Need to print a 5x7 of a picture?

[de8212]

I know I've done this before but for some reason I'm having issues now.

I have a family picture I scanned into my PC. Cropped it to 1600 x 1744. Trying to print a simple 5x7 out of it. Last time I did this I used Picasa so figured I'd fire it up and do it again.

When I click on the print button and choose 5x7 it automatically sizes the picture but it cuts off the right arm of the person on the left of the pic and the left arm of the person on the right of the pic.

Why would it not just "shrink" them to fit? Or is it because of the odd resolution? How can I accomplish this to get everyone in the pic?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Not sure about Picasa, but Windows Live Photo Gallery should allow you to shrink to fit (or rather, uncheck a box called "fit picture to frame"). But yeah, it's cropping because of the differing aspect ratios between 5x7 (1.4:1) and 1600x1744 (1.09:1).

There's probably a setting somewhere in Picasa to make it not "expand to fit", or whatever they choose to call it.

 

[Nizology]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
Not sure about Picasa, but Windows Live Photo Gallery should allow you to shrink to fit (or rather, uncheck a box called "fit picture to frame"). But yeah, it's cropping because of the differing aspect ratios between 5x7 (1.4:1) and 1600x1744 (1.09:1).

There's probably a setting somewhere in Picasa to make it not "expand to fit", or whatever they choose to call it.

:thumbsup:

Goober is correct. I believe there is a "shrink to fit" option. That should solve your problems.

 

[xgsound]

On my version of Picasa the choice of "shrink to fit" (< is the one you want) and "crop to fit" is directly below the area where you pick picture size. A preview is shown with the selection.


Jim

 

[Modelworks]

For future reference when printing photos and deciding what resolution the picture needs to be .
For a 300dpi print multiply the inches you need x 300 to get the pixels. Same for 600dpi and up
So 300dpi x 5 inches = 1500
300dpi x 7 inches =2100


600dpi x 5 inches = 3000 pixels
600dpi x 7 inches = 4200 pixels

That is the ideal resolution sizes, of course you can enlarge or shrink things. Its just a guideline.

correct res size

 

[de8212]

thanks everyone. Shrink to fit does get everyone in the pic but then it leaves white space at topand bottom.
I know that the resolution is the issue, I just can't seem to fix it. I went into irfanview and chose half size a few times to get it smaller thinking that would work but it didn't. Is there a certain resoultion that corresponds to 5x7???

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: de8212
Shrink to fit does get

That's what trimmers are for. Apparently your problem is the aspect ratio - not resolution. Shrink to fit may also have a "Preserve Aspect Ratio" check box. Your cropped resolution is not a 5x7 aspect ratio. Try 2100x1500, or 1400x1000.

 

[bendixG15]

It's all about the aspect ratio .. you have to maintain it if you don't want white space at the top or the sides.

You can say that a 5 by 7 print has an aspect ratio of 7/5=1.4 (width/height)

Just go back and crop to a 1.4 aspect ratio...1400/1000 or whatever.

The printer will preserve the 5 by 7 aspect ratio of the paper and fit the photo to the paper by putting white border on the top and bottom or the sides depending on your orientation.

If you select other paper, say 8 by 10, then the aspect ratio changes to 10/8=1.25
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Looks like corkyg beat me while I was typing

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: de8212
thanks everyone. Shrink to fit does get everyone in the pic but then it leaves white space at topand bottom.
I know that the resolution is the issue, I just can't seem to fix it. I went into irfanview and chose half size a few times to get it smaller thinking that would work but it didn't. Is there a certain resoultion that corresponds to 5x7???

Ideal resolution is 3000 x 4200 , or 1500 x 2100 but if you just try to scale the image up to that it will be distorted unless it was of the same ratio.

The ideal resolution is just a measure of how magnified or detailed the pixel on the screen will be compared to the print.