and do my finishing work there, so I commit myself to an aspect ratio when I select the crop and export.

I just find I want to keep printing (and standard sizes for resale, e.g., on DPCPrints) much more in mind these days. So I've been trying to limit myself to the photo's original 3:2 aspect ratio. That's a perfect ratio for landscapes anyway--my favorite print size is 10x15 (or 15x10) and 16x24.

But the scene doesn't always match that ratio!
 01/12/2008 07:14:34 PM · #21
Originally posted by samchad:
Originally posted by ralph:
almost never keep aspect ratio
(if i do it's by accident)
i also cut my own matte & make my own frames ..

I'd love to be able to do this. Just don't know where to start. Any guidance?


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