Aspect Ratio & Auto-Cropping

What is Aspect Ratio?

Aspect Ratio is the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image. It is expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, such as:

• 1:1 - Square (common for profile photos or tiles).
• 4:3 - Standard photograph shape.
• 16:9 - Widescreen format.

When ordering a print product of a fixed size (e.g. a $4 \times 6\text{ inch}$ print has a 3:2 aspect ratio), the uploaded image should match these proportions. If you sell on online marketplaces, the free marketplace image fixer resizes photos to each platform’s required ratio automatically.

The Print Risk: Image Distortion or White Margins

If a customer uploads a square photo (1:1) for a rectangular frame (16:9):

• Stretching / Squishing: Scaling the image to fit the frame distorts the artwork, making subjects look unnaturally tall or wide.
• Pillarboxing / Letterboxing: Placing the image without stretching leaves white gaps or margins along the edges.

How Filecheck Automates Aspect Ratio Control

Filecheck resolves aspect ratio mismatches automatically:

1. Ratio Scan: We calculate the uploaded image’s aspect ratio ($\text{Width} \div \text{Height}$) and check it against the product’s allowed ratio list.
2. Auto-Cropping Autofix: If the ratio does not match but falls within configurable tolerances, Filecheck automatically crops the image:
   • Smart Cropping: We crop the image from the center, or use subject detection to preserve the focal point.
3. Soft-Proof Review: The customer reviews the cropped preview side-by-side at checkout, ensuring they approve the layout framing before final printing.