Cropping Photos

I would like to say that this will be my last silly question, but I can't make any promises

When my images come out of the camera they are 1760 x 1168. If I want to have images printed (from what I understand) I need my images at least 800 x 1200 for a 4 x 6 print. Does that mean I can crop 960 pixels off one side (1760) but none off the other side? (1168).

Thanks

 

There are no silly questions. But you may get plently of silly answers.

First, you may do as you please:

a) you may resize the photo keeping the same aspect ratio.

b) you may resize the photo changing the aspect ratio.

c) you may crop each, any, and all sides of the photo.

d) you may crop and resize.

What you may and may not do depends upon the program you are using.

Down and dirty single photo resizing, I use Power Toys Image Resizer. It works with the right click of the mouse. But you won't know you have the program until you get your mouse on a photo.

The freeware Irfanview works fine for the other tasks.

 

Thanks for the reply RayH. Unfortunately my o/s is win98 so I an unable to use the resizer you suggested. I am however using Irfanview (I can't believe it is free!). While I was cropping my photos there were a few that I cropped quite agressively and it dawned on me that if I still want to have it printed at 4 x 6 I should be a little more careful If the original image is 1760 x 1168 and I crop the 1760 to 1200 and then crop the 1168 to 1000 (should be 800 x 1200 for a quality print?) won't the image then have to "make up" extra pixels to get the 1000 to 1200? Can't image how anyone could ever attempt to answer my questions, I am even confusing myself!

 

With the picture open in Irfanview, when you go to Image>Resize/Resample, you can change the units you're working with to inches. Then enter either the height or width you want for the finished product, telling it to keep the aspect ratio (if you don't keep the ratio, the picture will end up distorted).

When I edit pictures (which is rarely), the first thing I do is a "Save As" and rename it. That way, I always have the original to go back to if I really mess up the editing (which is frequently).

 

Kimberlee First, when you are editing anything (photos, documents) always SAVE AS with another filename to preserve the original.

Next, Irfanview will print at whatever size you want, regardless of the size of the original. It would be better if the original is the same aspect ratio so the print isn't distorted.

 

Kimberlee, You don’t really have to change size at all I save them in XP or 98SE as they are from the download. In my case Canon 400C. If I print them out 6x4 inch normal size I set that size in the printing software and the printer will do the rest for you.
Remember JPEG your standard format from Camera is a lossy format so every time you change you loose quality.
hawk22