Why Does iPhoto 08 Crop Print Outs ???

Question

Why Does iPhoto 08 Crop Print Outs ???

Hi. I would appreciate a little help here.

I am trying to print out some 8" x 10" photos with borders, in landscape paper orientation, using an Intel Dual Core iMac, Mac OS 10.4.11, iPhoto 08 ver 7.1.2, approved HP Printer and HP Driver, on 8 1/2" x 11" HP Premium Photo Paper, at maximum dpi.

File resolutions are generally:
1600 x 1200 (2 Mega Pixels, 4:3 image aspect ratio, 395 KB file size),
2048 x 1536 (3 Mega Pixels, 4:3 image aspect ratio, 790 KB file size),
2560 x 1920 (5 Mega Pixels, 4:3 image aspect ratio, 2.2 MB file size), and
3264 x 2448 (8 Mega Pixels, 4:3 image aspect ratio, 3.6 MB file size).

The problem I'm having is that iPhoto prints the photo by cropping approx 1/4" off the left side and 1/2" off the right side of the screen image without indicating there will be any loss of image content. The screen image DOES NOT accurately reflect the printed image.

Like most people that take pictures, I frame the shots the way I wanted the picture to look. In a picture of a family reunion the person on the far left would have half his head and body chopped off (missing) while the person on the far right would be totally cut out (missing). What I see on the screen IS NOT what I get when printed out. And of course, it does this consistently without warning. Why?

I would accept uneven borders, but want the entire picture to print. Something I would have thought to be the default settings for iPhoto when printing "with borders." Foolish me.

I understand some cropping might have to take place when printing "border-less" printouts, but not for those "with borders." There out to be a law against doing this without conscent.

HP PhotoSmart will do this for me, but it's rather a hassle to have to transfer pictures over each time I want a satisfactory print out.

How do I get my pictures in iPhoto 08 to print out "entirely?" Dare I say "normally?"

Have tried many settings changes in iPhoto and Preview to no avail.

Please help.

iMac Intel Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Supported HP Printer & Driver

Posted on Feb 27, 2008 8:46 PM

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Answer 1

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Feb 27, 2008 10:13 PM in response to Got-A-Question

I am trying to print out some 8" x 10" photos with borders, in landscape paper orientation, using an Intel Dual Core iMac, Mac OS 10.4.11, iPhoto 08 ver 7.1.2, approved HP Printer and HP Driver, on 8 1/2" x 11" HP Premium Photo Paper, at maximum dpi.

File resolutions are generally:
1600 x 1200 (2 Mega Pixels, 4:3 image aspect ratio, 395 KB file size),
2048 x 1536 (3 Mega Pixels, 4:3 image aspect ratio, 790 KB file size),
2560 x 1920 (5 Mega Pixels, 4:3 image aspect ratio, 2.2 MB file size), and
3264 x 2448 (8 Mega Pixels, 4:3 image aspect ratio, 3.6 MB file size).

The problem I'm having is that iPhoto prints the photo by cropping approx 1/4" off the left side and 1/2" off the right side of the screen image without indicating there will be any loss of image content. The screen image DOES NOT accurately reflect the printed image.

The problem you are having is called Physics and Mathmatics - 8 x 10 is NOT a 4 x 3 ratio - 8 x 12 is a 4 x 3 ratio - to print 8 x 10 with no cropping the image would have to be in an 8 x 10 ratio (or 4 x 5)

HP PhotoSmart will do this for me,

This is not possible - you simply can not print a 8 x 12 image on 8 x 10 paper without either having white space or cropping - a physical impossibility

How do I get my pictures in iPhoto 08 to print out "entirely?"

If you want to be sure of the print area you have to crop to the proper ratio ( 4 x 5 for an 8 x 10 print) BEFORE sending to print (or repel the laws of physics 🙂 )

Dare I say "normally?"

Unfortunately they are printing "normally"

LN

Message was edited by: LarryHN

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Answer 2

Feb 28, 2008 6:45 PM in response to LarryHN

Hi LarryNH,
Thanks for your timely reply.

Ok, let's do the math. What the heck?

Pick out a photo in your iPhoto library that you can view and print out in Landscape View.
Preferably a photo that you can instantly recognize the border changes in, or with rulers or grid lines. If possible, let's make it an image with a 4:3 ratio too.

Chances are you will be able to see the entire photo on your screen — even though your screen mostly likely is not one with a 4:3 image aspect ratio (pixel Width divided by pixel Height). Hmmmmmm.

Now print out the photo using iPhoto 08, letter paper size with borders. (Save yourself some ink by choosing the lowest dpi or fast printing)

For me, actual image size was 10 1/16 "W by 8 1/4 "H. The letter paper size print out has a 5/16 " border on the left and a 5/8 " border on the right (not centered, even though it's supposed to be). Both top and botton borders measure 1/8 " (centered, like its supposed to be).

Notice any chopping off of the image on the left and right sides when compared to the screen image? Hmmmmm.

When I print the same photo using HP PhotoSmart
For me, the actual image size is somewhat smaller: 9 13/16 "W by 8 3/8 "H. The letter paper size print out has a 9/16 " border on the left and a 10/16 " border on the right (approximately centered). The top border is 1/2 " and the botton border ise 9/16 " (again, approximately centered). BUT MOST IMPORTANT, the image of the photo I see on the screen is "entirely" present on the print out.

The original photo has a 4:3 (or 1.3333) image ratio (4 divided by 3).

Apple is printing out an incomplete horizontally uncentered image with a 1.2197 ratio (10 1/16 "W divided 8 1/4 "H).

HP PhotoSmart is printing out a complete image with a 1.1716 ratio (9 13/16 "W divided by 8 3/8 "H), but at least it is a complete image and it is approximately centered.

Besides Larry, I bought a Mac. I shouldn't have to do the physics and math. Apple should be, thus making life easier for you and me. I hope they're listening.

I have been totally unable to coax a complete image out of iPhoto, let alone one properly centered.

I have been trying to print photos from Events. I'm going to try one from Albums next.

If you find a work around in iPhoto, please let me know. With borders it is do-able, as HP PhotoSmart has proven. I just wish iPhoto could do the same.

Got-A-Question

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Feb 28, 2008 7:06 PM in response to Got-A-Question

If you are printing all of a 8 x 12 image on an 8 x 10 paper then the photo is bring distorted - physics simply will not let this happen with either cropping or distortion of the photo

It is like wanting to display a 4:3 tv image on a 16 x 9 screen you either stretch the horizontal leaving the vertical alone making people fat or leave the image alone and cut the top and bottom off

Physics simply do not allow these things to happen

Chances are you will be able to see the entire photo on your screen — even though your screen mostly likely is not one with a 4:3 image aspect ratio (pixel Width divided by pixel Height). Hmmmmmm.

Of course I can see the entire image - BUT IT DES NOT FILL THE SCREEN IN BOTH DIRECTIONS - it fills to the top and bottom and leaves blank space on both sides (that darn physics again)

HP PhotoSmart is printing out a complete image with a 1.1716 ratio (9 13/16 "W divided by 8 3/8 "H), but at least it is a complete image and it is approximately centered.

Interesting - you say that you original is in a 4 x 3 ratio (1.3333333) then say the the complete image is printed in a 1.1716 ratio image -- it simply is not all there AND undistorted - either something is missing OR the mage is distorted - OR BOTH

Them's the facts and they do not let you print images larger than the paper without losing something or distorting the image

LN

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Answer 4

Old Toad

Level 10

207,367 points

Feb 28, 2008 8:02 PM in response to Got-A-Question

This screenshot shows an 8x6 custom size on an 8x10 sheet. Just set a custom size, 4:3 ratio, and adjust it incrementally in both directions until you get the size of border you want. That's what you'll have to do is you want to keep the image size intact and am using a standard paper size.

TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

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Answer 5

Mar 2, 2008 5:36 AM in response to Got-A-Question

Hi readers of this forum,

I do have the exact same issue, and no mathematics will blow this away.

When I print, it just needs to print my pictures, other apps will do cropping.

regs

Frans Mulkens
the Netherlands

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Answer 6

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Mar 2, 2008 8:05 AM in response to sushibreak

So will iPhoto - the ORIGINAL question was how to print a 8" x 12" photo on a 8" x 10" paper with NO cropping - that is not possible with out distortion

The best solution, of course, is for YOU to crop the photo to the same ratio as the paper before you print - then you are in control

LN

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Answer 7

Old Toad

Level 10

207,367 points

Mar 2, 2008 3:32 PM in response to LarryHN

Actually you can print the entire photo without cropping but will end up with a small border on one or more sides. One must select a custom size that's slightly smaller than 8 x 10 but in the same ratio as the original file, usually a 4:3 ratio. So to fit on an 8 x 10 page, a custom size of 7.5 x10 would make it. It would still have the 4:3 ratio, thus not have any of the picture cropped, and would fit on the 8 x 10 sheet.

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Answer 8

Mar 21, 2008 9:17 AM in response to Got-A-Question

Dear and Omnicient Old Toad:

Photos correctly cropped in iPhoto to 4 x 6 consistently print slightly off-center (cropped on the right side) making borderless prints using HP 4 x 6 paper with my HP Photosmart C6280. Don't know about top/bottom crop, if any.

I could certainly crop the photo slightly off-center in iPhoto, but is there any other workaround?

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Answer 9

Old Toad

Level 10

207,367 points

Mar 21, 2008 11:31 AM in response to eliot_tas

Since you've cropped the photos to the correct size then it must be something in setting up the HP print window to use the right paper size and make sure it's borderless. Take a look at these threads to see if there's a solution in it for you:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6543619&#6543619

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1374604&tstart=0

TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Reply