cropping difficulties

[ericf]

I attempted to take a few "family" portraits for Christmas. I captured in raw. The trouble is that the photos are sized at 12.5" x 8.5" as downloaded from the card. If I crop to get a proper 8 x 10, I lose allot of wanted picture. Is this something that I have to "plan" for in composing the photo? Or am I missing something easier in adjustment somewhere.
I was using my 28-70 on the d200 .

Thanks

[HeatherLou]

Hi Eric! Yes, you have to plan to crop for an 8x10. You can have crop lines put in your camera, or like I do, just wing it ;) Search croplines in the search box, its where they add the guide lines in your camera and is very helpful. I know Fran Reisner knows a guy that does them.

I know there is a way you can add to your canvas in photoshop, then crop for your 8x10, I have done it before, but it was ages ago, so I wouldn't know how to tell you how to do it. If you post the pic, we can maybe help you out with that.

[Concisus Cognatus]

Is this a feature in the D50 also?

Originally Posted by Heatherlou

...You can have crop lines put in your camera...

[ericf]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll look around here more to see what I can find.
I'll post the pic later today, and let all have a look.
My first thoughts were to print as a 11 x 14 and border the frame.
But I'm not sure how it will turn out. I suppose if done correct it will look pretty good.
Thanks

[HeatherLou]

Originally Posted by nikonhobbyman

Is this a feature in the D50 also?

To my knowledge you can have crop lines put on ANY camera.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by ericf

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll look around here more to see what I can find.
I'll post the pic later today, and let all have a look.
My first thoughts were to print as a 11 x 14 and border the frame.
But I'm not sure how it will turn out. I suppose if done correct it will look pretty good.
Thanks

I printed two like that recently, and I think they turned out pretty good.

[AndrewCCM]

Yep.. Gotta plan ahead.

Also, some cameras have a crop line overlay. I know my Mark III has it and when bringing in the image into DPP it automatically crops the image. I don't use it much though. I just shoot wider than needed and eyeball it when its a portrait.

[boldimagery]

Your SLR has a 2:3 aspect ratio. The 8x10 is much more square as is the 11x14. What you would like to do is use a different print size all together. Some sizes that have the same aspect ratio would be 6x9, 8x12, 12x18, and 20x30. Oh! 4x6 is the same too. 5x7 will chop a little too, but it is not bad.

The 8x10, 4x5, 16x20 are throw backs to the film days when everything was shot on medium format and large format cameras. I belong to a croup called PAR (Print for Aspect Ratio).... LOL! Just kidding! Seriously though give one of the other print sizes a try. You will find at first it may look a little funny, but you eventually grow to like it better.

[MicWayWal]

Originally Posted by ericf

My first thoughts were to print as a 11 x 14 and border the frame. But I'm not sure how it will turn out. . .

Eric,
It happens to the best of us. You get wrapped up in the shoot and forget to allow for an 8x10 and then you are stuck. It doesn't happen often after experiences like this of yours but I had this happen last year.
If you want to stay with an 8x10 as a finished size, you could finish the picture as an 6.8in.x10in. and have no loss on the original file and then lay it on a 8x10 canvas. You will have two strips of 3/5 of an inch on either side left over. I decided to make it a 6in.x9in. and drop it on an 8x10 and then made the edges from the original image. This way you keep all the orignal file and frame it around the edges.
This used to happen all the time with weddings but now with custom pages it doesn't happen that often.

[carrbowl]

I have had this issue too...is there anyone who hasn't at some point or time??? I also wondered about just adding a black mat or whatever color you choose? instead of a physical mat like you can add to your frame??? has anyone done that??

[ericf]

Well, I had one of my nieces boyfriends over (thanks Tyler) to help. He knows PS. It took him just a few minutes to do what would have taken me much time to figure out . He added a border and resized. Looks better.

[ericf]

Image??

[MicWayWal]

Very nice Eric. Sometimes it is nice to see it done in person.

[johnastovall]

Why is any of this an issue? Crop and frame shot based on composition and what you want to say with it. The ideas of 8x10, 3x5.... etc are outmoded and best ignored. Let the framer make the matte to fit your idea not some pointless standard based on stationers paper sizes.

[MicWayWal]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

Why is any of this an issue? Crop and frame shot based on composition and what you want to say with it. The ideas of 8x10, 3x5.... etc are outmoded and best ignored. Let the framer make the matte to fit your idea not some pointless standard based on stationers paper sizes.

You are right John. We have entered an era in which the confines of equipment and supplies of the past do not hold us to certain standards. We are more free now. BUT some things have not changed. . . yet.

Why is any of this an issue?
-Cameras still have a perspective ratio of height and width. You can't change how many pixels you use from shot to shot. You can compensate later but it still is a standard.
-Albums and Frames are still made in standard sizes for the most part.
-Framers? How many photographs do you think are mounted by a framer or photographer. Maybe 2%. The vast majority of images are never mounted.
-The expectation of the customer. Most everyone who buys or is the recipient of a photograph, still thinks in terms of standard sizes 8x10, 5x7.

This will change over time. Step by step it will change. But for now if you want to stay in business you still have to consider these standards. People like you, me, and others will change this over time but for now it is the world in which we live. Ignore it and you may find yourself flipping burgers.