A common question from photographers, especially when ordering prints online, is: “Why is my 8×10 picture print cropped? It’s cutting off parts of my photo!” This is a frustrating experience, and to understand why it happens, we need to dive into aspect ratios and cropping.
What is an Aspect Ratio?
Simply put, an aspect ratio is the relationship between the width and height of an image, video, or screen. Think about watching a movie with black bars around it – this happens when the aspect ratio of the film differs from your screen, and the black bars compensate to show the entire image without cropping. The same principle applies to photography.
Cropping Photos for Different Aspect Ratios
In photography, instead of adding blank space around an image, we typically crop it to fit the desired print size’s aspect ratio.
When you take a photo with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, the standard aspect ratio is usually 3:2. This means for every 3 units of width, there are 2 units of height. However, when you want to print your photos in different sizes, you often encounter different aspect ratios. Printing a size that doesn’t match the 3:2 ratio of your original image will inevitably lead to some degree of cropping. The amount of cropping can vary from minimal to significant depending on the print size you choose.
crop ratios for 8×10 photo printing
As illustrated above, an 8×10 photo has a significantly different ratio compared to the standard 3:2 ratio (which is close to a 4×6 print). An 8×10 print actually has a 4:5 aspect ratio.
You Can’t Get an 8×10 Picture Print Without Cropping
Therefore, it’s important to understand that printing an 8×10 picture print from a standard 3:2 image will always involve some cropping.
Your 4×6 prints usually don’t get cropped because they share a similar (almost identical) aspect ratio to your camera sensor’s 3:2. However, when you opt for a 5×7 print (7:5 ratio), you’ll notice a slight crop. This is because the 5×7 ratio is also different from the native 3:2.
The Answer: 8×10 Prints and Aspect Ratio Mismatch
So, to directly answer the initial question: your 8×10 photos are cropped because the 8×10 aspect ratio (4:5) is different from your camera’s native aspect ratio (3:2).
To better visualize the impact of different print sizes and aspect ratios, here’s a helpful chart summarizing common print ratios and how they compare to the 3:2 camera ratio:
Understanding these aspect ratios will help you anticipate cropping when ordering prints and allow you to compose your shots with different print sizes in mind. When framing your photos, especially if you intend to print 8×10 picture prints, consider leaving a little extra space around your subject. This gives you more flexibility when cropping for different aspect ratios and helps ensure you don’t lose crucial parts of your image when you get your prints.
Was this explanation helpful in understanding why your 8×10 picture prints might be cropped?
Further Reading:
- Take better portraits & learn how to get creamy skin tones.
- Learn how to get blurry backgrounds in your images.
- Keep these tips in mind to help you edit like a pro.
- RAW Vs. JPEG, what’s the big deal with RAW photos?
- The ultimate guide for taking the best DIY family photos: 12 tips from a professional
