Photo Tips: Choose a Photo for a Large Print

A photo that looks perfect on a phone screen can look quite different once it is printed at 50 x 70 cm. A large format reveals every detail, good or bad. These few tips will help you choose and prepare a photo that does justice to your memory.

Resolution: how many pixels for which size?

For a sharp print, aim for around 200 dpi at the final size; 150 dpi is still acceptable, below that the image starts to look soft or grainy. Here is what that means in pixels for each of our sizes:

15 x 20 cm: 1181 x 1575 px recommended (minimum about 886 x 1181 px)
21 x 30 cm: 1654 x 2362 px recommended (minimum about 1240 x 1772 px)
30 x 40 cm: 2362 x 3150 px recommended (minimum about 1772 x 2362 px)
40 x 50 cm: 3150 x 3937 px recommended (minimum about 2362 x 2953 px)
45 x 60 cm: 3543 x 4724 px recommended (minimum about 2657 x 3543 px)
50 x 70 cm: 3937 x 5512 px recommended (minimum about 2953 x 4134 px)
60 x 80 cm: 4724 x 6299 px recommended (minimum about 3543 x 4724 px)
70 x 100 cm: 5512 x 7874 px recommended (minimum about 4134 x 5906 px)

To find the size of your photo: on a computer, look at the file's properties or information; on a smartphone, swipe up on the photo or open its details in the gallery. Photos from recent smartphones are usually fine up to 50 x 70 cm. For the largest sizes, use a high-resolution photo or a camera.

Always use the original file

Avoid screenshots: they only keep the resolution of your screen, far less than the original photo.
Avoid photos received through messaging apps or downloaded from social networks: they are heavily compressed. Ask the person who took the photo to send you the original file, by email or through a file-sharing service.
Avoid digital zoom and heavy cropping: enlarging a small part of a photo multiplies its flaws. Move closer to your subject instead.

Light and sharpness

Choose a photo taken in good light, ideally natural daylight. Dark photos often become grainy when enlarged.
Check the sharpness by zooming in on the faces or the main subject: if it is blurred at 100 %, it will be blurred on paper.
Strong filters and heavy retouching tend to stand out more in a large print. A natural photo usually ages better on a wall.

Cropping and orientation

All our posters are portrait. A vertical photo will fit naturally; a horizontal photo will be cropped on the sides, so make sure your subject sits near the centre. Leave a little space around faces and important details, so that the crop never cuts through a head or a hand. The live preview shows you the exact crop before you order: take the time to check it.

Old paper photos: scan rather than photograph

To print a family photo or an old print, a scan gives far better results than a photo taken with a phone, which adds reflections, distortion and shadows. Scan at a high resolution (at least 600 dpi for a small print), and clean the glass and the photo gently with a soft cloth beforehand. A small original can only be enlarged so far: a scanned 10 x 15 cm print will be at its best in the smaller sizes.

Choosing the paper

Matte paper suits soft and textured images and black and white photos; semi-gloss brings out vivid colours and deep contrast. More on our print quality page.

Ready? Browse our photo posters or see how it works. If you are unsure about a photo, write to us at [email protected].