Reg

Most of the graphics editing software I've used allows you to either
manually resize the image using the mouse or there is a resize tool option
that allows you to set the ratio or actual dimensions. What I have often
done is set the width or height to what I want, looking at the value that
this creates in the resize tool's options or settings and then simply
calculate the other dimention by either multiplying or dividing by 1.5  and
setting the other dimension to that figure.
Any "totally automatic" cropping tool (if it exists) will obviously leave
you no control of where the crop needs to be.
Paintshop Pro, the editor I use has configurable presets in it's resize
toolbar (4X6, 6X4, etc etc) that you can add to or modify. When using the
resize tool this option appears on the toolbar and you can simply click the
ratio you want. This produces the cropping frame correctly proportioned over
your image and you only need to drag the corner and move the position to get
the correct crop position, the preset ratio is fixed. Of course Paintshop
comes with all the other enhancement tools like redeye removal, automatic
photoenhancement, special effects, etc so it is a complete package. It's
available for a free download and trial period.
Good luck.............Pete

"Reg Siemens" <regsiemens@coldmail.com> wrote in message
news:0MTOa.10028$V8.7648@news1.mts.net...
> > Almost any graphics editing program will do this, from lowly freewares
(eg
> > http://www.rocketdownload.com/details/grap/4676.htm) all the way to the
> big
> > daddies like Photoshop. Usually the dig camera comes with a software
that
> > will do the cropping along with other things like rotation, etc. I use
> > Paintshop Pro (www.jasc.com) because it's loaded with other options for
> > tidying up your image before printing.
>
> Thanks Pete,
>
> I have various photo-editing packages on my system and I've been fixing
> red-eye etc. and I have also used their cropping tools but it seems to be
> trial and error i.e. crop and undo until you have the 3:2 ratio required
for
> standard prints.  I'm probably not alone in wanting to print my digital
> photos professionally and I would hope/imagine there is software out there
> that would, as an example, format all of the selected photos from 4:3 to
3:2
> cropping the bottom only.
>
> Reg
>
>
> > Pete
> >
> > "Reg Siemens" <regsiemens@coldmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:NpNOa.9533$V8.7146@news1.mts.net...
> > > Sorry if you have answered this question a million times, but I'm new
to
> > the
> > > world of digital photography and just found out the hard way that
> digital
> > > photos are created in 4:3 format when your standard photo processing
> > > facility print is 3:2 (e.g. 6x4, 7x5, 10x8, etc.).  Taking digital
> images
> > in
> > > to have them professionally printed has resulted in the top and bottom
> > being
> > > cropped.  I like to take my photos with very little head room and
> > therefore
> > > have found many of my shots are less than ideal when cropped equally
> from
> > > top and bottom.  What I'd like to do is manipulate the images prior to
> > > burning my CD to take to the printer so that I choose how they're
> cropped.
> > > So the point of this whole message...what is the best software to
> > facilitate
> > > cropping a whack of images to 3:2 ratio prior to printing?  More often
> > than
> > > not, I'd like to crop exclusively from the bottom.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance for your help
> > >
> > > Reg Siemens
> > > Winnipeg, Canada
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>