Ugly Hedgehog Newsletter

Hi,

This probably will sound like a true layman question. When I take photos with my 7.5 megapixel Sony Camera and then put them in Picasa to crop them, am I losing more than necessary from my photo then if I didn't crop so tight? I do not print most of my shots, although I do want to have that choice at some point without having "spoiled" them by my cropping away. Would never go more than 8X10 size
The camera in my future will be 12-14. megapixels, so need to learn what is best now before moving on.

mcdee01

First, you should always try to crop as close to the final result while composing in the camera. That is perhaps one of the first rules of good photography.

Next, if you still need to do cropping ( and most of us do) make certain to first of all, make a copy of the original file and work from the copy. That way you will preserve your original for any future use and that should resolve your concerns over whether or not you will be able to print the image later.

Good luck and I hope this info helps. p.s. - always work from a copy versus an original, whether cropping or not!!!!

notnoBuddha

There is an old quote "if your pictures are not good enough, you are not close enough".

Rich Loc: Titusville, Fl

Both good answers, working from a copy is ideal but remember to use "File, Save As" so as not to get the
photos confused.

Phrank Loc: Crystal Lake, Il.

If you know, or can find out, Picasa's picture size requirements you can solve your problem by cropping before you upload the picture. Photoshop, The Gimp (free) and several other photo enhancing programs can easily do the cropping job for you.

Marvin

I have ran into a problem where I have downloaded my pics (and always make a copy to edit first) and then cropped them only to find out after, I can't order to the standard size 5x7, 8x10 etc. I have use a couple of different companies that force you to crop more for those standard sizes and if your shot is to tight before cropping you might lose a important part of your pic or cut something off and it also works the other way if you crop to bring something closer. I learned from experience after taking some family portraits for someone that I needed to crop and the pic were good but I could not print. I have not found a solution to this problem and I have another family portait to take this weekend....

Lavolpebxr Loc: Cleveland, OH

I use Windows 7 on my laptop. With it comes a program called Windows Live Photo Gallery. You can edit your pictures in this program, such as cropping, color enhancement, converting to B/W, and so on. Then you have the option of making a copy, which is automatically saved in your pictures folder. After you have done all you can, or need to do with any particular photo, you can hit the *Revert to Original* button and your original photo is returned, un-edited. Maybe Windows Live Photo Gallery is available for other systems. It may be worth checking into.

VCheriyan

When I enlarge my pic (to make a print) to 8 x 10 it looks grainy. What do I need to do. What is the procedure..please explain

Rich Loc: Titusville, Fl

What is the megapixel that your camera shoots at?

VCheriyan

5 megapixel. Can i change this in the image size? or photoshop? If so what is the procedure

Rich Loc: Titusville, Fl

5 megapixel should give you a good 8X10. If you cropped it and cropped a considerable amount, then you have dropped the megapixels and thus the grainyness

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

This is just a basic understanding type post so I hope you guys don't pick it apart for dpi versus ppi, optimum resolution for perfect prints, printer dot requirements, etc.

I'm just saying that you lose resolution of the original shot as you crop. Let's say you crop 50% of the picture file away then use the remainder to create a print. If you started with 5 MP of data in the file, now you're theoretically down to 2.5MP. That's about enough to expect a nice 4X6, so when you spread that quantity of pixels out to create an 8X10 it's definitely going to look grainy, slightly blurry, and have jagged edges on any straight edged items in the shot.

You can't create real pixel data of photo information in software. It will copy neighboring pixels to fill the holes between pixels but that's not a good thing when you want quality prints. Real pixels are only in the original file. If you cut the quantity, the size of the nice print you can realistically make is reduced by about the same percentage.

If you started with a huge professional 24MP file you could feasible crop 50% and still be able to create 8X10 and even 11X14 prints that are exceptional. Maybe even squeeze out a 16X20 that is excellent to most eyes. If you start with a 14MP file and cropping 50% you have a file that shouldn't be larger than 8X10 without quality issues revealing themselves. So with your 7MP or 7.5MP files theoretically cropped 50% to 3.5 - 3.75MP you can see your print output limitations.

As others have said, never crop your original. Crop a copy. Keep your original safe for later. When you have a batch of originals on your hard drive, archive them to a CD or DVD too. You can never recapture those moments in time - they are gone forever.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot... always shoot with the finest quality, highest resolution the camera can do - no matter what you think your use for the shots will be. Don't try to pack as many poor resolution shots as you can onto a memory card by using standard mode. You never know when your later desire will be to create enlargements that are beyond what your desires are today. Now that you're doing some photo manipulation, printing, and searching for quality you have opened up a new subject of interest for yourself. If you ever shoot and print a 11X14 for some reason you will open up another new interest for yourself. So never say never!

My wife shot for a three years with a 5MP Panasonic Lumix "point and shoot" I bought her when she lived overseas. Then a 7MP for a couple years. Recently I got her a Canon with 14MP. She only uploads her pix to Facebook and MySpace so she crops indiscriminately with no concern about resulting size or print quality. Any file size or shape will look good on Facebook if it's clear. Luckily I always dump her original files into my own PC for archiving. Her younger sister died of leukemia in 2008 but I have many smiling 5MP and 7MP shots of her from 2005 to 2007 when she felt good. I have been able to cut her out of everyday junky backgrounds with PhotoShop and layer her onto hi-res backgrounds that are sunny and peaceful for 8X10's to frame - because I had the original files. 8X10s were not my wife's intention back when the shots were created but it's mine now.

Also, if you're serious about nice prints do yourself a favor and buy 16 or 18MP next time if you're going to buy this year. 20 to 22MP are probably on the horizon for consumer cameras next January. 12 and 14 are old school and mostly discontinued so don't limit yourself with one if you don't have to.

Hope any of this helps!

VCheriyan

Thanks a lot for your info.

VCheriyan

Thanks for your info. Appreciate

ianhargraves1066 Loc: NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida

I use Microsoft Live Picture Gallery, included with Windows. Right click on your file, select open with, Select Live Picture Gallery, click on the top bar, "Fix" and the editing stuff appears on right of the screen.Click on "Crop" and way you go. Its a free but great minimal editing program that also has a one click color to black and white function and it really works well. You can the alter the density and contrast with the change exposure feature. Magnificent and FREE
Good luck,
igh1066@hotmail.com
Port Orange in the path of Hurricale Irene.
Florida