The online lab I've been using (happily) is Mpix. Their instructions for submitting non-standard aspect ratio images is to “place them on a canvas in Photoshop” and size to the next highest size. Basically, creating a border around the image to allow the “canvas” to match a standard print size. I'm holding out against purchasing PhotoShop (Aperture does 95% of what I need and $700 is a lot to spend on software). Questions: Is there a way to create the “larger canvas” that is required using Aperture?
Would it work to create a Export Preset that is greater than 100%? I just exported a 3648x2736 image at 110% and it resulted in 4013x3010 image. Or could you custom crop it in adjustments?
Also, there are several photo editors much less expensive that PS if your primary objective is resizing the canvas with another program. Pixelmator is $59 and PS Elements is under ~$100.
Thank you for your reply. I’m not seeing how I can crop larger than the image, so I don’t think that will work. Although your experiment with export did not work I suppose that would be the logical place for Apple to build in a “border” control. I was hoping Aperture would natively handle this, but it looks like something that requires external help. I think I may have a solution in a plug-in named “Aperture BorderFX.” Sounds like it should do what I need. Thanks again for your ideas.
You can change the size for free if you’re running MacOS X Snow Leopard (10.6.x). The Preview app has much more capabilities in Snow Leopard than in previous versions. (Actually it could do these things in earlier versions but you needed to use Automator to access the commands)
Open the image in Preview and choose Tools->Adjust Size…
Derrick Story also wrote an article on Macworld.com about Preview’s hidden features: http://www.macworld.com/article/153807/2010/09/previewimageeditpowers.ht…
Thomas
Hi guys,
Harringg has the right advice—a much cheaper app than Photoshop, or even the plug-in your found “BorderFX” may do it.
Resizing in Preview won’t give you the border you need, it’ll just scale it.
Let me know if you have any troubles with one of those low cost solutions.
@PhotoJoseph
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Joseph, you are correct. I misread what William was trying to do. You can still do what William needs without buying anything though. Not with Preview but with Automator. I know, it’s not easy but it’s a fun exercise. I couldn’t get it to work within Aperture but if the image is in the Finder, it works. You need to calculate the final pixel dimensions of your resized image first. Then do the following:
1. Open Automator and create a new Workflow.
2. Drag the following actions into the workflow area:
a) Files & Folders -> Get Selected Finder Items
b) Files & Folders -> Duplicate Finder Items (keeps your original image intact)
c) Photos -> Pad Images
3. Enter the pixel dimensions you calculated into the Canvas dimensions of the Pad Images action.
4. Select your image in the Finder and then click the Run button of your workflow in Automator and it will pad your image with black pixels based on the dimensions you entered (after it makes a copy first).
Options include turning the workflow into an application. Then you can just drag and drop your image onto the workflow application icon in the Finder and it will create a copy of the image and pad it. (you can tell the Pad Image action to ask for dimensions at runtime by checking a box in the Pad Image action). I just tried this and it works like a charm.
Tom
Thomas
Thomas,
That is fantastic! I had actually looked in Automator myself, but completely missed the “pad” command. Great!!
William, Thomas just saved you a hundred bucks… I think you owe him a beer! hehe ;-)
@PhotoJoseph
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