Cropping

[Kamra]

What is the best size crop to use while editing if you're going to be making multiple sizes of the same photograph?

[LordV]

Not sure I understand the question - do you mean so the shots fit standard photoframes ? ie you want the most common size ratio ?

brian v.

[Scottes]

Don't crop until you HAVE to. This will give you the option to use the maximum area for composition when doing a 5x7 or 8x10.

I do all my post-processing in a non-destructive way, and save it as a layered TIFF.
When it's time to print to a certain size, I'll flatten, crop to the aspect ratio, convert to sRGB/etc as necessary, and resize to the appropriate pixel dimension, and save that as JPG to a new name, ie; image_5x7.jpg.

Then re-open that TIFF, and do all that again for an 8x10.

[SkipD]

What is the best size crop to use while editing if you're going to be making multiple sizes of the same photograph?As stated above, I would not crop the original at all. I would do all the necessary editing and keep the edited original intact at full size. Then, when you want to make a file for printing, crop for the print's aspect ratio and save a new file.

I usually add the aspect ratio to the file name for saving the cropped version.

[Kamra]

Thanks for your reply. I'll try to explain better. When I am editing my work I do some general cropping. I am trying to get my files as "close to ready" for printing as possible at this time. Then, if I get an order for that print, I can still crop it to any size no matter what size is ordered...16x20, 8x10, or even square, like 6x6 or 10x10. When I was shooting medium format film I had a cropping guide outlined on my focussing screen. On these digital cameras like my 20D I can't do that so I'm trying to remember...is 5x7 an all around good format to crop to? I'm not talking about making the print smaller because I may need a 16x20 eventually.

[Kamra]

As stated above, I would not crop the original at all. I would do all the necessary editing and keep the edited original intact at full size. Then, when you want to make a file for printing, crop for the print's aspect ratio and save a new file.

I usually add the aspect ratio to the file name for saving the cropped version.
I should have read this first. This makes the most sense. Thank you both for this information. I'll not crop the original till it's time to pick the sizes I need but always keep the original intact at it's full size. Makes perfect sense...Duh! Thank you.