Aspect Ratio
by Whitney Schuyler Hubbard,
Staff Photographer
Aspect ratio is a term that describes the relationship of an image’s width to it’s height. It is an important concept to understand, especially if you want to print the photos you take. If you look up a description of your camera model, you will find the aspect ratio is listed as a set of numbers separated by a colon, such as 3:2 or 4:3. These numbers will represent the ratio of the length of the sides of the images your camera takes. An easy way to think about how aspect ratio relates to the actual size of your photos is to put inches beside the numbers. For example, a 3:2 aspect ratio would be the same as a 3 inch by 2 inch image. If you double that to 6 inches by 4 inches, your aspect ratio stays the same because the relationship of the length of the sides stays the same, even if the physical size of the image changes.
When you decide to print an image, you might find yourself with a product that is cropped in differently than the picture you see on your camera. This is because the aspect ratio of your camera is often different than that of your paper. The aspect ratio of 35mm film, and also of many digital SLR cameras, is 3:2, and some digital cameras include settings that allow you to change their aspect ratio. However, photo paper comes in a variety of sizes, not all sizes will correspond exactly with your camera’s aspect ratio. As you now know, a standard 4×6 inch paper size will perfectly fit an image with a 3:2 aspect ratio. However, printing at a larger standard size will cut in on your photo - a 5×7 inch paper will crop in on the image just a little bit, and an 8×10 will crop out quite a lot.
It is helpful to think about how you will want to display your images while you are shooting. A simple way to compensate for a difference between your planned paper size and your camera’s aspect ratio is to leave room on the sides of your subject with the intention of cropping that part out. Simply stepping back and placing a little extra space around your subject can prevent cropping mistakes easily.
It is possible to print your images at their original aspect ratio on paper that does not correspond exactly. You may choose to print on a larger sheet of paper, and cut your image down to size. Also, some kinds of photo paper are sold in rolls that you can cut into sheets yourself, which makes it possible to print at custom sizes. Depending on the kind of printer you are using, varying your paper size for a custom fit may be a better option.
The images below illustrate the differences in dimension. The red box indicates how each image would print if you were to print it to an 8×10 inch print.
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