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Tip of the Month: Improve Your Photography By Using the Right Aspect Ratio
Tips about Aspect Ratios. What photographers need to know. 
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Here's Why It Matters To You In Your Photography... |
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Hi ,
The family picture shown above is OK but not quite right.
The photo was ordered as a
standard 8" x 10."
The Problem? The 8" x 10" aspect ratio (the height to width) ... is just too tight on the 10" sides for this composition. So, even though this is a "standard" size it crops off some of the subjects at either end of the print.
What this shot actually needed was a full frame, 8" x 12" ratio/print shown below:
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Choosing an incorrect print size for certain subjects is a pretty common error among photographers.
People assume that if they order a "standard" print size their subjects will automatically look good.
That's not always the case.
Traditional print sizes do crop out some of the image area. That's usually not a problem. But, it can be frustrating if important image content ends up being "lost" in the final, cropped print.
Pros are generally familiar with the difference between the "popular" sizes and "full frame" ones.
But, we do occasionally get "wrong" size prints ordered in our photo lab. So, we thought it would be a good idea to illustrate the differences you can expect in aspect ratios.
(Please excuse us if this is "old hat" to you!)
Here are some visual guidelines we hope will be helpful:
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Aspect Ratios For dSLRs
and 35mm Cameras
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Full Frame sizes for both digital & film cameras are at a 4" x 6" ratio of height to width. So, the sizes you should order ... if you want your full image to show ... would be:
- 4" x 6"
- 8" x 12"
- 12" x 18"
- 14" x 20"
- 20" x 30"
Standard print sizes ... ordered by photographers because these sizes are more artistically pleasing ... have an 8" x 10" aspect ratio.
- 4" x 5"
- 8" x 10"
- 16" x 20"
- 20" x 24"
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Which Aspect Ratio or Cropping
Do You Think Is Best?
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This Is A Full Frame Picture on Either 35mm Film
or Shot With A Digital Camera
Print Sizes: 4" x 6", 8" x 12", 16" x 24" or 20" x 30" |
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An Automatic Crop, If An 8" x 10", 16" x 20" or 20" x 24"
"Artistic" Aspect Ratio Print Was Ordered |
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How To Get A Better Crop:
Here's An Example ... Using Our Lab's Cropping Feature
(On Any of Our Online Sites) ... of How A Standard 8" x 10" Aspect Ratio Print Can Be
Selected and Moved To An Off-Center Portion of the Image |
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The Point - All of these crops look good for this particular picture. Even the auto-crop looks OK.
But, the full frame and the selected crop
(bottom) indicate the photographer's choice and would probably be preferable.
Our Suggestion - Take advantage of the cropping flexibility our ordering systems offer when you select your prints.
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A New Full Frame Aspect Ratio
The full frame apect ratio produced by cell phones is 9" x 12
". (Compared to the 8" x 12" full frame images from a digital or 35mm film camera.)
So, if you want to include your entire cell phone image in your print you can select from these sizes:
- 4.5" x 6"
(A new proofing size we offer on our www.iPrints.com site that's ideal for cell phone photos.)
- 9" x 12"
- 18" x 24"
Can you still order "standard" 4" x 6" prints/proofs or 5" x 7" prints?
Of course!
You can also select any of the these traditional "artistic" sizes:
- 8" x 10"
- 11" x 14"
- 16" x 20"
All that will happen on traditional sizes is that some of your image will be cropped out ... not showing ... in your print. Cropping will be clearly shown on any of our online sites
(or on our Kodak Picture Makers if you order in our Laboratory Store.)
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Samples of Full Frame Cell Phone Images
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Photos by Elaine Farkas
Note how the cell phone's increased aspect ratio allows
the inclusion of extra sky or foreground areas. |
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Photo by Bev Cameron, with her cell camera held vertically. |
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Panoramic Images
One of the nice features of cell phone cameras is that you can select a panoramic setting to get creative images like this one.
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Photo by Bev Cameron, using the Pano setting on her iPhone 11 Pro.
This image enlarged to a 12" x 4" print in our laboratory.
A Useful Option: If you request "fit to frame" in either Special Instructions or by clicking our icon in ROES you'll get a full pano on any size enlargement. It will show white, unprinted "bars" on the top and bottom of the panoramic image on your print. |
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How To Get Top Quality Prints
From Your dSLR or Cell Phone
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- From Camera Images on Your Mac or PC -
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- iPrints.com provides easy ordering for advanced amateurs & pros. Learn more.
- iPrintsPro is our professional site. It has hundreds of photo products, including our new photo books, designed for pros and serious amateurs
- iPrints Classic is designed for consumers & beginners. It offers beautiful prints with no learning curve.
- Order Directly From Your Cell Phone at www.iPrints.com
- Please click here to learn how to order.
- iPrints.com also lets you order from photos on your tablet.
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2960 Simms St., Hollywood, FL 33020
(800) 327-1776 • (954) 925-0105
Customer Service Hours:
M - F 10AM - 5PM
Saturdays 10AM - 2PM
info@DaleLabs.com
Film Developing, Printing & Scanning Services: BestFilmDeveloping.com |
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