Choose the shape
Use the wide crop to follow a horizontal subject while checking what happens to the foreground and sky. Move the crop vertically when the horizon should sit above or below centre; changing that position does not change how many pixels the ratio retains.
| Property | Example |
|---|---|
| Matching landscape pixels | 6000 × 3000 |
| Example print size | 20 × 10 inches |
| Equivalent portrait ratio | 1:2 |
Fill the frame
A 6000 × 4000 source filling a 20 × 10 inch frame retains 6000 × 3000 pixels. It removes one quarter of the area and provides 300 PPI. In a centred crop, the top and bottom each lose 500 pixels.
Keep the whole photo
Keeping the full image inside the same frame gives a 15 × 10 inch picture. That leaves 2.5-inch side borders when centred and provides 400 PPI. Compare this option when the upper and lower parts of the scene are important.
What the ratio cannot tell you
A 2:1 crop and a 3:1 crop are substantially different. Switching to the wider family removes more height from the same source, even when the long edge stays unchanged. Keep the original so both compositions remain available.