Cropping

[Cris_L]

when cropping a picture do most people always select the maintain photo ratio?

Am I right in saying that if we didnt select maintain photo ratio then the image wouldnt "fit" correctly on a standard size print (6x4?).

cheers

 

[ianbarber]

If you do not keep to the 3:2 ratio then you would not get all of the image onto a 6x4

 

[Cris_L]

This is a really daft question but if I dont ask i wont know....

Now we are in the digital era are all (or the vast majority of) photographs still to the same ratio

 

[Scarecrow]

If I need to crop a picture, I will usually crop it with the end use in mind. If it's just for posting on the web, I'll crop for the best composition. If cropping for printing, I will crop to the aspect ratio of the final print, be it 3:2, 4:3 or whatever.

 

[HoppyUK]

This is a really daft question but if I dont ask i wont know....

Now we are in the digital era are all (or the vast majority of) photographs still to the same ratio

Full frame 35mm film is 3x2 aspect ratio, though this is often cropped at bit to fit 5x7in or 10x8in print sizes.

DSLRs are generally 3x2 also, though the 4/3rds format is 4x3, which is the same as compacts (though compacts have much smaller sensors).

The whole point of cropping is (or should be) to alter the aspect ratio. If not, then you should have filled the frame properly when shooting. Cropping to 'zoom in' on something is the quickest way possible of throwing away precious image quality.

Move closer, zoom in, fill the frame. Ideally you should only crop to change the aspect ratio, or to fit a particular print size or picture frame.

 

[magicaxeman]

I generally crop to 10 x 8 unless I'm planning having something printed larger than that.

 

[Kaouthia]

Now we are in the digital era are all (or the vast majority of) photographs still to the same ratio

The ratio would be whatever the media on which you're printing.

6x4, 6x9 and 12x8 are all 3:2 (as are DSLR sensors and 35mm film)
5x4 and 8x10 are all 5:4
4x3, 8x6 and 12x9 are all 4:3

 

[madhouse]

I don't generally worry about ratio when cropping, frames come in all shapes and sizes as do card inserts for them and if all else fails you can make your own to fit - so why limit creativity to a 3:2 ratio.