Basic Cropping Concepts

Crop versus Fit

Cropping Concepts

Cropping refers to selecting the length and width of image and adjusting the crop to best portray the image's subject in the context of the item ordered.  This is done in an image editing / image management program such as Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Lightroom, Picasa, etc... (There are a large number of third-party programs suitable for this purpose.)

Another term used in conjunction with cropping is "aspect ratio."  This is a number that is the ratio of the length / with or vice versa.  For example:

• A 4x6 that is in a portrait (vertical) orientation has an aspect ratio of .67 (4 divided by 6). 
• A 4x6 that is in a landscape (horizontal) orientation has an aspect ratio of 1.5 (6 divided by 4). 

Most digital single lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) have a native format /aspect ratio of 1.5.    This makes the native image perfect for 4x6 images, but other common print sizes result in differing aspect ratios.  Therefore, images with one aspect ratio do not always translate into other sized prints without some additional cropping.

Look at the difference with the 3 most basic print sizes:

When you print with Shutterbug Storefront and you do not send us an exactly cropped file, we will apply a generically centered crop, just as you see in the examples above.

We feel that the Display-Only workflow is the optimal way of getting us your optimized image files for printing. This ensures that you, the professional photographer, are making the choices for how a crop is applied.

See, below the above example, only this time, with the crop applied specifically for the 8x10, thus optimized by the photographer....

Image size vs. aspect ratio...

When you look on the resolution guide, you see that regular sized prints should be cropped to their order dimension based on 300 DPI.  This would mean the following:

• 4x6 = 1200 x 1800 pixels
• 5x7 = 5100 x 2100 pixels
• 8x10 = 2400 x 3000 pixels

These are arrived at by multiplying the size of the print in inches by 300 pixels (dots) per inch.  So, a 4x6 print should translate into 4 x 300 (1200 pixels) by 6 x 300 (1800 pixels) and so forth...

Does this mean that every print should be exactly sized like that?  Not necessarily.  The key to accurate cropping is the aspect ratio.

Using the crop tool in your editing program (Photoshop, etc.) you set the crop tool to slide open or closed based on the aspect ratio needed.  You would then open and close the crop accordingly, being sure to keep the same aspect ratio needed, and position it accordingly to properly display the subject matter in the image.

In the case of our 4x6 print, lets say that we crop down on the subject to remove some of the background that is not needed.  Now, the print ends up being slightly less than the exact resolution called for.  Let's say it turns out that the image is now 1060 x 1590 pixels.  Because 1060/1590 has a ratio of .6666, you know that it is the same exact aspect ratio, and would still make for a perfectly cropped 4x6 print.  4/6 also = .6666 - the "aspect ratios" are the same.

As far as resolution, this slightly smaller print would be just fine, although not exactly a full 1200x1800 resolution.  As long as it was a good image and not overly-compressed, it would turn out fine.  What we would suggest you NOT do, is to up-res (make larger) the image in your software.  That tends to degrade the quality of the JPG and is usually not recommended.

Crop vs Fit

If the image (what gets submitted to the lab) matches the exact aspect ratio of the print size ordered, it will print fully to the edges (borderless) and not be adjusted at all.  In this case, crop or fit settings will not matter. However, if the aspect ratio of a submitted image does NOT match the print item ordered, then the choice between CROP vs FIT matters:

1) CROP will take an existing image and apply the size ordered WITHIN the existing image file.  By doing this, the lab will apply a generically-centered crop within the image, and this will leave 2 bands of the image (either on top/bottom or both sides) taken away to apply the correctly sized crop.

2) FIT will take the existing image and apply it totally within the area of the print item ordered.  By doing this, the lab will apply the whole image centered within the print area, and this will leave 2 bands of the paper (either on top/bottom or both sides) showing.

Examples of crop vs. fit:

Image 1 - basic 4x6 (2x3) DSLR ratio:

Same image , but cropped to 8x10: (areas on sides in gray get cropped off)...

Same image, set to "fit" on an 8x10 print:

We strongly suggest that you use "crop" on all your images whenever possible, and try to always use files that are as close as possible to matching the aspect ratio of the print ordered.  (Thus, why we strongly suggest using the "Display Only" workflow.)

NOTE:  We currently have limitations on certain-sized prints for Crop vs. Fit Settings.

• Standard-sized prints (8x12 and smaller in glossy, matte, and luster) - we can do crop or fit and using these settings will be implemented.
• Enlargements (11x14 and larger all finishes), all metallic finish prints, and all photo gift products - ONLY the "crop" setting will be implemented.