Help: How to convert 4x6 to 8x10 .jpg file

[tomlinsn]

I shot a portrait with my Nikon D200 that is saved as a .jpg file that full frame (4x6) looks great. The problem is that I need to send this file to my color processor to print as an 8x10. As an 8x10, too much is cropped out of the portrait to fit into an 8x10 print space. How do I change the dimensions of the .jpg file to "zoom" out to give me more control of the cropping for an 8x10 print? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.
Tom

[Chuck S.]

Tom, good morning and welcome to the forum!

Unfortunately, going from 4x6 to 8x10 almost invariably involves cropping. Stretching the image causes noticeable distortion. One option is to add 'content' on the edges of the photo so you can preserve what would have been cropped. This might be as simple as a black bar or two (sort of like letter-boxing on a TV) or, with some work, an extension of the sky or foreground to make up the difference.

The key, which won't help you now, is to keep in mind the effects of cropping when taking the original shot. Compose, then zoom out a bit to add that margin for cropping. Your camera has plenty of pixels to support doing that. We've all been in that situation before...

[elizabeth]

hi and welcome. If you have enough resolution at 4x6 - and what you want to do is choose what will be cropped -you could go to image>resize>image size and resize the image to an 8x12. Make sure your original is saved and secure first. I would start by going to the bottom of the dialog box and unchecking 'resample image.' Then go to document size and change dimension to 8x12. Check the resolution. If it is still high enough for printing click ok. If it isn't high enough, you can click 'resample image' and under down arrow click 'bicubic smoother', put in the new resolution, then click ok.

Either way you now have an 8x12 image. Get the crop tool, and go to 'aspect ratio' in the bar at the top. Under the down arrow, click 8x10 and crop away. 'Save as' with a different name.

good luck. elizabeth

[jlwilm]

Ekizabeth,

I don't think it works that way.

A 4x6 cropped to an 8x10, assuming you want to keep the full 4 inches, means you have to throw away 1/2 inch on either side of the 4x6.

If you enlarge the image to 8x12 and crop it to 8x10 under the same assumption, you throw away 1 inch on each side.

The problem is it is the same pixels being thrown away in both cases.

[elizabeth]

How do I change the dimensions of the .jpg file to "zoom" out to give me more control of the cropping for an 8x10 print? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.
Tom

hi. I was seeing that Tom expected to need to crop and the point was he wanted to control the crop - rather than leave it to the machine. The way I suggested is definately a crop/lose pixals way, but does give control.

elizabeth

PS I am out the door to the airport so don't know when i can get back to this, but will be interested to see how you all decide is the best way to go. AAAh, image size issues!!

e

[Juergen D]

If Tom crops the 4x6 using the 8x10 (4x5) aspect ratio, he has the same control as when cropping the 8x12. The problem is that he looses 16.67% of the total height (bottom, top or both), which he cannot afford. That makes Chuck's suggestion about the only way to go (add 'content'), other than just putting in some white space on both sides.

Juergen

[jlwilm]

Juergen,

Agreed. I think we are both saying the same thing.

I have had some luck with "adding" details into the image when I had an image that had for lack of a better word, "fuzzy edges" and minimum detail.

I was able to pick a slice from the top, copy to its own layer, then expand the canvas size and finally do a free transform on the copied layer and drag it out to the canvas size. Essentially cloned the area with the transform option.

A little supplemental cloning to "make things look right" and the image was ready to go.

But, it there is lots of detail, unless you are the master cloner, it can be a long haul to get it done. Better as Chuck said to think ahead, zoom out, shoot and crop at leisure. :D

[Juergen D]

Better as Chuck said to think ahead, zoom out, shoot and crop at leisure.
Right, absolutely! ;)

Juergen

[elizabeth]

Right, absolutely! ;)

Juergen

John and Juergen. I agree - right, absolutely. If you have a 'good' background to copy/clone (and the skill level) adding pixals is the way to go. But if those aren't there, you need to crop pixals off the top and/or bottom - and i don't know for sure but i don't think it matters whether you size up then crop or crop the 4x6 then size up. The need would be to have best possible control over what gets cropped rather than leaving it to the processer.

cheers. elizabeth

PS I am pleased to report that i have changed venue from the cold, cold, rainy, rainy northwest to the southern california desert - where it is high 80s and sunny. aahhh!! e