Personalised Photo Prints

The short answer: what a personalised photo print is

A personalised photo print is a photo you upload that is made into a print for your wall or as a gift. With a Custom Photo Print, you personalise the design yourself before ordering, with filters, borders and text overlays available. The important choice is the image: a photo that looks good on your phone may not work equally well at a larger printed size.

If you are comparing different types of photo gifts, a personalised photo print is the straightforward option when you already have an image you want to display.

What you can personalise

You can upload your chosen photo and decide how it appears before you order. Filters, borders and text overlays can be applied to the photo, so you can keep the design simple or make it more graphic.

Text works best when it adds useful context rather than competing with the image. A place, date or name can turn a photograph into a more specific gift. You remain in control of the personalisation, including whether to use any of these options at all.

Choosing the photo

The photo that works on a wall is not always the best photograph in your camera roll. Look for an image where faces are clear, the subject fills enough of the frame and the background is not competing for attention.

A photo with one clear subject usually works better than a group shot where everyone is small. A picture people already love on a phone screen can feel thin when it is a foot across, particularly if the main subject occupies only a small part of the image.

Before uploading, ask what the picture is actually about. If it is a person, can you see their expression? If it is a pet, does the animal stand out from the background? If it is a place, is there enough surrounding context to make the scene recognisable without making the subject too small?

Will your photo be big enough?

The usual problem is that the file is smaller than you assume. A screenshot, an image saved from a social media app, a picture forwarded through a messaging app or an older phone photo may have been compressed. Enlarging a compressed image does not put back the detail that was removed, so the print can look soft.

• Use the original file from your camera roll rather than a copy that has been sent and re-saved.
• If the only version available is small, choose a smaller print size. The same file that looks soft at A2 can look fine at A4.
• Zoom in on the face or main subject on your phone. If it already looks mushy there, it is likely to look worse when printed.

There is no need to guess from the photo's appearance alone. Check the image at the point where you expect the important detail to be. If the original is clear and the subject is large enough in the frame, it gives you a better starting point for a larger print.

Crop, orientation and what gets lost

Crop matters as much as image quality. A landscape photo placed in a portrait print has to give something up, and that is often the edge of a group or the context that made the photo meaningful.

Decide what the picture is of before choosing the orientation. A portrait subject may suit a portrait layout, while a wide scene or group may need a landscape view. Check the crop rather than trusting the thumbnail, and make sure a face, person or other important detail is not close to the edge.

Filters, borders and text: when to use them

Use a filter only when it improves the particular photo. Filters can flatten an image as often as they improve it, and a heavy filter can date faster than the photo itself. If the original already has the look you want, leaving it alone may be the better decision.

Borders can help a busy image sit more comfortably in a frame. They give the eye a break when the photograph reaches close to its edges.

Keep text short: a place, date or name is usually enough. Never put words over a face or the main subject. If words are meant to be the point rather than a caption, a design made for words may be a better choice. You could consider a Sound Wave Art Print or The Birthday Times instead of forcing a long message onto a photograph.

Sizes and framing

The available sizes are A4, A3 and A2, with framed options in black or white. Choose the size according to the wall, but let the quality and composition of the file influence the decision too: a smaller, clear photo is preferable to enlarging a soft one. For help matching a print to a frame, see the guide to UK print frame sizes.

How to design yours

1. Choose the design you want.
2. Upload the photo.
3. Apply a filter, border or text overlay if wanted.
4. Check the crop and make sure the important part of the image is clear.
5. Choose A4, A3 or A2, then select black or white framing if required.
6. Order your made-to-order print.

If you want to compare the idea with another type of present, read about choosing a personalised print or photo gift. If you do not have a suitable shared photograph, there are also ideas for a gift when you have no photos together. For an image of a pet, see the available pet portrait prints.

Frequently asked questions

What is a personalised photo print?

It is a print made from a photo you upload, with the option to apply filters, borders and text overlays before ordering.

Will a phone photo be good enough to print?

It can be, if you use the original file and the important subject is clear and large enough. A compressed copy, screenshot or older image may look soft when enlarged.

Can I add text to a photo print?

Yes. Text overlays can be added before ordering. Keep the wording short and do not place it over a face or the main subject.

Is a photo print a good gift?

Yes, when you have a clear photo that the recipient will recognise and enjoy. If the image is small, crowded or heavily compressed, choose a smaller size or consider a different personalised design.