image size

[Hal]

I have a nikon D70 set to get a fine image in large size format. When I get my image printed ( 8x10) from a commercial cheap print maker ( Wal- Mart) the image is cropped but not alwaysmy desire. Should I shoot at a smaller size format i.e. Medium that would give an image with fewer pixels? Or should I try to get a printer that will print a larger than 8x10 size,for example 8x12? Your help will be appreciated. Thanks, Hal

[PeteQ]

Hal, you need to crop your image to an 8x10 size. The large jpg image is normally about a 3000x2000 pixel resolution which lends itself nicely to 4x6 and 8x12 inch prints with no cropping. What happens is that unless you manually crop it to your desired size, be it 5x7, 8x10 etc. the printer just kind of guess at the crop. You can crop your original image in just about any editing program and there are probably defaults as to the size so it will set the aspect ratio and you will just have to drag the crop marks and it will do the rest.

[sebbomar]

I like to print on the ration that fits: 4*6, 8*12, 10*15, 16*24. I set up my image with photoshop and then take it to be printed. I did notice the Kodak machines let you crop. You can see what is going to be on the print.

[KeepsakeGirl]

Hal,

I learned to just shoot more "deadspace" around my images , especially if I knew i would probably crop to 8x10..

[sebbomar]

Since I got my digital, I like to shoot lots of pictures of a subject. No film or processing cost. So far I like to fill my image with what I want and enlarge that. The less cropping that I do the larger enlargement I can make.

By the way is Kyle, TX anywhere near Kyle Field?

[KeepsakeGirl]

that's a good question Sebbomar...i really don't know! lol

[MRCPix]

ok I have a question to add to this I am new to digital
so if I take a photo into photoshop and resize the image to an 8X10 is that the same as cropping it?