help - what am I doing wrong - printing 8x10 images

[DVC Jen]

I took some portraits for a boy in my oldest daughters senior high school class. He hasn't been able to afford to have any done - long story short - h is parents don't really support him financially or emotionally so he is pretty much supporting himself.

OK - I am having some real issues when I upload the photos to mpix and try to have them printed out in an 8x10 size. Mpix (or even my own printer crops them and I loose some valuable subject matter (like heads )

I have no resized these photos at all - the are the same size they were coming straight out of the camera.

What can I do to make sure they "fit" or "cop" correctly so I don't actually loose those heads or end up cropping too much off the bottom of the photo?

I am really getting frustrated.

 

[Anewman]

Crop them to 8x10 yourself, or print 8x12 which should match the aspect ratio of your camera and require no cropping.

You are doing nothing wrong but lets remember that not all print sizes are the same aspect ratio, kinda like widescreen tv(16x9) VS older 4x3 tvs.

If your camera is a 3/2 ratio(most DSLRs) you can print at the following sizes without cropping.
4x6
8x12
12x18
20x30
etc...

sizes like 5x7 and 8x10 would require cropping.

If you need instruction on how to crop to the proper ratio let us know what software you are using.

 

[Master Mason]

yep what he said, if you send the photo over in the right size you get what you want, if you send it over in the wrong size, you get what they give you.

Smugmug actually lets you chose the crop if your ordering a different size than the original as part of the check out.

 

[DVC Jen]

Smugmug actually lets you chose the crop if your ordering a different size than the original as part of the check out.

Right and so does mpix. I have cropped the photos (on the mpix site) before I have ordered them - I just didn't want to HAVE to crop them. Ya know what I mean?

Take this one for example. I would LOVE to have an 8x10 in this photo - but right now I don't know how. At least not without losing a good sized chunk of the bottom of the photo.

This one I was able to use mpix for an 8x10 the way it is - I chose to crop the bottom and was still happy with the photo, but wouldn't be with the one above.

Also - I understand about the 8x12 - but that is a harder size photo to buy a frame for. I could very well be wrong - but isn't it much easier to take a trip to your local wal-mart or target and get an 8x10 than an 8x12?

More people want the 8x10 inch size than a larger print.

I am using photoshop elements 5, but I also have Corel Paint Shop Pro 9.. I just never use it.

 

[Master Mason]

You could resample it into the size you want, but that will alter your photo.

 

[Steve's Girl]

I was having a similar issue with a photo of my kids. So, I printed it 8X12 and went to a local craft store and bought a 14X18 frame (which is a common stock size) and had a 3" white mat cut. The photo was black and white in a black frame with the white mat. It came out really nice. I think you could do something similar with the above photo.

 

[Master Mason]

you could also use a certificate frame

 

[handicap18]

I use PSE4. When I want to send pic's on line to have the printed for a specific size I crop it myself first. There is an option in PSE that when you crop you can choose what size it will crop to, you can make it bigger or smaller, but only within the paramaters of that specific size. You can't widen it without making it taller. I save it to the highest resolution and have never had issues with losing detail in the final print, even up to 11x14 size. It doesn't take long at all.

Unfortunately the sensor is not the same ratio as 8x10 so you will lose something no matter what.

The only place I can find frames for 8x12 prints that will also fit a mat is at Michael's or AC Moore. Even at Ritz they don't have a selection. 8x10 frames are a dime a dozen. And even at Wally World or Target you can get 11x14 frames and a mat that will fit it to show an 8x10 photo. The whole setup there is like $10 for the frame and mat, if its even that high.

 

[handicap18]

you could also use a certificate frame

Certificate frame is for an 8 1/2 x 11. I've tried them with an 8x12. Not quite right.

 

[DVC Jen]

so what do professionals do when their clients want to order an 8x10 without cropping the photo down to where you lose part of it you want?

 

[MICKEY88]

all good advice above, one thought though if you go 11x14 with 8x10 mat, you still have the same 8x10 issue trying to line it up without cropping...unless you make your own mat.

the key for the future is to always allow plenty of room around your subject for cropping, I think we all make the mistake at one time or another of framing the pic exactly the way we want it to look when printed...

the key is to always try to remind your self to shoot wider than the end result...knowing we can easily crop digital...

 

[DVC Jen]

the key for the future is to always allow plenty of room around your subject for cropping, I think we all make the mistake at one time or another of framing the pic exactly the way we want it to look when printed...

the key is to always try to remind your self to shoot wider than the end result...knowing we can easily crop digital...

I think THAT is going to be the key for me. I get the shot I want perfectly framed - take it and then can't get it printed like I see it on the computer screen.

I guess this just means more practice for me. My poor kids. LOL

 

[Anewman]

so what do professionals do when their clients want to order an 8x10 without cropping the photo down to where you lose part of it you want?

Lots of Duplicate shots, some anticipating some cropping and some expecting to be printed full frame.

 

[MICKEY88]

so what do professionals do when their clients want to order an 8x10 without cropping the photo down to where you lose part of it you want?

anwer to this in my other post...

I've always thought the ideal viewfinder would have very faint lines showing framing for various size prints...LOL

 

[MICKEY88]

Lots of Duplicate shots, some anticipating some cropping and some expecting to be printed full frame.

I'd just shoot for cropping, you can usually crop to any size if you leave extra room around your subject..

if you shoot to print full frame you can still run into problems if you choose a frame with a mat..since part of your pic will be covered..

 

[fitzperry]

I was having a similar issue with a photo of my kids. So, I printed it 8X12 and went to a local craft store and bought a 14X18 frame (which is a common stock size) and had a 3" white mat cut. The photo was black and white in a black frame with the white mat. It came out really nice. I think you could do something similar with the above photo.

I've done the same thing. Two 8x12's fit nicely in an 18x24 frame. And a 14x18 works well for a single 8x12. I also ordered mats here (http://www.americanframe.com/index.html?i=121506-1). If you're not ordering frames, they require a minimum order of 5 mats, but IIRC I got them for around $35 shipped, which was less than two would have cost me at Michael's (I didn't check any local framers, but I'm guessing it would have been about the same; I also didn't do much comparison shopping on-line as I was in a hurry, so there might be better deals to be had).

 

[Marinerbaby]

For some you can clone the sides to add more space and allow for an 8x10 print without cropping the bottom or top. That should be pretty easy with the first with the dark backdrop. For clients I crop to 5x7 so if they order 8x10 it is not too much of a jump.

 

[MICKEY88]

For some you can clone the sides to add more space and allow for an 8x10 print without cropping the bottom or top. That should be pretty easy with the first with the dark backdrop. For clients I crop to 5x7 so if they order 8x10 it is not too much of a jump.

great idea..

that reminded me, that I've already added a frame with Paint shop pro, to grow my pic so to speak..with PSp you can add a frame inside or outside the pic...
outside obviously gives you extra room to do your cropping without touching your subject.

I've actually already added 2 frames out of neccessity..

 

[fitzperry]

Slightly off-topic, but I just had to post this. In my quest for pre-cut 8x12 mats I keep seeing this frame at Target--it's a 14x18 frame matted to 8x10 (in fact I bought two and had mats cut with 8x12 openings). It's kinda hard to see here because I took this picture with my phone while trying to prevent my 4yo from breaking her neck climbing on the cart, but the stupid mat cuts off the top of the Eiffel Tower! Maybe I'll take a better picture and send it to Target's customer service department as an illustration of the need for 8x12 mats.

 

[fitzperry]

great idea..

that reminded me, that I've already added a frame with Paint shop pro, to grow my pic so to speak..with PSp you can add a frame inside or outside the pic...
outside obviously gives you extra room to do your cropping without touching your subject.

I've actually already added 2 frames out of neccessity..

That's a great idea.