Preparing & Cropping Image Files
This
page is obsolete. Please visit our FAQ page, click
here.
If your image is not already digital you have to scan it.
See
scanning recommendations.
If your image is already digital, the size & quality of it will
determine how large a print you can make. See the tables of viewing
distance and image size.
Oversampling:
If you are having trouble saving as a high quality JPEG or you plan
to do ROTATIONS, you need to oversample your file:
..find your software's resize or rescale feature
..select the "smooth" or "interpolate" option
..exactly double the number of pixels per inch (or total pixels
in each direction)
If you are trying to return to the upload page
and have already placed your order, click here.
The next item is cropping, if needed. You do not have to
crop your image. We'll do it. There is no charge. It
is a simple operation if you are familiar with it. However, if you
crop your own image, you can be sure you'll get what you want! We
suggest if you are a little bit familiar with manipulating images, or have
special requirements, you crop your own. If it is going to take you
a long time, let us do it.
Basics -
The LENGTH over WIDTH ratio (L/W) of your image should match the L/W
for the print size you are ordering. Graphics software varies in
how this is adjusted. Some have a special cropping mask, which you
re-size until you get the area of interest, and the right L/W ratio.
In some software you can save a mask of the right proportion, load it on
your image, and again drag it around until you get what you want.
Decide what size image you want -
We can print most any size. Our on-line
order page lists the prices for common sizes, for which economical
and attractive frames are most readily available. We like the 12"
x 36" for land- or sea-scapes, or for group pictures, anything with a panoramic
character, because they give an expansive effect without taking up so much
wall space. And they cost only half as much as a 24" x 36" print.
The 18" x 14" is a nice size that fits most snapshots without excessive
cropping. For large rooms, especially public areas, use 24" x 36"
and up.
Once you have decided on image size, if you are doing your own scanning,
see our scanning tables to select the optimum
scan density.
Note: When considering where to display a
print, avoid excessive moisture and regular exposure to direct sunlight.
We recommend you protect prints with an inexpensive Plexiglas sheet, the
kind that comes with most poster frames. Pieces of regular glass
for our largest print sizes are too fragile to handle safely.
Decide how much to crop -
Assuming you scan your entire snapshot, the following table shows how
much to crop for various common snapshot sizes for each type of print:
| if your snapshot is 6"x4" |
for 16x20 print size, crop 16% of longest dimension (e.g. 8% ea. side)
for 18x24 crop 12% of longest dimension (e.g. 6% each side)
for 24x30 crop 16% of longest dimension (e.g. 8% each side)
for 24x36 the fit is already perfect
for 12x36 crop 50% of narrow dimension (e.g. 25% each side)
|
| if your snapshot is 7"x4" |
for 16x20 print size, crop 28% of longest dimension (e.g. 14% ea. side)
for 18x24 crop 24% of longest dimension (e.g. 12% each side)
for 24x30 crop 38% of longest dimension (e.g. 19% each side)
for 24x36 crop 14% of longest dimension (e.g. 7% of each side)
for 12x36 crop 42% of narrow dimension (e.g. 21% each side)
|
| if your snapshot is 12"x4" |
for 12x36 the fit is already perfect
|
Here are some illustrations:
Make a new image from your file which
is the correct size -
Save your new image. If you are using an on-line image service,
you can e-mail us your image directly from their site without any further
uploads/downloads, which makes it very fast (for you and us!).
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