Cropping
- Pete Eeles
- Administrator & Stock Contributor
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Cropping
This may sound like a strange question but ... the out-of-camera images in my camera (a Canon 30D) have an aspect ratio of 3:2. When cropping, is it "best practice" to:
1. Retain the original aspect ratio (1.5).
2. Use an aspect ratio that is aligned with the aspect ratio of standard paper sizes (e.g. A4 etc. giving a ratio of 1.414) since this is easier to mount in a standard frame - at least in the UK!
3. Use whatever crop is best to showcase the subject.
I've always used the latter.
Cheers,
- Pete
1. Retain the original aspect ratio (1.5).
2. Use an aspect ratio that is aligned with the aspect ratio of standard paper sizes (e.g. A4 etc. giving a ratio of 1.414) since this is easier to mount in a standard frame - at least in the UK!
3. Use whatever crop is best to showcase the subject.
I've always used the latter.
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
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- Padfield
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Re: Cropping
I think the best ratio is 1 : (1 + √5)/2
Guy
Guy
Guy's Butterflies: https://www.guypadfield.com
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Re: Cropping
4: Convert all pictures to aspect ratio 3:2 as that makes my pages look more tidy. ![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Seriously, I don't think there is a right answer for this. If you have a use in mind, then that dictates the choice. Lacking that, I tend to use original or conversion to 3:2 (from 16:9).
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Seriously, I don't think there is a right answer for this. If you have a use in mind, then that dictates the choice. Lacking that, I tend to use original or conversion to 3:2 (from 16:9).
Re: Cropping
Must admit that I always stick to, by preference, as is ex-camera @ 3:2 or cropped to 4:3 or 1:1. Rarely outside those but then ~I like to say I see the finished shot before I press the shutter release! ![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: Cropping
Pete
Definitely your option 3.
Misha
Definitely your option 3.
Misha
Re: Cropping
I try to do 1. but if 3. looks better I wouldn't hesitate to go with it.
Bill
Bill
- Rogerdodge
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Re: Cropping
Guy is (as usual) correct.
The most "pleasing" rectangle has a proportion of 1.618 (or thereabouts) to 1.
It is known as the Golden Rectangle, and has been known about for centuries, and has been utilised by most great artists, and for proportions in classic architecture.
Roger
The most "pleasing" rectangle has a proportion of 1.618 (or thereabouts) to 1.
It is known as the Golden Rectangle, and has been known about for centuries, and has been utilised by most great artists, and for proportions in classic architecture.
Roger
Cheers
Roger
Roger
Re: Cropping
For me, it depends on what the final photo is going to be used for. For web display I crop for the best framing for the subject whatever the aspect ration comes out at. I only hold A4 photo paper so that's the format my photos due for prints are cropped to.
Re: Cropping
I just crop to what looks best. I cut out all my own mounts from A1 mount board anyway and can print to A3+ so can accomodate whatever looks best for each image. I know you can buy standard mounts but I have seen where peoiple use these and often end up including a load of nothing to fill the mount up or will crop off too tightly to make it fit.
However buying standard mounts is a lot quicker than cutting them that's for sure!
However buying standard mounts is a lot quicker than cutting them that's for sure!
Re: Cropping
If it LOOKS right - it IS right
Option 3 for me!
Unless it's going in a set mount or frame size of course.
Option 3 for me!
Unless it's going in a set mount or frame size of course.
Take nothing but photographs. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.
- Pete Eeles
- Administrator & Stock Contributor
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Re: Cropping
Thanks - and welcome back Dave - must be butterfly season
Cheers,
- Pete
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
Re: Cropping
Sure is Pete - I'm fresh out of me ChrysalisPete Eeles wrote:Thanks - and welcome back Dave - must be butterfly season![]()
Cheers,
- Pete
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
Take nothing but photographs. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.
- Henry.Kemm
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- Location: South Hampshire
Re: Cropping
I think it is definitely "do what you think is best". You can have a butterfly on its own on an indistinct background, which might be 3:2, 4:3, 5:4, or the same vertically. When you put it on a flower, you may need the flower for completeness, so it widens the net (excuse the pun) even further. Put it with another butterfly having fun and a flower, and it can be even more variable. I would love the space to demonstrate all this but ...
Henry
Henry
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Re: Cropping
Rogerdodge wrote:Guy is (as usual) correct.
The most "pleasing" rectangle has a proportion of 1.618 (or thereabouts) to 1.
It is known as the Golden Rectangle, and has been known about for centuries, and has been utilised by most great artists, and for proportions in classic architecture.
Roger
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Re: Cropping
Couldn't visualise what this is so drew in Photoshop. I think I tend to just crop the photo in to whatever looks best and most suitable for the image - which then leaves one problem - you can't get a frame to fit it! Ive never understood crop ratios - so now's time to learn with everything elseRogerdodge wrote:Guy is (as usual) correct.
The most "pleasing" rectangle has a proportion of 1.618 (or thereabouts) to 1.
It is known as the Golden Rectangle, and has been known about for centuries, and has been utilised by most great artists, and for proportions in classic architecture.
Roger
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
In Photoshop - can you set the crop tool so it only crops to specific ratios?
Re: Cropping
Trick is to compose the shot to a specific aspect ratio - can't claim to always succeed but 95% shots fit a 3:2, 4:3 or 1:1bugmadmark wrote:I think I tend to just crop the photo in to whatever looks best and most suitable for the image - which then leaves one problem - you can't get a frame to fit it! Ive never understood crop ratios - so now's time to learn with everything else![]()
In Photoshop - can you set the crop tool so it only crops to specific ratios?
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
In PS crop tool put 4 and 3 in width/height boxes (with no unit of measurement) and delete resolution (which is totally irrelevant to screen display or image size)
- Padfield
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Re: Cropping
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Because your yellow rectangle with writing is not such an attractive subject (though you might consider submitting it for some modern art prize), here is a golden rectangle with a butterfly in it (taken yesterday):
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/tityrus096.jpg)
Guy
Guy's Butterflies: https://www.guypadfield.com
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
- Padfield
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Re: Cropping
... and this is close to a golden crop on the same butterfly, vertically:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/tityrus098.jpg)
Guy
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/tityrus098.jpg)
Guy
Guy's Butterflies: https://www.guypadfield.com
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
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Re: Cropping
Joking eh? Hmmm I guess I'm a little sad - but then I'm a Health and Safety person / biologist working in an academic world - so any formulae thrown at me like this and I automatically have to try and analyse it. Geek - I admit it! Still - I'm impressed at the low level shots you are getting - how are your knees?
- Padfield
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Re: Cropping
Good for you. And the formula's worth analysing anyway - it's one of the great numbers in maths and the arts (many composers used the ratio in the structure of their sonatas and symphonies). Known as phi, it's the ratio that divides a line into two parts so that larger part : smaller part is equal to whole : larger part. No H & S implications, so far as I know, but a very interesting number. I just don't think it's necessarily very useful in cropping butterfly pictures - but it might be!bugmadmark wrote:Joking eh? Hmmm I guess I'm a little sad - but then I'm a Health and Safety person / biologist working in an academic world - so any formulae thrown at me like this and I automatically have to try and analyse it. Geek - I admit it! Still - I'm impressed at the low level shots you are getting - how are your knees?
My knees are yellow at the moment.
Guy
Guy's Butterflies: https://www.guypadfield.com
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html