crop vs no crop option?

SamM

Hi,
For the web, I crop images for the best presentation. What is best for uploading images to smugmug as shot from D300 with lower jpg quality or cropped images (upload higher quality when ordered). I'm leaning to crop the images as this best presents the best image and people can order the various size(s) and if the image doesn't fit the standard paper they want then they can use the no crop option. I like the no crop option as it displayes the images as I interpet it. I know this adds more work but people visiting my site would see better images (more finished).

What do others use or think?

Thanks,
SamM

Phyxius

I too like to crop the images I take. I shoot at horse shows and sometimes verticle and horizontal crops of the same image look good. However, some times the rider/owner prefers one over the other and it's hard to guess which they'd want.

For what I take I'm usually okay with cropping landscape orientation pictures in a 2:3 ratio, but many of my portrait orientation ones have to be cropped as 4:5 so that they have room to crop if they want a 2:3. I also generally let people know that I will proof and contact them if a particular size/crop doesn't work and I always keep the originals. Since I shoot RAW and use ACR as an editor it's easy to crop and save multiple versions of the same image.

Also, keep in mind that there are minimum resolution specifications for the larger prints/items. If the image you upload does not meet these requirements they won't show up as available in your customer's cart.

Here is the mini res. for prints - Print Res. Specs

Here are the min. res for catalog items - Catalog

SamM

Phyxius wrote:

I too like to crop the images I take. I shoot at horse shows and sometimes verticle and horizontal crops of the same image look good. However, some times the rider/owner prefers one over the other and it's hard to guess which they'd want.

For what I take I'm usually okay with cropping landscape orientation pictures in a 2:3 ratio, but many of my portrait orientation ones have to be cropped as 4:5 so that they have room to crop if they want a 2:3. I also generally let people know that I will proof and contact them if a particular size/crop doesn't work and I always keep the originals. Since I shoot RAW and use ACR as an editor it's easy to crop and save multiple versions of the same image.

Also, keep in mind that there are minimum resolution specifications for the larger prints/items. If the image you upload does not meet these requirements they won't show up as available in your customer's cart.

Here is the mini res. for prints - Print Res. Specs

Here are the min. res for catalog items - Catalog

Thanks for your responds and links regarding resolution and print sizes. Do you upload the lower resolution of the orginals after you crop the image in a certain ratio? I was thinking of just cropping regardless of the ratio and then people can determine to crop and if it doesn't fit then use no crop option.

I just visited your web site and your photos of wonderful.
Thanks,
Sam