Digital Cropping Issues

[Holly]

This might sound stupid but here goes: when shooting film the native image had a 2 to 3 ratio. Meaning a 4 x 6 print would basically be the entire negative frame, no cropping. What is the native image when shooting digital? I recently purchased a Canon 20D and am a little confused when ordering prints. It seems like a lot is getting cropped out of the picture on a 4 x 6 print. So what would be the correct print size to order to get the entire frame?

[Steelsun]

I have a 20D - so I'll load a pic and check in a minute.

[JamesB]

the 20D has an image ratio of 3:2 (w:h).

I have a d60 (same image ratio as the 20D) and have no problems printing, unless I edit the photo and do my own cropping, if I dont tell my program to lock the aspect ratio to a 4x6 print, the print usually comes out not as I had intended.

I notice this more oftem when using wolf prints. Again, ONLY if I crop the image and dont lock the aspect ratio before I send if off to print

James

[Steelsun]

Well a full size 20D shot is 3504 x 2336 (or 2336 by 3504 - whichever) which is a 1.5:1 ratio, or 4x6 print size (8x12).

I believe a 35mm is 4x5 (8x10)

That's why printing an 8x10 requires cropping on most digitals (altyhough some 8x12 farmes and matts are starting to appear - paper to self print is still hard to get).

[Holly]

Again, ONLY if I crop the image and dont lock the aspect ratio before I send if off to print

Aahhh, I see what happened now - I did crop a few of the images...and I didn't lock the aspect ratio. It was just my niece's school play - nothing for a client anyway. :)

Thanks everyone

[chloew]

Originally Posted by Steelsun

I believe a 35mm is 4x5 (8x10)

That's why printing an 8x10 requires cropping on most digitals (altyhough some 8x12 farmes and matts are starting to appear - paper to self print is still hard to get).

35mm film is also 2:3 (24x36 mm), and prints directly to 4x6" or 8x12". 8x10" prints from 35mm negatives are cropped.

Many P&S digital cameras have a 4:3 ratio and some online printing services therefore default to that ratio instead of 3:2 (2:3).

[pippin]

4x6 and8x12 (as well as 10x15) result in a full frame enlargment.

8x10 does not.

I deal with this almost every day at work.. especially when people do the group shot and fill it full side to side with people, then yell at us since we couldn't do an 8x10 without chopping people out of the pic

[KeithAlanK]

Interesting. It never crossed my mind that I had a different ratio from other people.
My Sony F717 is 4:3 just like a computer screen.
Since almost everything I do is web-based, I guess it just never came to my attention.
The few prints I have made were 8x10 and 5x7, but luckily I have always been in the habit of leaving a little extra space all around for cropping.

[daddyo]

I shoot with an Olympus E-1, which like the Olympus E-20 and E-10 uses a 4X3 format sensor. I personally like this format, because very little cropping is required for standard print sizes, such as 16X20, 11X14, and 8X10. The minimal cropping results in my 5MP sensor retaining almost the same resolution as a 6MP, 3X2 format sensor for these larger print sizes. Personally, I do not like 4X6 format prints, because it is such a narrow crop -- for my clients, I offer 4X5 prints.

God Bless,
Greg
www.imagismphotos.com
www.pbase.com/daddyo