Personalised photo poster: size, resolution, display
There’s that photo you took one summer’s evening, when the sky was turning orange and you thought to yourself that this moment would never come again. Ever since, it’s been gathering dust in your photo gallery, tucked away between a screenshot and a photo of a receipt.
Well, a personalised poster can finally do it justice. There are simply three things to sort out. Choose the right size, check that the image remains sharp in large format, and decide how to display it in your home. Let’s look at these three points in order, without any technical jargon, using this photo as our guide.
What format should you choose for your personalised poster?
You’ve chosen your photo and it’s ready, all that’s left is to find the right spot for it. A poster that’s too small gets lost on a large wall, whilst one that’s too big overwhelms a small room. Three factors really matter here: orientation, size and budget.
Portrait, landscape or square, how do you choose the orientation of your photo?
Look at your image as it was taken. If you were holding your phone or camera vertically, the portrait format is the obvious choice. It shows off a silhouette, a monument or a tree in short, anything that stretches upwards.
Our sunset, on the other hand, has a wide horizon. The landscape format gives it room to breathe and the sky retains its full expanse.
The square format is a little different; it’s more understated. It’s ideal for well-centred photos, dishes viewed from above or highly graphic images. It also blends effortlessly into a series of several frames.
Of course, you can always crop the image, but every adjustment removes a piece of the scene. It’s better to choose the orientation that respects the original image. Once that’s sorted, the rest becomes much simpler.
Which poster size for which room?
The right size depends on the wall and the distance from which you’ll be viewing the image. The further away you are, the larger the poster can be. It’s a bit like choosing a television.
Compact and square sizes, such as 20x20 cm or 30x30 cm, are ideal for a hall, an office or a corridor. As mentioned above, they’re also perfect for wall displays. Three or four posters lined up side by side can tell a whole story a journey, for example.
A3 (29x42 cm) and A2 (42x59 cm) are the most versatile. They can be placed on a chest of drawers or above a desk without necessarily taking up too much space.
For a living room or bedroom, you might opt for the A1 (59x84 cm), 60x90 cm or 70x100 cm sizes. The photograph then becomes the focal point of the room. And if you have a large, uncluttered wall, the A0 (84x118 cm) won’t go unnoticed, though of course it all depends on the photo you want to showcase.
One last tip before you choose. Cut a piece of card to the size you’re considering and tape it to the wall for a day. You’ll soon know whether the size suits you.
How much does a personalised photo poster cost?
The price of a personalised photo poster starts at £5.24 at AgfaPhoto Print. This is the entry-level price for the smallest sizes. The price then rises gradually with size, which makes sense as more paper and ink are required.
The cost also varies depending on the number of copies and your choice of frame. A framed poster, on the other hand, starts at £26.39, as the wooden frame is included in the price. Standard delivery is free on orders of £50 or more. This might help you decide if you’re unsure about ordering several posters for a wall display.
Set your budget before choosing the size. This will help you avoid being tempted by a size that exceeds what you’d planned.
Resolution and design: how to create the perfect personalised photo poster?
Our sunset photo has found its format. Now we need to make sure it will hold up once enlarged. This is where resolution comes into play. Next, you’ll move on to the design stage, whether using an online editor or putting your poster together yourself.
What resolution is needed for a sharp poster, even in large format?
Note that resolution is measured in pixels. The more pixels your image contains, the better it will cope with enlargement. Be careful: a photo that’s too low-resolution, stretched across a large wall, will become blurry and pixelated.
As a general rule, a recent smartphone or camera is more than enough for a medium-sized poster. For a very large format, it’s best to start with the highest-resolution image possible.
In reality, the starting point is the original file. A photo received via email or downloaded from a social media platform has almost always been compressed. It has lost detail in the process. Instead, find the original on your phone or camera.
To check its file size, right-click on the file from your computer and open its properties. You’ll probably see the dimensions in pixels there. Then compare these with your target size, the larger the poster, the more pixels you’ll need.
There’s one final step to take. Zoom in to 100 per cent on important areas of the image, such as a face or an architectural detail. If everything looks sharp on screen, it will look sharp in print too.
How do you make a personalised poster?
Once the photo is ready, everything is done in the online editor, such as AgfaPhoto Print’s. The process is simple and requires no image editing skills.
First, choose the orientation and format. Then import your image from your computer or mobile phone. It will appear on the poster straight away. Next, choose the framing. You can move the photo around, zoom in and decide what should remain in the frame.
Next comes the creative part. You can add text, such as a place, a date or a phrase that reflects who you are. Effects are also available to change the mood of the image. Try out several versions before finalising, that’s what the preview is for.
If you’ve added a bit of text, as you have the option to do, remember to read it aloud. A typo on a large poster is immediately noticeable and will be hard to ignore once it’s hung up.
How do you make your own poster?
Creating your own poster is, above all, a matter of choice. There are a few simple tips to bear in mind, though.
Start, of course, with the photo. Choose an image with a clear subject and good lighting. Dark or overly busy photos lose their clarity when printed in a large format.
It’s something people rarely think about, but do bear the margins in mind. Leave a bit of space around the important elements. If you’re planning to use a frame, part of the edge may be hidden. So avoid placing a face or text right at the edge of the image.
Can’t decide between several memories? Well, a collage solves the problem. Bring together four or five photos from the same trip on a single poster. Keep the colours harmonious so that the whole thing looks cohesive.
Finally, bear in mind that a caption can add a personal touch. A place name, GPS coordinates, the date of a special occasion or just three words will do. Under our sunset, that alone would tell the whole story of the evening.
Where can you make a photo poster and how do you hang it up?
Your sunset is ready, cropped and captioned. There are just two more steps before it leaves the screen. Find someone to print it to a high standard, then find the right spot for it on the wall. Both have a greater impact on the final result than you might think.
Where can you have a poster made from a photo?
The simplest solution is online printing. At AgfaPhoto Print, you upload your image, customise your poster in the editor, then confirm your order. Your order is delivered to your door, so there’s no need to go anywhere.
If a traditional poster doesn’t appeal to you, there are other options available. A photo on canvas gives a textured, almost painterly finish. A photo on aluminium has a modern feel; it’s sturdy and withstands humidity well. A photo on plexiglass adds depth to the colours. Each option changes the atmosphere of the room, so first consider where your image will be displayed.
Framed photo poster: the ‘ready-to-display’ option
Some customers prefer not to have to pop down to a framer. The framed photo poster saves them this step. It arrives with its wooden frame, which you can choose in black, white or natural wood. Black adds contrast to a bright image, white lightens a bright room, and the natural finish warms up an interior with wooden features or soft tones.
The frame can also act as a protective shield. It protects the print from dust and handling, thereby extending its lifespan. You can even place it on a shelf or a chest of drawers without having to drill into the wall.
Sizes range from 20x30 cm to 70x100 cm. This variety allows you to create a wall of framed pictures. Mix up the orientations, stick to the same frame colour, and the whole display will look carefully thought out. Our sunset could take pride of place in the centre, surrounded by smaller prints that tell the rest of the story of the journey.
How do you hang a poster without damaging the wall?
The method of hanging depends on what you’ve chosen. With a framed photo poster, a hook or a nail is sufficient. Make sure you use a fixing suitable for the weight and type of wall, especially for large formats.
A standard poster, on the other hand, offers more flexibility. You can put it in a frame you already have, or hang it directly. Its smooth, matt finish minimises glare, even in a very bright room. Clips give a more relaxed look, which is very on-trend in an office or bedroom. Simply clip the top and bottom of the poster, then hang the whole thing on a nail.
For stress-free alignment, use masking tape. Stick a piece over the nail and mark the position on it. You’ll be able to remove the tape without leaving a trace. A spirit level, even one from a phone app helps prevent frames from hanging crookedly.
And for a series of frames, first lay them out on the floor in the order you want. Then measure the spacing about five centimetres between each one and transfer the layout to the wall.
What if your favourite photo finally found its place in your home?
Back to our sunset. Now, it’s no longer wedged between two screenshots. It’s found its orientation, size and frame, and now brightens up a section of wall you pass every day.
It all comes down to this. The right size, a crisp, clear image and careful hanging are all it takes to transform a simple memory into a real piece of décor. So open your gallery, choose the photo that makes you smile and start creating your personalised poster on AgfaPhoto Print. Your memories deserve better than to be left waiting on a phone.