Cropping...or how to make the Old fit in Newer Frames Photo Restoration Hints Part Four

As a photo restorer, you will quickly learn that most people just want to stick that picture in a frame without a mat and give it to someone.  We can discuss how to scan through glass to do a photo restoration at a later date. I have had only one epic fail in scanning through glass...but it was enough to get me to think twice before promising too much.  NEVER soak off the picture.  I know that much from working in my darkroom for many years. 

I regress...

You will soon notice that many older pictures are not 4x6 or 4x7 or 8x10.  Soon you realize that if you try to force them to be the right size, they will simply not fit.  Go ahead and take the picture you have just scanned and pretend like you are going to print it.  In the settings, you will quickly see how out of synch your picture is with modern sizes and the amount you will need to crop or ADD to the picture.

We spoke about cloning and you probably have checked into that possibility.  That is a great place to start spreading out the picture to fit in a newer frame.  However, sometimes that just doesn't work.  It's at this time that you need to learn how to cut a mat or go see WilsonsFrameup.com.

If you are too lazy to do that, or if the customer doesn't see the need for the extra expense (usually the case) you can always "frame" it into the size of an 8x10 with a nice white (or color) margin around the picture.  You can do all of this in the printing area.  Add a 3 point or less line around the picture with a "color" margin taken from the picture with the eyedropper tool and you end up with an instant 8x10 with a nice "mat" that will fit into your customer's frame.  Apply this to any size picture such as a 5x7.  The margins will not be exactly the same top to bottom compared to side to side...however, you will have a pleasing picture that looks matted from a distance.  As long as you tell them that without a mat, there is a possibility of the photo sticking to the glass down the line...probably after you are still around doing photo restorations.  By then, there will be another program to instantly fix that, I am sure. 

Next time, I have some hints about saving your work.