Understanding Aspect Ratios for Fine Art Prints and Image Resizing
Aspect Ratios Explained: How to Resize and Print Artwork Without Cropping
You’ve finished your artwork and are ready to make prints, but what size do you get?
To start, we recommend that you select prints in ready-to-frame sizes so you or your collectors don’t have to pay for custom framing. (See our article on framing for more details.)
Common sizes include:
8x10”
9x12”
11x14” or 11x17”
12x16”
16x20”
18x24”
24x30”
24x36”
As far as squares go, you often see frames for artwork sized 6x6”, 8x8”, 12x12”, and 20x20”.
Since prints are often a more affordable entry point to collecting your work, you don’t want to burden potential buyers with the task and expense of custom framing after they’ve purchased a print. When you can recommend frames off the shelf at common retailers such as Michael’s, Home Goods, or Amazon, your collectors will appreciate your work even more.
Rarely does an original match the same aspect ratio of the prints that you want.
Say you want to offer 8x10” and 11x14” prints, but you painted the original on an 18x24 canvas. What’s the problem here?
The aspect ratios don’t match. In other words, the proportional relationship between the length and width do not match the desired print translation.
For example, 8x10” is a common print size, and it has a 4:5 aspect ratio. 20x28” is another common size, but it has a 5:7 ratio. And that 18x24” canvas you painted on? Its aspect ratio is 3:4.
Enough geometry already… Why is this relevant?
You have two options to rectify the difference:
Cropping; or
Adding margins
If the difference is minimal and you prefer the look of edge-to-edge prints, we can crop it to match the desired print dimensions.
However, if your composition doesn’t lend itself well to cropping, or you simply don’t want to lose valuable imagery that you spent time creating, the best option is to add a margin.
We offered this client the option to have her images cropped, or to add a margin so the entire images are printed. Which do you prefer?
There are many decisions to make when it comes to art prints, so if you’re not sure what to do about sizing, consult the experts! At Amazing Art Printing, we guide you through the printing process so you are in control of the outcome, without having to worry about all the details. Contact us today to get started with the most amazing printing experience you’ll ever have.
