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What size do you crop to?


jeffrey_douglas

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In your post processing workflow what size do you crop to. Do you crop

all to 4x6 for proofs and then go back to the originals for

enlargements? Or do you crop all to the original sizes and make 4x6

(or whatever size proofs) from that?

 

For example when you shoot a wedding do you crop all images to the

original size or do you crop all to some other intermediate size and

then work from that? Or do you do something totally different from

either of these approaches?

 

I'm sure there are many variations from what I've mentioned but I've

still not figured out the best process for myself. No matter what I do

I don't seem to be comfortable with the process and it seems that I'm

doing double work.

 

Hopefully this question makes sense to someone.

 

As always any feedback is appreciated.

 

Thanks.

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I crop everyghig to 4X6 without changing the resolution. So, in rough edit, I do a qick crop and color balance, and any small touch ups. Then when they order, I use that same file to pull the print from. It still will have a large enough resolution to do a large print from. Just recently I started running a batch action on the files to make them smaller, just for proofing. Then, as soon as I have the proofs back, I delete the lower rez files and I work from the first edited file. Ocasionally I'll have to go back to the original file to get a little more room for an 8X10 if I cropped it too tight in the original edit.
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Jeffrey,

 

I simply create two folders:

 

XXXXwedding RAW

 

XXXXwedding JPG

 

Initially i dump all images into the RAW folder, open them in PSCSII browser, flag keepers, and exposure adjust. Very rarely do i ever crop, i try my darndest to frame to taste at initial capture. After proper adjustments have been made in RAW, i run a batch on the raw files to convert them all to the highest quality JPGS possible auto saving them into the XXXwedding JPG folder. If further adjustments need to be made, i'll operate in PSCS on the JPGS but anymore just about 98% of all post processing is done in the RAW deveveloper. Since they are 2/3 ratio intially, i simply keep it at the hightest origional quality and do not do any resizing whatsoever.

 

After Batching, i simply burn the JPG folder to a CD and send to or drop off to the lab for printing. I provide 4X6 hard prints of all keepers to the client in a nice 11X15 black leather album, arranged to tell the story of their day. If they want re-prints that require cropping, then i simply pull my copy of the DVD, crop to size, upload to the labs site and drop ship them direct to the client.

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Shoot raw process and convert to jpeg full size files. Use those full size jpegs to make what

ever size you want. I have an action that downsizes the full files down to 4x6 size. This

makes is easier to send ftp to the lab and it is half the time sending it. After we receive the

prints i trash the 4x6 files and will use the full size files for all orders.

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Like Jammey says, you try to do all your cropping in the viewfinder.

All your RAW originals reside in a separate folder and all the JPG and TIF and PSF (PS image files w/layers intact) are in your working folder.

 

You only CROP to print to a specific ratio (2x3, 5x7, 8x10, A3, A4, ...) or else you CROP ro remove stuff from the original image that shouldn't be printed (distracting stuff). Otherwise you shouldn't "crop nuthin'."

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Ken, you must be a better shooter than I. I get a majority of my images with out cropping, but I do need to do some cropping. I tend to shoot a little wide, because I have been burned in an 8X10 crop, so I want a little extra room. I suppose you get every exposure perfect too? No need to shoot raw then...
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<i>"Ken, you must be a better shooter than I. I get a majority of my images with out cropping, but I do need to do some cropping. I tend to shoot a little wide, because I have been burned in an 8X10 crop, so I want a little extra room. I suppose you get every exposure perfect too? No need to shoot raw then..."</i>

<p>

You are putting words in my mouth I make no claim or prior assertion.

<p>

Cropping means to "Cut Out" (remove extraneous image data). It has little to nothing to do with exposure. Nor does cropping have anything to do with shooting RAW. (even if I could nail the exposure 95% of the time I will still ALWAYS shoot RAW) The better your composition skills the less you have to crop. Since 95% of the people on this forum shoot in the the 35mm ratio then cropping MUST occur to provide prints at traditional sizes (it's rare when a traditional; size and the 35mm ratio are exact).

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Jeffrey<br>As you'll find out here, digital workflow is personal and each person likely has their own way of going about it. Here's mine: After culling the duds, I tweak in ACR and convert to tiff files. Then I choose the images that need cropping or further corrections. I have an action set up to convert these files to 4x6" @ 300 dpi, with a little sharpening (Jpegs). The 4x6" prints get uploaded to the lab for the proof album. I archive the folder of tiffs & jpegs to DVD, as well as to a 300 GB hard drive. When I receive an order, it's easy to pull it off the HD and shoot it to the lab.<P>By the way, I have to thank Marc for my workflow. He answered a question I posted last year, and listed his Raw workflow. Thanks, Marc! A proper workflow is very important, and as essential for consistent quality as accurate exposure.<br> Best of luck, Jeff.<br>Duane
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