10 x 8 Prints from 20D

20D & Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0

Images are 3504 x 2336 pixels (1.5 : 1)

What's the best way of cropping/re-sizing an image before you send it to be printed as 10 x 8 (1.25 : 1) or 8 x 6 (1.33 : 1)?

I send a few group photos away to be printed as 10 x 8 & 8 x 6 and the lab had to crop them and cut heads out etc.

Amateur night at that lab...

Resize the image to 8x10 in Photoshop before you send it there.

Set the prefs to inches and draw a crop box 8x10 after you resize. It will take a little fussing but you'll get it.

Use the cropping tool set for the size you require.

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One word of caution... if you re-size your prints to 8x10 (or whatever), many times the lab will still alter that sizing when you do your print. I found this out the hard way when I sent a large order for 8x8 images and discovered they blow the image up slightly... roughly the equivalent of 8 3/16ths. Ordinarily, small enough you might never notice, but in my case, it caused MAJOR problems. (Long story)

Anyway, the point is, check with your lab and find out if there is ANY re-sizing going on in the print process. Nearly all of the pro labs I use do it unless you specifically tell them not too (then you have to pray the lab tech actually bothers read the instructions.)

just ordered some prints from mpix.com, great quality

they will not crop or color correct your photos, unless requested of course

I had some excellent 12X18" prints from Costco & you can choose "No Corrections" before you order.
Cost was $3!

My crop tool in Adobe Elements does not do that.

Choose the 'dotted line' box in the floating toolbar..

Fill in the options as shown in the image below...

This will force the crop to have a 10x8 ratio.. (Note that this is the ratio and not inches you're choosing.. 5X4 will work just as well
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What's the minimu size for 8x10? 1200x900?

using the tool you see in the pic below,
to get there:
photoshop
Rectangular Marquee Tool (M)
up the top, pull down the "Style" drop-down menu (should be on "Normal" as default)
put it on "Fixed Aspect Ratio"
and punch in "1.25" and "2" for portrait - or "2" and "1.25" for landscape layout.
then as you select, it'll hold it in 8x10 ratio. perfect!

i skim read the other suggestions - and doing those is a pain in the arse.. you'd haveto guess what size to resize to, and it complicates things alot
also, let the photo place resize them, they might have a better process to stop the image becoming jaggered and stuff..

aslong as it is in the 8x10 ratio (which you just did) it doesn't matter if it's 10,000 resolution, just tell them or write on the form that only resizing is needed - although thery should understand as they open it.

good luck - did i help?

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sorry jim, your post is roughly the same. my bad

stockriderman: i'm guessing the more res the better? not sure - they will resize if to the ultimate size if need be. aslong as it's the right ratio crop (8x10).

I got crap results from 1600x1200 - I'd say at least 2500x2000 (10x8 ration )

I try for at LEAST 250 pixels per inch - that's 2500 x 2000 for a 10x8. Usually I go for a minimum of 300 PPI to get the smoothest curves and sharpest image.

pfogle,

What is your density? If you need to know the number of pixels in any one direction to achieve the print size you want, multiply your density (pixels per inch) by the number of inches you want. so 2500 x 2000 would suggest to me that you are using approximately 250 ppi as your file resolution.

Just curious, how is the marquee tool easier for cropping than just using the crop tool? To make an 8x10 using the crop tool, you just type 8 and 10 for the width and height, mark the crop area and then double click it. It doesn't get any easier than that.

It's also easier to resize your selected area with the crop tool, rather than re-selecting over and over with the marquee tool until you get the starting point and size correct.

I tend to leave the resolution alone, and just make sure I send the lab the correct aspect ratio to match the print. I've done up to 12x18 this way with good results.