PSE 4 Cropping

[laffinorse]

Hello Again,

When cropping in PSE, which setting is best, or does it depend on the quality of the Photo?

No Restriction--Use Photo Ratio--Custom or Print Size.

Cheers

[wildone]

I think it depends on the final use of the image. 'Photo Ratio' and 'Custom or Print Size' are mainly used for printing. I personally use 'No restriction' and imput the pixel sizes I want the finished image to be for the Web. Images for the Web are not the same aspect ratios as those for printing.

[Ollie]

Personally I find it all depends on where your main subject in the photo is. Sometimes you can use photo ratio and it's ok, but more often than not I use the no restriction setting as this allows you to frame the main subject of the photograph exactly where you want it.
Roger

[AlphaZeroOne]

I would agree that the 'No restiction' option is one that I tend to use most of the time. Although I have noticed that knowing that you can crop in PSE tends to make me somewhat more lazy when trying to frame the shot in the first place.

One trick that I have picked up over the years of using PS though is that, having cropped, you can increase the image size again by using the Resize Image function. No blinding flash of inspiration here though. However if you chose 'percentage' and input 110% for H&W and keep repeating this, your image will increase in size and yet maintain very nearly to same resolution without becoming grainy. I am told that this is an undocumented PS bug that 'not a lot of people know about'!

Hope that this helps.

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by AlphaZeroOne

One trick that I have picked up over the years of using PS though is that, having cropped, you can increase the image size again by using the Resize Image function. No blinding flash of inspiration here though. However if you chose 'percentage' and input 110% for H&W and keep repeating this, your image will increase in size and yet maintain very nearly to same resolution without becoming grainy. I am told that this is an undocumented PS bug that 'not a lot of people know about'!

Hope that this helps.

I first read about this "trick" on a Fuji 602 Forum, it does not really increase the resolution rather it interpolates, the effect can be remarkable on some images, I remember once expanding an approx 500x500 crop of a painted lady up to an approx 3000x3000 image that showed little sign of having originated from such a small image.

[AlphaZeroOne]

Originally Posted by speckled wood

I first read about this "trick" on a Fuji 602 Forum, it does not really increase the resolution rather it interpolates, the effect can be remarkable on some images, I remember once expanding an approx 500x500 crop of a painted lady up to an approx 3000x3000 image that showed little sign of having originated from such a small image.

You are of course correct Speckled Wood. The resolution does remain the same but the results (providing you have the patience to repeat the 110% input (sounds like a job for a macro, thinking about it)) can be impressive, especially if you have had to crop hard in the first place.

BTW - your name sake has cost me a lot of dosh in lost photo equipment in the past, trying to catch up with one take a picture! Do they ever sit still for more than a second!