kpassaur Loc: Valrico FL

I recently posted about how when I made my prints smaller I would lose detail if the print was less than the optimum size. Most people want the other way I know. With everyone’s help here, it was explained why. Since I shoot macro I am more interested in quality as opposed to composition, when you think about it the subject is something that is small the bigger you can make it the more interesting the photo. The only way I could figure out how to crop to the “Print Size” (to get the best quality) not aspect ratio was to go into Photoshop create a blank canvas the size I wanted then drag my photo into it, sort of a pain.

Well I found a program called Helicon Filter that does it easily. It works sort of like the cropping in Lightroom only you have the option to put the size in, in pixels so instead of 8 X 10, you can enter 2400 X 3000 and then move your image just like in Lightroom to do the crop. The program does a bunch of other things as well and it works as a plug in for Lightroom. If you have any interest in it I found a coupon code for 15% off. Not much really as it is a $30 program. But the code may apply to their other products such as Helicon Focus as well. Anyway, I now have an easy way to do it.

kpassaur Loc: Valrico FL

Oh, just realized I forgot the Coupon Code 45K2D47DB3 - I don't know how long it is good for.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Hi,
You are probably aware of it, but in case not, you can also select pixels instead of inches and do the same thing in Photoshop. Just thought I'd mention it. Good luck, however you choose to do it.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

HERESY!!!! :shock: :mrgreen: :lol: :lol: :lol:

You mentioned Photoshop in a LR thread... LR purists will be so mad at you! :lol: :lol: :lol:

(Half joking - folks are prickly over their beloved LR)

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Oh well Ron, they'll either get over it, or remain 'prickly' for a long time. Either way is acceptable :)

Rongnongno Loc: FL

You are aware that anything a plug in can do, you can do too, you just need to learn how and save your $$$ for something more useful like a cup of coffee to stay awake while learning.

kpassaur Loc: Valrico FL

I thought in Photoshop you had to change the canvas size and then select which way to move the image. I have a very old version of Photoshop (CS3)

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Possibly I'm not understanding what you're attempting to do. If all you want to do is change 'format' (or size, shape of photo), you can do it in PS either by using 'inches' or 'pixels'. Just select one or the other.

If you're sending the print in for printing, it's then that you may have to add a canvas to end-up with the 'standard' size that they print.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

In photoshop you can also crop (H/V)using inches as measure, set the DPI and then drag the picture under the crop window to set your composition. You can even rotate... So you are not stuck onto H/V composition.

When you press enter, it will resize the picture to fit your dimension depending on the DPI selected.

kpassaur Loc: Valrico FL

No, I want to crop to 3000 x 2400 for an 8 X 10 or 1500 X 2100 for a 5 X 7 (300 dpi). If I don't have enough for a 16 X 20 I would want the canvas to be 5760 X 7200 (360 dpi) and then my image as it is and I would trim it. And I made a mistake Helicon Filter does not work as a plug in, only Helocon Focus does.

kpassaur Loc: Valrico FL

No, I want to crop to standard print sizes but by not using an aspect ratio, that can expand or compress when printing. So if the printer is at 300 dpi and I want a 5 X 7 I crop to 1500 X 2100.

TheDman Loc: USA

Sounds like you just need to choose the crop tool and type in those pixel dimensions in the width/height properties in PS. You can even specify a resolution.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Exactly.