Venting about paper sizes!!

**mattt** · 11-22-2019, 03:46 PM

Why are all the photo paper produces eliminating 8x10 in lieu of 8.5x11... Arggh

Any tips for cutting down 8.5x11 to look decent?

clem · 11-22-2019, 04:30 PM

My default paper size these days is square. You might try 8x8. Good luck!

Angel Perez · 11-22-2019, 05:48 PM

luckily, I have a local printer and they print whatever you need.

however, for volume I've been using Miller's or Mpix and they still print 8x10

Good luck.

photoptimist · 11-22-2019, 06:33 PM

Just a theory... Perhaps the average photo printing consumer tends to print on cheap office copier printer until they like the result. Then they switch to the high-cost photopaper. If so, they'd tend to prefer photo paper that is the same size at regular copier paper otherwise the margins on the final print are different from the copy paper test prints.

But it still sucks!

Last edited by photoptimist; 11-22-2019 at 07:14 PM.

stevebrot · 11-22-2019, 06:36 PM

Originally posted by mattt

Why are all the photo paper produces eliminating 8x10 in lieu of 8.5x11... Arggh

Have you ever tried Red River? I am not sure, but I believe they offer 8x10 throughout their line (card stock excepted).

Welcome to Red River Paper

Steve

(...no relation to Red River other that as a happy customer...)

**TwoUptons** · 11-22-2019, 07:01 PM

I actually like the oversized paper when I put the photos in a matted frame... makes life easier with those big margins...

But I hate cutting it down... though the matte cutter does a good job...

-Eric

normhead · 11-22-2019, 07:05 PM

Back in the day, I used a matte cutter as well.

**mattt** · 11-22-2019, 07:15 PM

Thanks guys... i guess I should buy up a few packs of the Epson Gloss off of Amazon and be prepared to cut when that runs out. I have used Red River in past, I see they have 8x10 in "hard to find" sizes category. I didnt realize it was going out of fashion..

**DWS1** · 11-22-2019, 09:09 PM

Personally, I'm not a big fan of the popular photo sizes like 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, etc. I print in sizes that more closely represent the 2 to 3 ratio like 11x17, 13x19, etc. I've even printed 7.5x11 and mounted in a 11x14 matte. That's the way I saw and composed the photo when I shot it and every time I have to crop to fit a 8x10 ratio, I lose something that I think is important to the composition. If one uses a 3 to 4 ratio camera, which I did for a while, then the popular sizes make more sense.

leekil · 11-22-2019, 10:05 PM

I think the 8x10, 5x7 sizes are kind of dumb, since I mostly use the 2x3 (35mm) ratio. The only problem is that while 13x19 paper is easy to get, 13x19 frames are less common than the traditional frame sizes.

MrB1 · 11-23-2019, 06:04 AM - **1 Like**

As long as it's bigger than 8 x 10 does it really matter? Just trim it to size - a rotary cutter makes it a simple job: e.g. See Amazon

In the UK, the most common enlargement size photo paper is A4 = 8.3 x 11.7. Using that I print at a suitable aspect ratio for the shot and then trim the paper if necessary - for some buildings and landscapes that ratio might be the 9:16 aspect (or similar) of a widescreen view.

Philip

**ProfessorBuzz** · 11-23-2019, 10:11 AM

I use a rotary paper trimmer. Works well, and I've noticed my local camera store uses a bigger version, same idea, where the blade is round and on a track. Much better than the oldshool paper choppers.

**Apet-Sure** · 11-23-2019, 12:12 PM

Originally posted by normhead

Back in the day, I used a matte cutter as well.

Same here; part of the overall creative process. I could cut a rectangle with any aspect ratio I wanted.

Originally posted by leekil

The only problem is that while 13x19 paper is easy to get, 13x19 frames are less common than the traditional frame sizes.

In the USA, craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michael's sell frame rails in various lengths. Want a 6" x 12" frame? Pick two 6" and two 12" rails. The lengths will have a limited selection of course, but you can put together some non-traditional sizes.

11-22-2019, 03:46 PM	#1
mattt Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,907	Venting about paper sizes!! Why are all the photo paper produces eliminating 8x10 in lieu of 8.5x11... Arggh Any tips for cutting down 8.5x11 to look decent?

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11-22-2019, 04:30 PM	#2
clem Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southern New Mexico Photos: Gallery Posts: 119	My default paper size these days is square. You might try 8x8. Good luck!

11-22-2019, 05:48 PM	#3
Angel Perez Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 158	luckily, I have a local printer and they print whatever you need. however, for volume I've been using Miller's or Mpix and they still print 8x10 Good luck.

11-22-2019, 06:33 PM	#4
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,127	Just a theory... Perhaps the average photo printing consumer tends to print on cheap office copier printer until they like the result. Then they switch to the high-cost photopaper. If so, they'd tend to prefer photo paper that is the same size at regular copier paper otherwise the margins on the final print are different from the copy paper test prints. But it still sucks! Last edited by photoptimist; 11-22-2019 at 07:14 PM.

11-22-2019, 06:36 PM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by mattt Why are all the photo paper produces eliminating 8x10 in lieu of 8.5x11... Arggh Have you ever tried Red River? I am not sure, but I believe they offer 8x10 throughout their line (card stock excepted). Welcome to Red River Paper Steve (...no relation to Red River other that as a happy customer...)

11-22-2019, 07:01 PM	#6
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,223	I actually like the oversized paper when I put the photos in a matted frame... makes life easier with those big margins... But I hate cutting it down... though the matte cutter does a good job... -Eric

11-22-2019, 07:05 PM	#7
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Back in the day, I used a matte cutter as well.

11-22-2019, 07:15 PM	#8
mattt Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,907 Original Poster	Thanks guys... i guess I should buy up a few packs of the Epson Gloss off of Amazon and be prepared to cut when that runs out. I have used Red River in past, I see they have 8x10 in "hard to find" sizes category. I didnt realize it was going out of fashion..

11-22-2019, 09:09 PM	#9
DWS1 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 1,169	Personally, I'm not a big fan of the popular photo sizes like 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, etc. I print in sizes that more closely represent the 2 to 3 ratio like 11x17, 13x19, etc. I've even printed 7.5x11 and mounted in a 11x14 matte. That's the way I saw and composed the photo when I shot it and every time I have to crop to fit a 8x10 ratio, I lose something that I think is important to the composition. If one uses a 3 to 4 ratio camera, which I did for a while, then the popular sizes make more sense.

11-22-2019, 10:05 PM	#10
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	I think the 8x10, 5x7 sizes are kind of dumb, since I mostly use the 2x3 (35mm) ratio. The only problem is that while 13x19 paper is easy to get, 13x19 frames are less common than the traditional frame sizes.

11-23-2019, 06:04 AM - 1 Like	#11
MrB1 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2013 Location: Hertfordshire, England Posts: 845	As long as it's bigger than 8 x 10 does it really matter? Just trim it to size - a rotary cutter makes it a simple job: e.g. See Amazon In the UK, the most common enlargement size photo paper is A4 = 8.3 x 11.7. Using that I print at a suitable aspect ratio for the shot and then trim the paper if necessary - for some buildings and landscapes that ratio might be the 9:16 aspect (or similar) of a widescreen view. Philip

11-23-2019, 10:11 AM	#12
ProfessorBuzz Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 1,903	I use a rotary paper trimmer. Works well, and I've noticed my local camera store uses a bigger version, same idea, where the blade is round and on a track. Much better than the oldshool paper choppers.

11-23-2019, 12:12 PM	#13
Apet-Sure Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Goldsboro North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,861	Originally posted by normhead Back in the day, I used a matte cutter as well. Same here; part of the overall creative process. I could cut a rectangle with any aspect ratio I wanted. Originally posted by leekil The only problem is that while 13x19 paper is easy to get, 13x19 frames are less common than the traditional frame sizes. In the USA, craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michael's sell frame rails in various lengths. Want a 6" x 12" frame? Pick two 6" and two 12" rails. The lengths will have a limited selection of course, but you can put together some non-traditional sizes.