Choose the shape
This relatively broad portrait frame can suit a close subject, but a longer source image needs a crop or borders. Compare the position of hands, heads, and edge detail before choosing fill. The target shape should guide the composition rather than distort it.
| Property | Example |
|---|---|
| Matching portrait pixels | 2400 × 3000 |
| Equivalent ratios | 8:10 and 16:20 |
| Example print sizes | 8 × 10 and 16 × 20 inches |
Fill the frame
A 4000 × 3000 landscape photo filling a 10 × 8 inch frame retains 3750 × 3000 pixels. The crop removes 250 pixels of width, or 6.25% of the area, and gives 375 PPI. In a centred crop, each side loses 125 pixels.
Keep the whole photo
Keeping that same photo whole produces a 10 × 7.5 inch picture inside the 10 × 8 frame. The total half-inch border is divided into 0.25 inch above and below when centred. The image has 400 PPI and no stretching.
What the ratio cannot tell you
An 11 × 14 frame is close to this shape but is not exactly 4:5. Recheck a carefully positioned crop when switching between those two formats. Enlarging a correct 8 × 10 crop to 16 × 20 preserves its shape while halving PPI.