Print resizing help

[OviV]

I am looking for some input on resizing images for printing from Photoshop Elements 2.0. How do most of you go about it? If I take an image and try to resize it for 8X10 while maintaining the aspect ratio it ends up at 12X8 which means I must crop top or bottom (for vertical shots). Is there a better approach. I usually take the full size image and just print from that. Should I resize for my target print size first? Any and all input and tips is desired.

Thank you,
Ovi

[w10d]

As you have discovered the dimensions of the 35mm frame (and sensors based on that), don't fit the traditional photo paper sizes, or any standard paper sizes (such as A3). You'll either have to crop the image, crop the paper, or put unequal borders around the image.

The choice is yours. (Unless you have a particular usage for the print, such as a frame, portfolio, etc.).

[DaveG]

oviv wrote:
I am looking for some input on resizing images for printing from Photoshop Elements 2.0. How do most of you go about it? If I take an image and try to resize it for 8X10 while maintaining the aspect ratio it ends up at 12X8 which means I must crop top or bottom (for vertical shots). Is there a better approach. I usually take the full size image and just print from that. Should I resize for my target print size first? Any and all input and tips is desired.

Thank you,
Ovi

I use the crop tool (in Photoshop) and specify the size that I'll need, 8x10 or 10X8, or whatever. That lets ME control the crop as I see fit.

Obviously if the crop I want doesn't fit proportionally into a regular lab size print, then it doesn't fit and there must be some trimming later.

If I want a full frame 10D image to be printed on 8x10 paper I'll create (FILE/NEW) a canvas in 8x10 (for vertical prints or 10X8 for horizontal ones). I go into the selected image file and SELECT/ALL. Then EDIT/COPY.

I'll move over to the new canvas and on the Tools pallet I select the RECTANGULAR MARQUIS TOOL to draw a shape onto the canvas, and it doesn't need to be any particular size. Then I go EDIT/PASTE and the first image is copied on to the canvas. It's almost always too big so I go EDIT/FREE TRANSFORM and while holding down the shift key (so the shape is maintained) I drag the top left corner diagonally down until the image is small enough to fit onto the canvas.

[martcol]

If it helps, I think that you can specify the size of the image when you use the Crop Tool and the image resolution. Click on the tool and up in the left corner you should have the tool icon. To the right of that there are boxes. Stipulate the size in those boxes and the resolution and crop away.

If you then "Save As" you can choose your file type and preserve the original.

Martin

[RichardtheSane]

Personally i use the rectangualt marquee took set to fixed aspect ration - then enter my desied print sizes in the aspect ratio boxes.
Then you get a rectangle that is the same aspect ratio as your print, and you can move it about till you have the best crop :)

[DAMphyne]

I usually do the image size, then go to the canvas size, it lets me keep the full width, and works pretty fast.
Although if you use the crop tool, you can set the dpi at the same time you crop, it doesn't keep you from interpolating the picture, and that could be a whole other problem.
This situation is something that you have to keep in mind when you shoot, that you will be cropping the image to fit the proportions of the media you print to.
Just another reason it would be nice if there was a way to change the focusing screen, you could put a marked screen in the camera to guide where the crop would be.

[mwinog2777]

1. Resize image; change to 300 pixels/inch. Leave "resample image" box BLANK.

2. Rectangle marque tool: crop picture with "fixed aspect ratio" that will represent the final picture. With my 10D and i950, I usually use 8.5x11.

3. Go back to resize. Enlarge by 10% increments. Check both boxes ("constrain proportions" and "resample image"). Use "bicubic".

4. When at appropriate size of image, do whatever enhancement you wish.

5. LAST: unsharpen mask, as you see fit.

[scollins]

Those are great tips. I hadn't thought about some of those steps that were listed here.

[billfranklin]

Mwinog2777,
2. Rectangle marque tool: crop picture with "fixed aspect ratio" that will represent the final picture. With my 10D and i950, I usually use 8.5x11.

Please help me with this step. Where do you find the "fixed aspect ratio". I understand all the other steps, but am completely lost with this one. Can you be a little more specific? Thanks.

Bill F.

[mwinog2777]

Select "rectangular marque tool".

In the bar just above the picture is a choice under the title: "style".

You have 3 choices: mormal, fixed aspect ratio and fixed size.

For the purpose of this discussion, pick "fixed aspect ratio".

[mwinog2777]

To continue, if you want an 8x10, choose fixed ratio 4x5, or 8x10, its the same, of course. If you want 13x19inches for final pic, choose this. If you want 8x12, choose 2x3.