How to choose a photo that prints well

Resolution, lighting, cropping and file types for photo gifts, explained with the print sizes we use.

Photo gifts are printed far larger than a phone screen, so the photo you choose matters more than the product.

The rules that matter

Use the original file. Screenshots and photos downloaded from social media are compressed and print soft.
Even light beats dramatic light. Faces in deep shadow print darker than they look on screen.
Fill the frame. Crop close; a face that fills a third of the photo prints well on a mug or an ornament.
Mind the shape. Ornaments are round or heart-shaped: keep faces near the centre.

Size guide

Ornaments and phone cases are small: almost any recent phone photo works.
Framed prints and framed canvas (11 x 14 and 12 x 16 in) need a sharp original.
Blankets (50 x 60 in and up) and shower curtains need your best, largest original.

How we collect photos

For this preview, your photo stays on your device. When checkout opens, we will send a secure link after your order to collect the full-size file, and production starts once we have it.