Photos cropping dimensions do not work for me.

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Level 1

8 points

Photos cropping dimensions do not work for me.

Please help... I looked, but could not find a similar question in the forum. I am an artist, and for what I do the dimensions of my photos are very important. In Photos, I crop my photos to a bunch of various aspect ratios (8x10, 12x12, etc.), and inevitably, when I bring the edited JPG files to the printer, each file is much larger than what I saved using the Photos 'crop' tool. They always have to re-edit the size to what it should be (and what I thought I had saved it at), which I pay for in their time. Likewise, I just tried to convert a JPG to PDF format (as I heard it is a more reliable format for printers to print) and it comes over as a PDF of giant proportions. So when I save a square file as 12x12 in. when I go to print, or now convert to PDF, it comes out as 30x30 in. (for example) or larger.

So, 2 questions... 1) why are the aspect ratios that I am saving using Photos 'crop' tool, actually saving to a much larger dimension when trying to print? And 2) what is the best conversion app for a MAC that can convert my JPGs into the proper sized PDF's. I know I can use Preview, but I would have to resize each incorrectly saved JPG from Photos. Guess if I can fix the aspect ration problem in Photos, hopefully it will convert with proper dimensions. I am not comfortable writing code, but hopefully the answer won't require that.

I hope this is a user error, lol.

Posted on Nov 19, 2015 1:22 PM

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Answer 1

Bostonpie Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 19, 2015 2:25 PM in response to LarryHN

Thank you so much for responding Larry.

So, a common aspect ration custom setting for me is 14x11. Are you saying that there isn't a way to make the jpg a literal 14x11 size, and that the only way to print it out correctly is by setting the printer to 14x11 output? Unless I am missing something, (I have been to several printers at this point) they always tell me they have to reformat the file first to my requesting sizing, before they can print. I would like to save them the step of reformatting by supplying the true dimension from the start.

Regarding the PDF format.... again I was told by printers that they can stay truer to the intended color when using a PDF file. Is that a misconception? Is there a way to keep the JPG file format and present the right color?

These printing issues have been all consuming for me.... the part of the artistic process that I dread!!!

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Answer 2

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Nov 19, 2015 2:11 PM in response to Bostonpie

1 - aspect ratio is just that - it is not a size or a dimension - a 10x10 aspect is the same as a 12x12 or a 5000x5000 - all cropping does is set the proportions of the photo - the print size is set when you actually print the photo so a 10x10 aspect ration photos can be printed as a 1"x1" print or a 10"x10" print or a 5"x5" print or if you have a wide format printer a 36"x36" print

2 - there is no advantage to making a PDF from a JPEG - every conversion loses something so it is best to use a high quality JPEG that a PDF for printing - if you want to make a PDF simply select the photo and print it using the print to PDF feature of your Mac - then again you set the size when you print to PDF

LN

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Nov 19, 2015 2:59 PM in response to Bostonpie

So, a common aspect ration custom setting for me is 14x11. Are you saying that there isn't a way to make the jpg a literal 14x11 size, and that the only way to print it out correctly is by setting the printer to 14x11 output?

Of course - digital files have no inches - you only set the inches when you print (if you do a print to PDF as a 14"x11" PDF then that sets the inches the same as if you printed to a printer instead of to PDF)

Unless I am missing something, (I have been to several printers at this point) they always tell me they have to reformat the file first to my requesting sizing, before they can print. I would like to save them the step of reformatting by supplying the true dimension from the start.

Then crop to the proper proportions and print to PDF setting the desired size when you print

Regarding the PDF format.... again I was told by printers that they can stay truer to the intended color when using a PDF file.

Not so when I had my printing company but I have not been involved in that many years - I doubt it but probably true for some printers who have limited experience and capabilities - in general having a JPEG is much more flexible (maybe something they actually prefer not to have)

Is there a way to keep the JPG file format and present the right color?

Sure if the printer knows what they are doing

In any case you are best to do what they want to make your life simple - so crop to 14x11 (or 28x22 or 140x110 - all the same for cropping) and then print to PDF as 14x11 and send the PDF to them

LN

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Answer 4

Bostonpie Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 19, 2015 3:30 PM in response to Bostonpie

Where exactly do I print to PDF? In Photos, there is no option for this. In Preview, I found where you can print to PDF, but not with a measurement. Sorry for all the questions...

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Answer 5

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Nov 19, 2015 3:43 PM in response to Bostonpie

Nothing to do with Preview - in Photos select the photo and print (file menu ==> print) select the print size, etc and click print and then click on PDF in the lower left hand corner of the print dialogue window and select what you want to do with the resulting PDF and it will be generated

LN

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Answer 6

Bostonpie Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 19, 2015 4:35 PM in response to LarryHN

There is no print size option for some of the sizes I want - only very standard sizes, perhaps due to the printer I have which does not have large format. I bet that's the problem. And there is no area to customize this when you don't want to print. So I am still stuck if I want to have the PDF be 11x14 or 12x12.

So, yes I can generate a PDF, but not to the true size I want. So frustrating!

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