What is the difference between the 'Original' and 'Classic' format?
Original
You can choose to print on paper which has the same aspect ratio of 3:4 as your camera's screen but this means you will not
be printing on the standard paper sizes you are used to: 10x15 becomes 10x13 etc.
Classic
Choose the standard paper size format if you would like your image to fit into an ordinary photo frame, however the image will
be cropped (cut) to fit this size and you may lose some of your image. You will find the same process is true no matter who
develops yours photos.
Can I also send my photos on a CD?
Yes, that's possible using the ALDI Print Software. Please only send us CDs that you have compiled using ALDI software. We regret
that we cannot process CDs that have been compiled using other programs.
Download the ALDI Print Software free from
www.ALDIphotos.co.uk and install it on your PC. ALDI Photo Manager also includes order
software that you can use to order photos online or on a CD. Compile your order after registering and burn it onto a CD.
Send the burnt CD in a postage paid envelope to:
ALDI Photo Service
POBOX3278
Warwick
CV34 6YJ
Why do I get such an "unusual" format like 10,2 x 13,5 cm?
Digital photos are usually made in standard computer format (e.g. 1024 x 768 pixels). This means that the classic height-width ratio of
2:3 is possible without loss of image. In order to avoid this loss of image, all of the file information is printed in all
laboratories in the original height-width ratio 3:4. If nevertheless you want the popular standard format (e.g. 4" x 6") you have to
decide yourself the exact part of your photo that you want to have printed. The red rectangle shows you which part of the image will
be able to be seen on your photo.
To do so you should proceed as follows:
- In the software "ALDI Online Service" the option "image extract 2:3" must be activated. This function allows you to zoom in
closer to a photo if required.
- If you are working without software you can activate this selection during your order using the symbol with the scissors.
Payment/Upload Screen does not open.
Our website requires the JAVA application to be installed and enabled on your Internet web browser. Please ensure you have installed
this application so you will be able to successfully upload images and enter your payment details.
The latest JAVA application can be installed from this weblink:
http://www.java.com/en/
Once you have installed this please restart your computer system and try again.
Over projection
When sending photos to print please be aware that your photo will be enlarged by about 3% before being
cropped back to size. This is in order to avoid having any white area around the photo. Please keep this in
mind when adding any signatures, text in margins or making tight cropped amendments to your photos.
Required bleed area is approx. 1.5% for photos and approx. 3% for posters.
So for important images or text fragments you should leave around 0.4" space between the edge and the picture or text.
Why are there white edges on my prints?
Photos that you order via the ALDI Online Service without using the "cut out" option are adjusted to match the paper format in
accordance with the height-width ratio of the original file (3:4 or 2:3 depending on the camera used). Then the shorter side
of your photo corresponds to the nominal width of the coloured paper (9cm corresponds to 8.9cm, 10cm equals 10.2cm and 13cm equals
12.7cm). This means that there are no white edges. However if you edit your photos so that the height-width ratio of the files is
greater than 9:16, the file will be adapted for reasons of production technology so that white edges will appear above and below.
Which resolutions are recommended so that digital images are of optimum quality?
For good quality photo prints the following resolutions (digital camera) are required approximately:
Format 9 x 13 cm (approx 3.5" x 5.1") approx. 1 mega pixel
Format 10 x 15 cm (approx 4" x 6.0") approx. 2 mega pixel
Format 13 x 18 cm (approx 5.1" x 7.0") approx. 2 mega pixel
Format 20 x 30 cm (approx 8" x 11.8") approx. 2 mega pixel
Format 30 x 40-45 cm (approx. 12" x 18") approx. 3 mega pixel
Format 50 x 70-75 cm (approx 20" x 30") approx. 5 mega pixel
A resolution of 300dpi is enough to achieve the best photo quality. Digital files from scanners must be created with 300dpi.
When saving photos it is best to use the easily compressed JPEG format.
Please only use JPEG graphics with RGB colours (usually set as standard)
Do not save image files using the "progressive" option or in several phases.
Can I print panoramic copies?
It is possible to print in panoramic format however, as the maximum length of a print is limited to the lengths of our standard
print sizes, in reality printing in panorama format means reducing the height of the image significantly in order to fit the print area.
Why do photo images have different file sizes?
The file size of the photos depends on the resolution setting of your camera. Different pixel values are possible depending on
the digital camera used. If using a 1 mega pixel camera, photo format will be around 1024 x 768. That's considerably smaller than with
4 or 5 mega pixel cameras where the resolution is approx. 2240 x 1680 and nearly twice as much data can be generated per photo. This
means that the time it takes to upload the photos can be different because photos with lower resolutions have less data and can therefore
be sent more quickly. The following applies in all cases: the higher the resolution, the better the picture quality.
What size will my photo be?
When you place your order you will have different options for the photo format.
With the "Classic" option you will receive the complete files in specified height-width ratio within the following boundaries:
Format approx. 9 x 13 cm (approx 3.5" x 5.1")
Format approx. 10 x 15 cm (approx 4" x 6.0")
Format approx. 13 x 18 cm (approx 5.1" x 7.0")
Format approx. 20 x 30 cm (approx 8" x 11.8")
Format approx. 30 x 40-45 cm (approx. 12" x 18")
Format approx. 50 x 70-75 cm (approx 20" x 30")
The software also offers you the opportunity to choose between two height-width ratios and so to determine the display window of the photo
that you want to have printed.
Choose the options "Display window 2:3" (photo in height-width ratio of 2:3, so e.g. 4" x 6") or "display window 3:4" (photo in digital
form in height-width ratio 3:4, e.g. 3.75" x 5").
If you don't select any options here you will still receive photos without loss of picture in this height-width ratio, i.e. 9 x 12cm,
3.75" x 5" or 5.1" x 6.7", for digital cameras with a recording chip with a height-width ratio of 3:4.
Why are my photo prints smaller than what I originally ordered?
Digital photos are usually made in standard computer format (e.g. 1024 x 768 pixels). This means that the classic height-width
ratio of 2:3 is possible without loss of image. In order to avoid this loss of image, all of the file information is printed in all
laboratories in the original height-width ratio 3:4. If nevertheless you want the popular standard format (4" x 6") you have to decide
yourself the exact part of your photo that you want to have printed. The red rectangle shows you which part of the image will be
able to be seen on your photo.
To do so you should proceed as follows:
- When using the ALDI Photo service software, the option "image extract 2:3" must be activated. This function allows you to
zoom in closer to a photo if required.
- If you are working without software you can activate this selection during your order using the symbol with the scissors.
Can you print a digital photo as a poster?
We print your posters in the following formats:
- Format 30 x 40-45 cm (approx. 12" x 18")
- Format 50 x 70-75 cm (approx 20" x 30")