Image cropping and printing

 
 
 
Summary
The final print is a balance between the size of the subject, ratio of height to width of the subject, and the ratio of height to width of the final print. Hopefully the discussion that follows will enlighten you on the challenge of achieving this balance.  
 
 
The Original Image
We start with the original image from the digital camera. The ratio of height to width in the image is 1.5. The historical basis for this ratio is a film negative where the height is 36mm and the width is 24mm for a ratio of height to width of 1.5.  
Full height/width image.
 
 
5x7 Prints
A 5x7 where the bottom is cropped. The ratio of height to width is 1.4 (7/5). In order to achieve this ratio when printing, some of the image will be eliminated. The printer chose to crop the bottom of the negative. The red indicates the portion of the image lost to cropping. The jump is eliminated.  
Bottom of image cropped.
 
 
A 5x7 where the top is cropped. The printer chose to crop the top of the image. The red indicates the portion of the image lost to cropping. The rider's head and space above it are eliminated.  
Top of image cropped.
 
 
The optimum 5x7. The printer chose the right balance of cropping top and bottom. Both the jump and rider's head appear in the final print. If the subject fills the image it may not be possible to get the desired result. In this case, print the entire height of the negative as described in the 8x10 and 11x14 Prints section.  
Optimum balance of cropping between top and bottom.
 
 
8x10 and 11x14 Prints
The 8x10 print is bigger than the 5x7, but this does not necessarily mean that more of the original image is used to produce the print. An 8x10 is more square than a 5x7 which is more square than the original image. The height/width ratio for an 8x10 is 1.25. The height/width ratio of a square is 1.00. The 8x10 uses less of the original image and more enlargement to produce the 8x10 print.  
 
 
Producing a 8x10 print where we stay within the limits of the original image yields an unacceptably cropped top and bottom.  
8x10 bound by limits of negative.
 
 
Producing a 8x10 where we print the entire height of the original image produces a complete print with large side borders. The side borders are indicated by the blue. These borders are not a problem. The framer cuts the mat to the size of the image, not to the size of the print, 8x10.  
8x10 with extra border but full height.
 
 
8x12 Prints
The 8x12 print exists, but is not always available from a processor. It has the same ratio of height to width as the original image. Therefore, the 8x12 print uses the entire original image. When using a pre-cut 8x10 mat, you slide the 8x12 print up or down within the window until you are satisfied. Or the framer cuts a mat, which shows only what you want.