Uploading Picture Tip: Aspect Ratios

At ArtyBuzz.com we print on paper and canvas sizes A4, A3, A2 and A1. These sizes all have an aspect ratio of 2:3, for example, our sizes in inches and aspect ratios are as follows:

A4 - 8 x 12 Inches - aspect ratio 2:3

A3 - 12 x 16 Inches - aspect ratio 2:3

A2 - 16 x 24 inches - aspect ratio 2:3

A1 - 22 x 33 inches - aspect ratio 2:3

For this reason, we recommend uploading images that have a 2:3 aspect, so that no paper is wasted and your image fills the whole of a photo print or canvas print.

If your image is of a different aspect ratio, this isn't usually a problem; we fit images of another aspect ratio to take up as much of the window/printing area as possible. The diagram below shows how this will work with a 4:5 ratio picture, with the blue box being the 'A' size paper we use (2:3 Ratio) and the yellow box the area that will be printed onto, an A4 sized paper example is used to demonstrate here:



As can be seen below, the 4:5 aspect ratio image is printed onto A4 paper and then trimmed to size. The yellow area is the final size buyers will receive, with the blue area being the paper we trim off:



We do the same with different ratio aspect, for example, with a 1:3 aspect ratio, we will print across a page. Take a panoramic image 12 inches wide by 4 inches high for example, this size image will be printed A4 paper and lower, as displayed below:



Again, the yellow shaded area is the area that the image will be printed onto and distributed to the buyer.

In some cases however problems can arise with certain aspect ratios, an explanation of one of the major problems with regards to aspect ratio is listed below, and should be taken note of.

The example we are going to use is with an image with the dimensions 14 inches wide by 8 inches high. This means that it is slightly too big to be printed on our A4 size images, so will have to be printed onto A3 paper, this however leaves the problem that buyers have to pay for an A3 print, but not actually get a print that is A3 in size as demonstrated below:



As can be seen, a lot of paper is wasted but the price of an A3 image is still charged because we have to use the same process as processing an A3 size image which cannot be changed. Artists should be aware that buyers may not be as willing to buy items like this because of a perceived lack of value for money. It is therefore recommended that you change the dimensions or crop the image if possible to fit better with a 2:3 aspect ratio to achieve more chance of getting a sale. If this is not possible though don't worry, if people want to buy they usually will do.