Outsourced printing & cropping...

The natural aspect ratio of photos is 4x6, 8x12, 18x12, etc. Common print and frame dimensions are 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, and so on. This, of course, requires cropping.

If you outsource your printing, say to Smugmug or Zenfolio, and set it up so that the prints are automatically done when someone places an order, who decides the cropping?

Most system defaults I've seen simply crop from the center. Not all images lend themselves to that default. Sometimes cropping from the center cuts off necessary elements.

Can you specify crop limits for different photos? Can you upload different versions for each aspect ratio possibility? Do you restrict sales to the full aspect ratio only? Or, are you simply stuck with cropping from the center?

When you place an order with smugmug it will tell you if the picture needs to be cropped, then you can make adjustments yourself during the order processes.

You can also format the images for 4x6, etc and specify that only those sizes are available for sale. You can also upload a 5x7 aspect so the image will not need to be cropped.

Zenfolio gives their premium accounts the option to approve orders before they go to the print vendor. You can recrop images during that process, or upload a different image in it's place.

MedicinSC wrote in post #16037099
Zenfolio gives their premium accounts the option to approve orders before they go to the print vendor. You can recrop images during that process, or upload a different image in it's place.

SmugMug allows you to do this as well.

Thanks. Appreciate it.