Arrggh!!! Processing mystery solved! 4x6 is NOT!

[PoohJen]

The short story: where I needed precisely 4x6 print, realized Walgreen's paper size shaves 1/10th inch off each side, resulting in obvious cropping of my carefully laid out project.

The long story:
Ok, I still need to figure out my poster-size-imaging problem -see this thread - but in the meantime...

Been trying to create special poster for son's team. Printed 5x7 at Walgreens. Learned from the 5x7 that sides were cropped b/c 5x7 doesn't proportionately translate from 4x6. Printed 4x6. Print was cropped.

Went back, worked more on the project, checked the size - perfect 4x6 ratio. Checked in 4x6 frame on Walgreen website, no problems there. Got print. cropped!

ggggrrrrr.

Took deep breath, stared at picture, then pulled out my ruler. The picture is "cropped" because the print is NOT 4x6. it is cut off by 1/10th an inch on both sides!!!
Is this common with processing places? I'm looking to get poster size made up at costco. Should I expected the sides to be shaved most anywhere I go?

If the smileys were working, you would see a series of computer hitting, sad little faces... ;-)

 

[craptastic]

what camera are you using? only SLR uses true 4x6 ratio. Point and clicks are 4:3 so regardless of paper size (4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 8x12) your pictures will be cropped.

Beyond that, if you're print in "borderless" mode, it is normal that the picture will be cropped (approximately .15" bleed on each side)

 

[PoohJen]

I do use a dSLR - Rebel XT. I didn't know cameras didn't shoot 'true' 4x6. Trying to create a specific edited pic where border accuracy is important; this 'unknown' really screws it all up. But thanks for the heads up.

 

[craptastic]

your camera does shoot true 4x6 (all Canon and Nikon SLR -- including dSLR -- are 4x6 -- or 3:2 ratio). Olympus/Panasonic dSLR use 4:3 just like all point and clicks of any brand. Some higher end point and clicks by Canon, Nikon, Fuji and Olympus have 3:2 option.

I hope the additional information help things further.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

It's extremely hard to align paper perfectly accurately. Printers usually expand the picture just a tiny bit to make sure that none of the paper is left uncovered. It's sort of like overscan on an older TV. The lesson is that you need to shoot a bit wider so that your edges can get cut. It's much easier to cut unwanted stuff than it is to add stuff later.

 

[PoohJen]

True Mark, but this is the ongoing saga of my montage piece (it's an edited, patchwork picture).

The only point of this thread was to whine and point out that the Walgreen's paper was not 4x6. 2 different pictures printed 6 hours a part; their paper was off by 1/10th inch on all 4 sides. phooey.

 

[rtphokie]

print it 5x7 (be sure to put some lines outside the 4x6 so Walgreens doesn't get helpful and crop it further) and then cut it yourself. The only way to get it exactly the way you want it.