| - Digital, Conventional and Traditional Sizes - | ||
| The difference between "digital", "conventional" & "traditional" sizes. | ||
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We use "digital sizes" to describe prints with an "aspect ratio" of 3:4 as this is the most common size for digital cameras, and "conventional sizes" to describe prints with an aspect ratio of 2:3 as this is what 35mm film users are used to. "Traditional sizes" of 5"x7", 8"x10" and 10"x12" do not match either of these aspect ratios but are still popular and therefore offered by us. |
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| Aspect Ratio
Aspect ratio describes the height-to-length relationship of an image. A square has an aspect ratio of 1:1 as the height always matches the length – for every one unit of height there is an identical unit of length. The aspect ratio of a rectangle is arrived at by comparing the length to the height. With a 4"x6" print, this rectangle has two units of height for every three units of length, and hence has an aspect ratio of 2:3
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If you are not afraid of maths, you can calculate the aspect ratio of your images. Look in your camera's manual for its resolution (e.g. 2048x1536). Divide the larger number by the smaller one. If the result is 1.33 (e.g. 2048 divided by 1536) then you need "digital" size prints such as 4"x5.3" (as 5.3 divided by 4 equals 1.33). If the result is 1.5 (e.g. 3000 divided by 2000), this requires a "conventional" size print such as 4"x6" (as 6 divided by 4 equals 1.5). Don't worry if you find this complicated – just pick digital sizes and see what comes back in the post. |
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