Which print size should you choose for a restored photo?
The right size mostly depends on one number: how many pixels the restored photo has on its short side. Allow roughly 200 dots per inch for a sharp print. Here are the figures for every format Souvenotte offers, with prices.
How do you know if a photo is big enough for a print size?
Compare the photo's short side in pixels with the print's short side: you need about 200 pixels per inch (2.54 cm) for a sharp result. A print 10 cm wide therefore needs about 790 pixels.
You do not have to work it out: Souvenotte's Studio checks the restored photo and warns you when it is a little small for the chosen size. You can then pick a smaller size, or combine several photos in one product.
What sizes and prices does Souvenotte offer?
Seven products, from a 10×15 cm print at €1.90 to a large 40×50 cm frame at €79, VAT included, with the HD file of the printed photos thrown in. The table also gives the suggested minimum on the short side, worked out at 200 dpi.
For frames, the white mount slightly reduces the visible area of the photo, so these minimums leave a safe margin. In a collage each photo fills only part of the product and needs fewer pixels. Sizes are metric; 10×15 cm is close to the familiar 6×4 inch print.
| Product | Price | Photos | Minimum short side (~200 dpi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo print 10×15 cm | €1.90 | 1 | about 790 px |
| Sticker 14×14 cm (round or rounded square) | €6.90 | 1 | about 1,100 px |
| Fine art print 20×25 cm, 200 g matte paper | €19.90 | 1 | about 1,600 px |
| Small frame 20×25 cm | €35 | up to 4 | about 1,600 px for a single photo |
| Classic frame 28×35 cm | €55 | up to 6 | about 2,200 px for a single photo |
| Canvas 30×40 cm | €59 | up to 9 | about 2,400 px for a single photo |
| Large frame 40×50 cm | €79 | up to 9 | about 3,150 px for a single photo |
How big is a photo after restoration?
It is enlarged 2×, up to 3,200 pixels on the long side. A large image is first brought down to 1,600 pixels and then doubled; a small one is simply doubled.
For a standard 3:2 photo, the maximum result is therefore about 2,100 pixels on the short side: enough for 20×25 cm and, roughly, for 28×35 cm. For a single photo at 40×50 cm it falls below 200 dpi; the Studio will flag it, and a collage of several photos suits that size better.
What size suits a very small photo?
Stick to a 10×15 cm print or a sticker if the starting image is small. A passport photo scanned at 400 pixels wide comes out at about 800 after restoration: perfect for 10×15 cm, too tight for 20×25 cm.
The scan is your best lever: scanning a small photo at 600 dpi or more, as is common practice, gives you many more pixels to start with. See enlarging a small old photo and what resolution to scan at.
Photo print, fine art print or canvas: what is the difference?
The 10×15 cm print is the album size, inexpensive and ideal for giving one to every branch of the family. The 20×25 cm fine art print on 200 g matte paper has a softer, glare-free finish that suits old portraits well.
The 30×40 cm canvas hangs without glass or frame and can hold up to 9 photos. To choose between frames, read framing an old photo.
Can automatic cropping cut off a face?
Automatic framing centres on the faces it finds, which usually avoids cutting off a head when the photo's proportions differ from the print's. You can always adjust it by hand.
In the Studio, drag and zoom the photo, switch orientation, add a white margin or a polaroid border. The preview you see is the file that will be printed, apart from the watermark.
How much is delivery?
Tracked standard delivery is €4.90, free from €39; express is €12.90. Allow 6 to 10 days for standard and 4 to 7 days for express, production included, by a partner print studio in Europe.
Souvenotte ships to Ireland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Austria, in a plain parcel; the UK and US are not on the list. Order early for an occasion such as a gift for grandparents.
Frequently asked questions
What if my photo is too small?
The Studio warns you when the photo's short side falls below about 200 dpi for the chosen size. Pick a smaller size or combine several photos.
Is the HD file included with a print?
Yes. The watermark-free HD version of the printed photos is included in the product price.
What if the print arrives damaged?
Report it from your orders page with photos within 14 days: it is reprinted free of charge or refunded.