Photo aspect ratios compared: 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10
These common print sizes do not share one aspect ratio, so the same camera file may need different crops for each output size.
4×6, 5×7 and 8×10 require different crops
| Ratio | Starting from a 3:2 image | |
|---|---|---|
| 4×6 | 3:2 | Ratio matches; no crop needed |
| 5×7 | 7:5 | Crop some width |
| 8×10 | 5:4 | Crop more width |
The exact crop depends on where the subject sits in the image, not just on a percentage. Use the browser-side crop checker to move the crop window before choosing a print size.
Use the numbers from your actual job
The guide explains the decision; the linked calculator gives you the value for your own file or production assumptions.
4×6 matches the common 3:2 camera ratio
A 4×6 print is 2:3 (the same ratio as 3:2 when orientation is swapped). A source image captured at 3:2 can fill 4×6 without ratio cropping, although a lab can still apply small production overscan.
5×7 and 8×10 crop different amounts
5×7 is a 7:5 ratio and 8×10 is 5:4. Starting from a 3:2 image, both formats require trimming some of the long dimension, and 8×10 generally removes more. This is a geometry issue rather than a resolution problem.
Composition matters more than the percentage
Two photos can lose the same percentage of area but have very different outcomes if one has a face near the edge. Use a movable crop preview rather than relying only on a crop-loss number.
Check effective PPI after the crop
Cropping removes source pixels. The remaining crop box—not the original full image—should be divided by final print inches when checking effective PPI for the ordered print.
Practical answer
These common print sizes do not share one aspect ratio, so the same camera file may need different crops for each output size.
When the decision affects a paid print run, book upload, client order or expensive material, keep the calculation with the job notes and verify any external specification again immediately before production.