THE STUDIO NOTEBOOK
Five print ratios, explained
A ratio describes a shape, not a physical size. An 8×12-inch print and a 12×18-inch print share the same 2:3 proportions. One sufficiently detailed image can serve both.
| Ratio | FolioKiln's largest preset | Smaller matching sizes |
|---|---|---|
| 2:3 | 12×18 in | 4×6, 8×12 in |
| 3:4 | 12×16 in | 6×8, 9×12 in |
| 4:5 | 8×10 in | 4×5 in |
| 11:14 | 11×14 in | 5.5×7 in |
| ISO A | A4: 210×297 mm | A5: 148×210 mm, approximately |
Crop or keep the whole picture?
Changing proportions requires a choice. Fill mode crops edges so the image covers the frame. Fit mode preserves the image and adds a white border. Neither mode stretches your artwork.
For example, filling an 8×10 frame from a 2:3 portrait removes some of the top and bottom. Reposition the crop to protect a signature, face, or border. If every edge matters, choose fit instead.
What about A-series rounding?
ISO A paper sizes approximate a 1:√2 ratio, with whole-millimeter dimensions. Our preset exports A4 proportions; fitting to A5 may introduce a very small margin because of that rounding.
Before publishing a listing
List the sizes actually included. FolioKiln's current presets stop at the sizes in this table. A 12×18-inch file is not automatically a crisp 24×36-inch file. Check your source resolution and print a proof.