Fixed aspect ratio when cropping or selecting [Enhancement]

[bnieswand]

I compare XnView to FixFoto, which has more features, and is also nice to use, but XnView seems to have more potential.
One feature that seems basic, which ONLY FixFoto seems to have is the fixed proportions of a cropping area, used for preparing photos to be sent to the printing service (which usually prints 9x13cm or 10x15). So setting these values before cropping is extremely helpful to get exactly printed, what you want.

[xnview]

I compare XnView to FixFoto, which has more features, and is also nice to use, but XnView seems to have more potential.
One feature that seems basic, which ONLY FixFoto seems to have is the fixed proportions of a cropping area, used for preparing photos to be sent to the printing service (which usually prints 9x13cm or 10x15). So setting these values before cropping is extremely helpful to get exactly printed, what you want.

Ok, I'll add this feature.
Pierre.

[bnieswand]

Ok, I'll add this feature.
Pierre.

great, thanks

[helmut]

Preparing images for photolabs becomes more and more common and important, so selecting areas with a specific ratio and cropping the image is very important.

I suggest two predefined ratios "3:2 (Landscape)" and "2:3 (Portrait)" (think ratios are specified <widht>:<height>)

If possible, the user should be able to easily and quickly switch from landscape to portrait ratio and vice versa. For this, shortcuts to the appropriate menu items could help or a clever interaction with the mouse.

To be on the save side the two ratios should be changeable. Think the CCD chips are now 4:3, so photolabs might change their formats, too.

Other ideas & suggestions?

[helmut]

Speaking of photo preparation: Is there a need for a "move selection" functionality?

[bnieswand]

Speaking of photo preparation: Is there a need for a "move selection" functionality?

Definitely a good idea. But 2x3 is not the only format needed. 9x13 is also needed.

[helmut]

Definitely a good idea. But 2x3 is not the only format needed. 9x13 is also needed.

Actually 2:3 and 3:2 are ratios (width:height), not image sizes. When selecting, the selection will follow the ratio set, but you will be able to select and cut any area (very small or very large) of the image following the ratio.
When sending the image to the photo lab, then you specify the actual image size (=paper size), which is for example 9cm x 13cm. Then, the photolab will resize your digital image to the specified paper size automatically.

So only few ratios like 2:3 and 3:2 should be sufficient. E.g. the sizes 9cm x 13cm, 10cm x 15cm, 13cm x 18cm all follow the ratio 2:3 (some sizes are rounded, therefore it's not that obvious).

Hope the difference between ratio and actual image size (paper size) and the usage has become clear. This is my understanding, please let us know if I am wrong.

[helmut]

An idea:
Perhaps an easy thing/good start would be displaying the ratio of the selection in the status bar. The thing to clarify is to display ratios in a way the user understands (e.g. 1:1.5 is not so meaning full.)

What do you think?

[helmut]

Pierre currently works on XnView 1.70 and is close to finalizing it. It's very likely that selection with aspect ratio makes it into XnView 1.70, already.