Ok, this is embarrassing!!

[Rox74]

Ok, so I'm doing team pictures (individual & team). I'll be ordering from mpix, and I'm just worried about something that I'm hoping someone here can help me with. I'm a little embarrassed asking something that I should already know but I'm so lost on this! I know that cropping will be required to size them where I want. I'm offering wallets, 5x7, all of the standard sizes. My question is, how do I crop them for the size without losing the picture? I don't want to over crop and have the white background, but I don't want to under crop and have the picture cut off. I'm also new at Photoshop, so if anyone would care to tell me how to resize the right way (I say that because I'm sure I'm doing it wrong). Is there a size to crop it to so that I can make it look right? I feel so stupid about this! I can take the picture, but I've never had to do prints like this and I want to make sure it's right before I order anything! I'm going to take my girls and send them for a trial run to make sure I'm right but still need some direction. I keep trying to back out of this, but I need to just suck it up and learn what's holding me back!! Plus, the team won't let me back out. lol

Thank you SOOO much for your help!

[Daniel Bates]

Since you know the crop aspect ratio before the shoot, it's simple: shoot loose and crop to 5x7 in Photoshop.

[snidow]

MPIX will also allow you to crop as needed during the ordering process, so you can check to verify if the photos will work for all sizes you might require. You do not have to complete the order process, just select the photo and mark the sizes you want, click next and it will show you what they will look like.

[picasso]

Don't feel bad. I had the same question recently. I frame in my camera the way I want the picture to look. It takes some getting used to but, you just have to remember to leave some area around the subject and see the crop you want in your head.

In Photoshop if you click on the crop button in the tools pallete then look up on the toolbar you will see two blank boxes. If you put lets say for example 4 in one and 6 in the other then when you drag the crop tool over your picture it will only let your drag to 4x6 size. Then you can move the box where you want it. Does this make sense? Its a little hard to explain w/out pictures. I bet if you do a Google search you can find an example with pics.

Paul

[sbp]

And looks like you are so concern about it so please save original photo in some other folder before doing anything on them.

[Rox74]

Originally Posted by picasso

Don't feel bad. I had the same question recently. I frame in my camera the way I want the picture to look. It takes some getting used to but, you just have to remember to leave some area around the subject and see the crop you want in your head.

In Photoshop if you click on the crop button in the tools pallete then look up on the toolbar you will see two blank boxes. If you put lets say for example 4 in one and 6 in the other then when you drag the crop tool over your picture it will only let your drag to 4x6 size. Then you can move the box where you want it. Does this make sense? Its a little hard to explain w/out pictures. I bet if you do a Google search you can find an example with pics.

Paul

Thank you!! I tried it and yes, it does make sense. I have only done 2 paid jobs so far so to move from that to multiple people just makes me a little nervous!! I know the only way to learn is to do it, and thank GOD there are people out here like you guys to help me feel "not so stupid" lol.

So after I crop like that, I should be ok to send for printing, right? I shouldn't allow extra room for the printing?

[CobyPhoto]

There are some really nice focus screens, for certain cameras...not all, that allow you see the 8x10 aspect and therefore frame your photo accordingly. I use them in all my studio bodies and one of the bodies I take to weddings used for the formal shots.

CJ

[picasso]

Originally Posted by Rox74

Thank you!! I tried it and yes, it does make sense. I have only done 2 paid jobs so far so to move from that to multiple people just makes me a little nervous!! I know the only way to learn is to do it, and thank GOD there are people out here like you guys to help me feel "not so stupid" lol.

So after I crop like that, I should be ok to send for printing, right? I shouldn't allow extra room for the printing?

You are fine after your crop. No extra room for printing. Glad you got it working.

Paul