Popular Print Sizes?

[photofinish]

I have a few photos I want to print larger than 8x10. I have the 20D so I'd rather not have to crop.

What 2x3 sizes beyond 8x10 do you like best without having to refinance your house to get it and frame it? What lab did you use?

Thanks for any help anybody can give me. :-)

[Scottes]

I don't think there are any *common* 2:3 sizes larger than 4x6. Very strange, in my opinion, but that's what it seems like. I have gotten 12x18 prints done, but it's been difficult finding the frames. For pricing, it seems best to crop to the common frame sizes, since these common frame sizes are much easier to find than the less common 2:3 sizes. Just my opinion from what I've found...

[photofinish]

Thanks, again, Scottes, for your help. Have you tried making your own frames? I guess I'd be headed in that direction...:-(

[Scottes]

Geez, it's a heck of a lot easier to crop the pics! If you compose using the 20D viewfinder - which is like 95% of the view - you can crop a bit and never notice a difference from what you aimed at. Or learn to leave a little room for compositional cropping. (However, I also hate to crop so I know what it's like...)

I forgot to mention 11x17, which is extremely close to 2:3 and is fairly common. This might be the easy size frame for you.

[robertwgross]

Early on when I produced photo prints, I realized that I had to standardize onto only two main sizes. Medium is an 8x10 inch print with matting and backing to go into a frame of 11x14. Large is an 11x14 inch print with matting and backing to go into a frame of 16x20. This way, everything uses standard papers and materials and they go into standard frames. Custom frames get expensive.

---Bob Gross---

[alfa1six4]

If you want something in the 8X10 range but don't want to crop try using 8X12 or 10X15. They are 3:2 ratio so no cropping is required. They look very nice framed, not overly huge. Although I've made a 16X24 that came out spectacular.

www.mpix.com (www.mpix.com)has many 3:2 ratio print sizes. True you will not find mats or frames "off the rack" at your local store in these sizes. I recently found www.framedestination.com (www.framedestination.com) which carries mats and frames in all the 3:2 ratio's. They usually ship same day.

No affiliations, yada yada.....

[Hellashot]

High-end consumer printers do 13x19 which will matte nicely on 18x24 frames.

I just checked out that framedestination and they have good prices, but you are limited to 5 color/types of matting which isn't realistic. I'd much rather pay $20-$25 and have a choice of 100+ from a local store.

[photofinish]

Gary, Interesting site! Thanks for the link. :-)

[KarinaB1970]

I also tend not to print the standard 8x10 because I have never gotten use to leaving "extra space" for cropping when shooting my 10D. 99% of my prints are 8x12 (or something of the same ratio). While I can find 11x14 mats for this size opening, it is hard and not as simple as walking into just any store that sells mats. I did just find a VERY reasonable place to purchase mats (5 mat minimum) here: http://www.matshop.com. I havent ordered from them yet, but I have spoken with them. They will cut to any size and cheap, too! I can get double 12x16 mats for appx. $3 each. I typically pay $8 for a single 11x14 mat. They price by the outer size of the mat and custom cut the inside to your desired size. Worth a look! They sell frames as well, both metal and wood...some assembled some not. Good luck :)

[photofinish]

Thanks, Karina, that is a good site. The prices are very reasonable. Also, I found the poly bags (http://www.matshop.net/component/page,shop.browse/root,edca22905cadb8170f68ca8fe66ea261/category_id,e6a9982fb1988c50ec51c2beddbf43f8/option,com_phpshop/Itemid,354) to be interesting for actually packaging your prints, just as a gallery shop would use to display its stocks. I always wondered how that is done.

Also, greetings to another fellow Connecticut resident!

[alfa1six4]

Gary, Interesting site! Thanks for the link. :-)

You're welcome. I prefer the gallery style frames/mat, ie Black frame with white mat.

[KarinaB1970]

Thanks, Karina, that is a good site. The prices are very reasonable. Also, I found the poly bags (http://www.matshop.net/component/page,shop.browse/root,edca22905cadb8170f68ca8fe66ea261/category_id,e6a9982fb1988c50ec51c2beddbf43f8/option,com_phpshop/Itemid,354) to be interesting for actually packaging your prints, just as a gallery shop would use to display its stocks. I always wondered how that is done.

Also, greetings to another fellow Connecticut resident!

Hi Jerry! Yes, I saw the poly bags, too. I think that is great, especially if you just want to sell a matted print, unframed. I plan on making a purchase from them very soon. Will let you know how it works out :)

I didnt see that you, too were in CT. :) I tried looking at your website, but once I am there I cannot seem to click on any of the images to see more :( seems to almost time out. I will try again later. I enjoy seeing what other locals shoot in the CT area. I see just from the front page that we have been to some of the same areas. Very nice work, I will try again later to see more.

Since you are local, let me ask you a question....do you know of any good classes or schools for some basic photography skills in CT? Seems everything I find is about 2 hours away, which is fine for a one day course or so, but not everyday. I really need assistance on flash and portraiture photography...something new I would like to learn :)

Thanks!

Karina