Printing Your Portrait
Your portrait arrives as a digital file by email, not a print. Here is how to get a good print from it.
What resolution do you need for each size?
Print quality depends on pixel dimensions matching the size you are printing at. The standard for a sharp print is 300 pixels per inch (300dpi). Here is what that means for common UK sizes:
| Print size | Dimensions | Pixels needed at 300dpi |
|---|---|---|
| 8 × 10 in | 20.3 × 25.4 cm | 2400 × 3000 px |
| A4 | 21.0 × 29.7 cm | 2481 × 3508 px |
| 12 × 16 in | 30.5 × 40.6 cm | 3600 × 4800 px |
| A3 | 29.7 × 42.0 cm | 3508 × 4961 px |
| A2 | 42.0 × 59.4 cm | 4961 × 7016 px |
Check your file's pixel dimensions before you order a print — most photo software and print-ordering sites show this. If your file is smaller than the target size needs, either print smaller or accept some softening at the larger size.
Three ways to print it
At home
Fine for smaller sizes if your printer takes photo paper and has decent ink. Home inkjet results vary a lot by printer and paper — test a small area first if you can.
A high-street photo counter
Supermarkets and pharmacies with a photo desk can print from a file on a USB stick, an SD card, or emailed to yourself and opened in store. Good for straightforward prints at standard sizes.
An online print service
Upload the file and choose your size, paper and frame. Worth comparing a couple of services, since paper quality and colour accuracy vary. We do not have a preferred supplier to recommend — any reputable UK print service will do.
Paper choice
A matte or lightly textured fine-art paper generally suits a portrait better than a high-gloss photo paper, which can throw reflections and glare, especially once framed behind glass. If you are choosing between paper weights, heavier stock (usually 200gsm or more) feels more substantial and lies flatter once framed.
Borders vs full-bleed
A small white border makes it easier to mat and frame neatly and forgives slight trimming differences between print services. A full-bleed print, with the image right to the edge, looks cleaner but needs to be trimmed exactly to the frame or mount size.
Do not enlarge past your file's limit
Pushing a file well beyond its natural resolution — printing a phone-photo-sized file at A2, for example — will look soft no matter how good the print service is. If you want a large print, check the table above first, and choose a size the file actually supports.