• American Writers & Artists Inc.

Quick Tip:
Use the Dime Test for Optimal Photo Sizing

When you incorporate shots of people in your designs, there are times when the subjects need to be recognizable … and times when they don't. For those times when the faces need to be seen, there's an easy test that will tell you if the photo is the right size.

Lay a dime on each face. As long as none of them are smaller than the dime, it's about right; the people in the shot will be recognizable.

But if the activity in the shot (e.g., a cruise ship pulling out of port), or the sheer size of the group (e.g., conference attendees crowding into a popular seminar) is the point of the image, recognizing individuals isn't necessary. And in that case, the faces can be much smaller.

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Published: August 11, 2005

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