Image size?

[pewtd]

I am very new to digital photography (I have a sony cyber-shot). I set my camera image at 1600x1200 thinking I would have 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10 prints made. However, I was informed by the sony image station that I was using a non-standard image size, thus, my 4x6 prints are over-cropped. I wrote back asking what I needed to set my camera at to obtain a 'standard' image size, they said they could not provide me with this info. My very vague instruction booklet does not address the issue. any help out there? thank you, diane

[SoCal69]

Take advantage of the highest resolution setting on your camera and ignore the aspect ratio (BTW 1600x1200 is equivalent to aspect ratio of 4x3). Crop the image to the ratio you want in photo editing software, where all the options are available to you... 4x6, 5x7, 8x10 or any other aspect ratio you want.

[pewtd]

so, I need to make sure I leave more room around the edges when I take a photo so I can then crop to a 4x6? thanks, diane

[stopbath]

This would make a nice feature for some digital camera sometime.

Select your resolution, and the print image ratio (4X5, 5X7...) and a little guide shows up on the LCD.

Sure it's a bit gimmicky, but if your planning an 8 x 10 shot, you could format exactly in camera (perhaps even tell the camera to precrop it so you could print without cropping, or exif data could be made for crop guides that software could pick up on.)

Camera makers could do other LCD software overlays like dividing the screen in thirds and displaying grids (for archecture shots). It would be almost like switching custom focusing screens!

[phidong]

It'd be ok for entry-level type cameras like Kodac, but I don't think anyone is really complaining. Most GOOD printing places have digital prints which are 4.5x6 (in the ratio you take pictures at) anyway.. and theres ample amounts of software which will allow you to crop your own picture exactly how you want it.

The dificulty with a camera-based crop is that the LCD shows a much lower resolution than the actual picture so the chances of mis-cropping are high (and you couldn't go back?).. It'd be time consuming, so some people would miss good shots/annoy their subject? Its more complicated than just cropping it in a Photo-editing program before taking it over to your photo printer. ;)

Just my opinion..

[SoCal69]

pewtd wrote:
so, I need to make sure I leave more room around the edges when I take a photo so I can then crop to a 4x6? thanks, diane

That is essentially the idea. When I take my pictures, I never know if I will print at 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10 until I actually see it and edit it. Basically, you can't really set the print format size in camera. Most editing tools allow you to crop in aspect ratios which you can set. Because it is a ratio and not a set figure, you can crop as much or as little out of the image as you like. It really isn't that much different from film... if you wanted an 8x10 of a 4x6 print, you are going to lose some of the image because if you enlarged all of it, you would have an 8x12. Hope that helps.

[pewtd]

thank you very much for your response. The light is now on.