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Cropping.
In the past I have done very little cropping of images. I was wondering which is the best way to crop an image. I shoot raw and should I do the crop in ACR or in photoshop - navigate tool. Also is it best to crop before making any post processing.
I have found if I do the crop in ACR and then move on to photoshop and save as a Jpeg. If I want to put the same raw file into ACR to do it again for some reason I find that the image displayed shows as being cropped. I should have said I use CS5.
Cheers
Bob
I have found if I do the crop in ACR and then move on to photoshop and save as a Jpeg. If I want to put the same raw file into ACR to do it again for some reason I find that the image displayed shows as being cropped. I should have said I use CS5.
Cheers
Bob
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For myself at least, I find I can improve my images composition a little bit or even a lot, by careful study and judicious cropping after the fact. I wish I could say that my eye is so circumspect I never need to crop, but that would not be accurate. Not even close. Sad to say.
If I understand you correctly, you are asking whether to crop early in your workflow, or waiting until the very end. Correct me if I am wrong, here, Bob
I crop fairly early, as I don't want to wait for processing larger files, than necessary. But then, I do most of my editing in Lightroom, so the original RAW file is always available and unchanged by my metadata editing commands. I can make virtual Raw copies for as many image editing workflows as needed.
I do not think there is any compelling reason to defer cropping until late in your workflow. I use CS5 too, when I need layers and selections.
If you try to re-open an edited, cropped jpg image in ACR, it will indeed, show you the cropped version only, as the jpg is a baked in editing change to your original RAW file. That is the beauty of meta data editing in Lightroom...
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Shoot raw, mess about in DPP, including cropping, then final tweaks etc in PS if needed / as necessary. Doing it early obviously saves messing around with more pixels than necessary, but as I'm only using 10Mp cams - not such a problem as others
Re cropping - I'll do as I see fit for the image ... and since using a cheapo HD camcorder last year, I've found that I quite like the 16:9 ratio for the sort of pics that appeal to me.
Whilst I try (and occasionally get close) to fill a frame in a particular way, they invariably need some cropping - even if only to 'level up' a horizon - but it's also an invaluable tool for getting rid of evidence of man's disregard for nature - in the way of plastic bags / crisp packets / bottles etc that sometimes 'get in the way'
pp
Flickr
Thanks once again Pathfinder and Paul as that is another query solved. I honestly don't know how I would have coped without Dgrin as I have had so many queries solved which I truly appreciate.
Thanks again.
Bob.
Then perhaps play with the composition and cropping. Once I have the composition I want I will see how close it is to a standard aspect ratio or size. If I will be using in print I will try my best to crop to a standard size. If the image is really good and just won't work at a standard size, I will cut a custom mat for it.
If it's only for web or electronic view I won't care about aspect / size issues.
I consider 2X3, 4X5, 1X2, 1X3 to be standard.
Sam
I was thinking of cropping with regard to composition, and did not reference cropping for leveling of horizons, nor did I mention standard, versus custom cropping. All good things to consider.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Noted and appreciated Sam and Pathfinder.
Bob