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by Jim Reverend.
Original Post: Silly Print Sizes
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Who invented standard printed photograph sizes? I’d like to know so I can personally kick them in the balls.
Just so you can feel my pain, let me do the math for you.
A 4×6 print has an image ratio of 1:1.5.
A 5×7 print has an image ratio of 1:1.4.
A 8×10 print has an image ratio of 1:1.25.
A 11×14 print has an image ratio of 1:1.27.
A 16×20 print has an image ratio of 1:1.25
A 35mm negative has, roughly, an image ratio of 1:1.5
My dSLR camera has an image ratio of 1:1.5.
Some point and shoot digital cameras have an image ratio of 1:1.33.
This means that, just to print a single image at 5 different standard sizes you’ll need 4 different croppings, all of which will differ depending on what kind of camera you used. That’s insanity.
It wouldn’t be a big deal if I wasn’t considering selling my prints matted. When you don’t need a mat, what I do—and what a lot of other people do—is print with borders. The borders easily adjust to make up for the slight differences in cropping. This way, the image remains true to its original ratio and nothing is lost or cut off due to image sizes with different ratios. When the print purchaser goes to frame the image, they simply need a custom matboard (about $15) to properly house the print. However, because I want to sell my prints matted, I have to purchase matboard to fit each individual print size. I can’t possibly keep all these different matboard sizes in stock and most bulk ordering places want me to purchase at least 10 of each size that I order. The costs add up quite quickly.
So, as I see it, there are, really, six options:
Trim my own prints and cut my own matboard. That’s a whole lotta work and takes a whole lotta time.
Keep 4 different matboard sizes in stock, always frame at the 1:1.5 ratio and only use conforming print sizes (4×6, 6×9, 8×12, 12×18, etc). That’s a bit limiting. The 1:1.5 ratio is my favorite, but, 1:1 and 1:1.25 also have advantages in certain circumstances. Plus, these print sizes are not so common and are more difficult to find frames and pre-cut matboards for.
Keep 243 different matboard sizes in stock allowing me to mat 3 different aspect ratios (the ones I use, 1:1.5, 1:1.25, 1:1) into the 5 common frame sizes. That’s a lot of matboard sizes to have in stock. The initial investment would be terrible.
Keep 12 different matboard sizes in stock allowing me to mat 3 different aspect ratios (the ones I use, 1:1.5, 1:1.25, 1:1) into 4 different abnormal sizes per ratio (a small, a medium, a large, and an extra large). The abnormal sizes could be quite difficult to find frames for off the shelf. So, if they aren’t ordered from me, it will be a bit costly at a custom framing shop.
Have a custom matboard cut special for each print. This will increase the cost to the customer and the time for delivery.
Crop the image to fit whatever size has been ordered and try not to notice how much better it looked the original way.
So, which do you recommend? I’m leaning toward option 4, myself.
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