Image Size and Aspect Ratios
Image Sizes
At First4Fotos we are pleased to offer a full range of Industry standard size prints however you must ensure that your original image is of sufficient quality if you want to print them in larger sizes in particular.
Poor resolution digital images can produce quite acceptable 4” x 6” prints but may not be good enough for enlargement to 8” x 10”.
This would result in a “fuzzy” image which will appear to be made up of tiny squares (pixels).
For best results we recommend that you consider the following guidelines:
Image Sizes:
Print Size |
Pixels |
1.4” x 1.8”(Sheet of 4 Passport Photos)
4” x 6”
5” x 7”
6” x 8”
8” x 10”
|
320 x 240
640 x 480
1024 x 768
1024 x 768
1536 x 1024 |
Aspect Ratio
The “aspect ratio” of a photo is the relationship between its height and width, so a square photo would have an aspect ratio of 1:1 (both the height and width are equal).
Digital cameras generally have a different aspect ratio to the photographic paper on which they are printed.
Camera manufacturers decided to use an aspect ratio that is proportional to computer monitors rather than photographic paper sizes.
The First4Fotos service is regularly used by both novice photographers and professionals who often have very specific processing requirements so we offer three options to overcome the issue of aspect ratios:
Perfect, Scaled or Trimmed fit printing options
Each print size has its own slightly different rectangular shape (known as the aspect ratio). For example, a 4 x 6" print looks skinny compared to an 8 x 10" print, which is more like a square. To make your image fit these varying print shapes, photo labs typically enlarge the image slightly and crop off what doesn't fit. At First4Fotos, this cropping process is known as "Trimmed Fit".
You may however wish to keep the entire image that you have taken, so Trimmed fit would not be the best option. With this in mind, we have added two other options - Perfect fit and Scaled fit. You can find more information about each of these options below:
"Perfect Fit" (Default)
 This is the simplest way of ensuring that your photos are printed in exactly the same proportions as the original image and has been set as a default on the order page. See also My Profile
The paper length is cut slightly shorter to retain the original proportion of the photo so using Perfect Fit, a 4” x 6” photo would normally be cut down to 4” x 5.7” and will include the entire original image.
"Scaled Fit"
 The paper is also kept to standard size when using Scaled Fit however the image is “zoomed” until a side fills the paper.
This can result in a small unprinted area either side of the image which will appear as white bars.
"Trimmed Fit"
 The paper is kept to standard size using this option however a small area at the top & bottom of the image may be lost.
Experienced digital photographers often allow a little extra space above & below the subject to provide for this effect. Photos are always produced in standard sizes using this option so it is the preferred choice when you want to mount your prints in albums or frames that require a specific size paper.
|
