A Really dumb resizing question

[HappyFotographer]

OK, I am red faced as I type this, but really would like to know how to go about this.

I have an image that I want to print in its entirety as a 4x6. Unfortunately when I try to crop it to said size with 300ppi (using the preset options on the crop tool) I loose too much of the image and it becomes unusable. I can stand to loose a small amount, but not much as it will either cut my daughters face in half (don't want to do that) or take the top off my MIL's head (funny, but not appreciated by said MIL).

In my defence I want to say that I didn't take the picture (husband did) nor was it taken with my nikon (he used my olympus) but it would be a nice momento for the album.

Any ideas?

thanks
Deb

[leek]

Hi Deb,


Either print it uncropped, or crop it to a 3x2 ratio shape...

Then either let the printer resize the image to fit on 6x4 paper, or use Image--> Image Size in Photoshop to resize to those measurements and then print at 100%

[redline]

you could make a cropping tool with specs of 300 dpi and 6x4 inchs.
and then crop what you see fit. if not why not try a different print size.

[MATT]

DEb what printer do you have??

i USE a cANON i850, for quick prints I ahve a program Canon Easy Photo print.

It alows you do print with no cropping and will jsut add a white unpritned area to compensate.


I assume most common printers would do similar.

MATT

[marc]

Remember, there's no such thing as a dumb question........only a dumb answer!

Cheers
Marc

[HappyFotographer]

you could make a cropping tool with specs of 300 dpi and 6x4 inchs.
and then crop what you see fit. if not why not try a different print size.

I already use the preset cropping tool with the above dimensions and it just won't work.

use Image--> Image Size in Photoshop to resize to those measurements and then print at 100%

OK, but doesn't this distort the image. When I type in the size I want ie 6wx4h unticking constrain proportions, the resulting image looks distorted...in this case the faces are shorter and wider. Am I doing something wrong here?

I would say it's obviously going to need to be printed at a different size. The amount of image I wish to print is too wide for the 4x6 proportions.

Thanks
Deb

[JED]

OK, but doesn't this distort the image. When I type in the size I want ie 6wx4h unticking constrain proportions, the resulting image looks distorted...in this case the faces are shorter and wider. Am I doing something wrong here?

You must have constrain proportions selected otherwise you will get the distortion you've mentioned.

What I do is start a new file and select the preset size wanted, 4x6 in your case. If you want lanscape mode, go to image> rotate> canvas> 90cw or 90ccw (doesn't matter which).

Now open the file to be printed and drag the layer across to the new file.

To adjust the image to how you want it printed, go to Edit> transform> scale. You will now have handles that you can select and drag to resize the image as you want. Just make sure that you hold the shift key down while dragging the handles as that will keep the image in proportion as it is being resized. When you have resized it as desired, double click inside the scaling box to finish.

You can then move the layer around to crop the image as desired. You may have to adjust the scale again to make sure the image fills the canvas if you scaled it down too much initially.

These comments assume you use Photoshop, but if you're not, the principle will still apply to your software but the terminology may be different.

Hope that helps.

Cheers, John D

[leek]

Sorry Deb... forgot that you weren't using a D70 image...

D70 images scale quite nicely to 6 x 4 ( = 3008 x 2000 )

Nevertheless, most of my advice holds... crop to a 3x2 format (don't worry about the ppi or actual size of the photo) and then print with "scale to paper" or equivalent option...

If you print from a 3x2 or 6x4 format (either in a photo shop, or a Photoshop on your own printer) - the printer driver should then rescale to the right size...

[HappyFotographer]

Jed, thanks that worked better than anything else I have tried.

Cheers
Deb

[JED]

Jed, thanks that worked better than anything else I have tried.

Cheers
Deb

My pleasure. Glad you understood my ramble. Have fun with it.

Cheers, John D