Q1: What is an Aspect Ratio?
It’s the relationship between the width and height of an image or print, expressed as a ratio (e.g., 3:2, 4:3).
Q2: Why is it Important for Prints?
It determines the shape of the print. If the aspect ratio of your image doesn’t match the print, it may be cropped.
Q3: What Happens When the Aspect Ratio Changes?
The image gets resized or cropped to fit the new ratio, which might cut off parts of the image. This is also a prime consideration when you try to print onto a paper size where both the image and paper are of different ratios (see detailed explanation below)
Q4: Can You Show Me?
We’ll show a simple visual with different aspect ratios, like 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9, with the same image to show the cropping effect:
When the Image Ratio Doesn’t Match the Paper Ratio
Imagine you take a photo with your phone—it’s probably in a 4:3 or 3:2 aspect ratio. Now, let’s say your customer wants that photo printed on A4 paper (which is roughly a 1.41:1 ratio). Here’s what happens when those numbers don’t align:
Option 1: Cropping
- What happens: The image is zoomed in or trimmed at the edges to fill the entire paper.
- Impact: You lose part of the image—like someone’s head gets chopped off, or important details are missing at the edges.
Option 2: Letterboxing or Pillarboxing
- What happens: The full image is kept, but unprinted area appears on two sides (unequal borders at top/bottom and left/right).
- Impact: You preserve the whole image, but it may not look as polished or “full-bleed.”
Option 3: Resizing and Distortion (Not Recommended)
- What happens: The image is stretched or squeezed to fill the paper exactly.
- Impact: Faces look oddly wide or tall—definitely not ideal!
Option 4: Flexible Roll Printing (Best for Custom Sizes)
- What happens: We print on professional roll paper (available in widths like 17″, 24″, 44″, 50″, and 60″), which means you’re not restricted to standard paper sizes or aspect ratios.
- Impact: You can print your image at any dimensions that suit your artwork best—perfect for wide panoramas or square crops.
- Heads-up: Custom sizes may require custom framing. But don’t worry—we’ll help recommend the best layout and guide you on framing options if needed.