You may be losing precious pixels every time you choose a standard 4×6 print size, pixels that are cropped to make your image fit the 4×6 shape. In fact, if you take pictures with a compact digital camera, you are likely losing 11% of your image. That could be the 11% that includes your dear Aunt Bea’s head, or the top of a totem pole, or the full impact of a stormy sky.
Aspect Ratio
The reason for the pixel loss is this: most compact digital cameras shoot images with a 4:3 aspect ratio—this gives an image shape that is nearly square. Aspect ratio is the relationship between the height and width of the photograph. The standard 4×6 photograph has an aspect ratio of 3:2, which is more rectangular than the 4:3 image. When the image is printed, some of the long edge will be cropped.
Solution to the Crop-Top
Each London Drugs print is examined by hand to prevent gross cropping errors, like cutting off a person’s head. However, we offer an even better solution for the 4:3 image—a print that is exactly the same 4:3 aspect ratio.
Our 6×8 print size has a 4:3 aspect ratio, like most compact digital cameras on the market. When you print your image on a 6×8 photograph, you will not lose any pixels. Your photograph will be printed the way you took it: an image within a 4:3 shape.
Try it For Yourself
To introduce you to the beauty and impact of 6×8 prints, London Drugs has created a special offer…. (include offer here).
Note: While most compact digital cameras have a 4:3 aspect ratio, digital SLR cameras have a 3:2 ratio, which makes 4×6 prints ideal.
If you are enlarging digital SLR photos, however, the 6×8 print is good option. You will lose pixels—11%, in fact—but less of the image is cropped than with an 8×10 enlargement, which crops a whopping 17%.
Thanks for the tip! I've always wondered why my pics didn't “fit” the standard print size… just checked both our cameras though, and fortunately they both have an option to shoot in 3:2 🙂
You're welcome! So glad we could help.
I think you should tell all your costumers who uses DSLR cameras & buy wide angle lenses in your stores, that when they develop their pictures with 6×8 print they are going to loss 11% of their pictures.
As a landscape photographer its the main reason why you use a wide angle lens so you can take that wide angle view.
I was really disappointed when i had my pictures develop in your store & all pictures was cropped by 11%.
Hi Robert – when you bring your images in to be printed at our kiosks there is an option to choose 'fit in' or 'no crop'. This will ensure your print is not cropped off.