Why would a commercial printer do this? A calendar has pages which are 8 1/2 by 11 inches. The person/company which will be printing the calendar has requested that photos (high res...

weedhook

A calendar has pages which are 8 1/2 by 11 inches. The person/company which will be printing the calendar has requested that photos (high res JPEG or Tiff files) submitted for printing on the calendar must be submitted in 8 by 10 inch format (4:5 aspect). I would have thought that it would be better to get 2:3 aspect files which would normally print out to 8 by 12 inches. So, from a printer's point of view, is it better to enlarge the 8 by 10 format to fit the 8 1/2 by 11 page or to reduce the 8 by 12 format to do the same thing? Or, of course, does it make any difference at all which way one goes. The photos on the calendar are, like on most calendars, borderless. Also, I have no contact with the printer, so I can't ask my question of the printer.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

It would be interesting to discover their reasoning/logic behind the 8x10 requirement.
The 8x10 would go to am 8.5x10.625. They may stretch the extra .375".
Maybe it works better than reducing an 8x12.
They had to pick a standard?

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

If it's a spiral bound calendar, some selvage is needed at the top so they you don't have the binding interfering with the photo. Maybe they figure on a border around the photos? Printing out to the edge (bleed) is sometimes a problem since you have to print beyond the edge and trim off the edge.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

To the printer (I am a printer), we don't care. With that said, we will work with the customer to pick the best printing method (I'm thinking digital press or sheetfed press depending on final count), which puts some boundaries on paper size, then lay out the work to minimize paper waste, which is usually the biggest part of the cost of printing for longer runs. So the specs you have been given might be the result of this process. It could also be the personal preference of the project manager. In any case, the customer is always right, no use arguing once the decision is made.

weedhook

Longshadow wrote:

It would be interesting to discover their reasoning/logic behind the 8x10 requirement.
The 8x10 would go to am 8.5x10.625. They may stretch the extra .375".
Maybe it works better than reducing an 8x12.
They had to pick a standard?

Thanks. Since I am not involved in dealing with the printer, I can't say.

weedhook

DirtFarmer wrote:

If it's a spiral bound calendar, some selvage is needed at the top so they you don't have the binding interfering with the photo. Maybe they figure on a border around the photos? Printing out to the edge (bleed) is sometimes a problem since you have to print beyond the edge and trim off the edge.

Thanks. It is not a spiral bound. It's stapled.

weedhook

Strodav wrote:

To the printer (I am a printer), we don't care. W... (show quote)

Thanks. Since I am not the customer and not directly involved with the printer, I can't really say. I have just been told that it is the printer who wants the 4:5 file. As you seem to indicate, perhaps it is the printing process used that determines what the printer wants.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

weedhook wrote:

Thanks. Since I am not the customer and not directly involved with the printer, I can't really say. I have just been told that it is the printer who wants the 4:5 file. As you seem to indicate, perhaps it is the printing process used that determines what the printer wants.

Just quibbling a bit. The printer works for the customer. The printer might guide the customer in the printing process including materials cost, but at the end of the day, it's the customer's final decision.

tcthome Loc: NJ

DirtFarmer wrote:

If it's a spiral bound calendar, some selvage is needed at the top so they you don't have the binding interfering with the photo. Maybe they figure on a border around the photos? Printing out to the edge (bleed) is sometimes a problem since you have to print beyond the edge and trim off the edge.

My thought was a border but, the op says borderless. Maybe they trim off the excess afterwards not to gunk up their printer.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Strodav wrote:

Just quibbling a bit. The printer works for the customer. The printer might guide the customer in the printing process including materials cost, but at the end of the day, it's the customer's final decision.

So why bother with requirements if the customer should be able to give them whatever he wants to?
It's the customer's decision, right?

Go someplace and pay in rubles, just because you want to and the customer is always right.

SonyBug

weedhook wrote:

Thanks. Since I am not the customer and not directly involved with the printer, I can't really say. I have just been told that it is the printer who wants the 4:5 file. As you seem to indicate, perhaps it is the printing process used that determines what the printer wants.

Why don't you ask the simple question, Who is the printer, I would like to talk to them? Then you would get your answer. After all, you are paying for the calendar.

bamfordr Loc: Campbell CA

It sounds like a “standard” job the printer is set up to handle. Keeps cost down.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Have you called or contacted your printer manufacture an asked them? I believe printer manufactures set up a bunch of sizes that may be common in the photo industry and give us those presets. I may be possible (find out from them) to set up other settings.
We would all be interested on you results if you contact them.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Picture Taker wrote:

Have you called or contacted your printer manufacture an asked them? I believe printer manufactures set up a bunch of sizes that may be common in the photo industry and give us those presets. I may be possible (find out from them) to set up other settings.
We would all be interested on you results if you contact them.

He's not referring to a printer as in a box next to the computer that prints on paper,
he's referring to a printing company (commonly referred to as a "printer") that prints things as a business.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

My error then look to a different printer