When a customer orders your photo, Fotomoto will automatically notify you via email and let you know if a print-ready file is needed to fulfill the order. For an overview of how Fotomoto works please see How Fotomoto works on your site - no upload needed until a customer orders
Important: we highly recommend that you order test prints to ensure that the final product offered to your customers is of the best-possible quality. We offer test prints at cost - please see How to order prints and products at cost to find out more.
Here are our recommended specifications for print-ready images:
Supported file types
8-bit TIFF or JPEG
LZW compression on TIFF files is recommended to decrease the file size with no loss in quality.
JPEG files should be saved at the highest quality setting.
Resolution
Minimum image resolution: 150 dpi
Recommended image resolution: 300 dpi
See "Suggested Resolution for Wall Peels' below.
Color Profiles
For all print types, we recommend you convert the ICC color profile to either the ICC Adobe RGB (1998) or sRGB color profile, and embed the profile in the image. If no color profiles are attached, our system will automatically print the files as sRGB.
Color Model
RGB files only - CMYK files will not be accepted and will fail to upload properly.
Sizing
Images should be provided at their native size as shot in the camera; we recommend that you not do any resizing yourself, rather let our print partners make any necessary adjustments.
Please be sure to use the original or highest-possible quality version of your image to generate your print files.
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of the high resolution file you upload should always be at the same aspect ratio as the file on your website that was purchased...even if the customer cropped the photo for their order.
Borders
If you want the photo to be printed with a white or other border, add the desired border to the high resolution print file.
Matting (framed prints only)
When your print is matted, the mat will cover approximately 1/16" of each edge of your image. To adjust for this, please make sure any "important" part of the image (such as a digital signature) is at least .25" away from the edge of the image.
Bleed (card products only)
There is a 1/10" (.10 of an inch) bleed on all card products, so this much will be trimmed off each side of your card.
Sharpening
We recommend you apply any desired sharpening to the print-ready image. We do not apply any sharpening filters to your images before they are printed.
Brightness
Images may appear darker when printed than they do on a screen, this is because a computer screen displays projected light while prints reflect light. Sometimes you will make a test print using a consumer grade printer and these will also appear brighter than our prints will. This is because most consumer level printers auto brighten your image before printing, professional printers do not as this changes the color palette. So make sure you account for this darkening when you prepare your images.
Suggested Resolution for Prints
| Print Size | ORIGINAL PHOTO MUST BE |
|---|
| Small (like 6"x8", 6"x9", 6"x12", etc): | At least 1080x1080 (around 1.1 Megapixels) |
| Small to medium (like 8"x10", 8"x12", etc): | At least 1440x1440 (around 2.0 Megapixels) |
| Medium (like 9"x12", 10"x15", etc): | At least 1800x1800 (around 3.1 Megapixels) |
| Medium to large (like 12"x16", 12"x18", etc): | At least 2160x2160 (around 4.4 Megapixels) |
| Large (like 16"x20", 18"x24", 16"x24", etc): | At least 2880x2880 (around 7.9 Megapixels) |
| Very Large (like 20"x20", 20"x25", etc): | At least 3600x3600 (around 12.4 Megapixels) |
| Extra Large (like 24"x30", 24"x36", etc): | At least 4320x4320 (around 17.8 Megapixels) |
| XX Large (like 30"x40", 30"x45", etc): | At least 5400x5400 (around 27.8 Megapixels) |
Suggested Resolution for Wall Peels
To ensure the best-possible quality product for your customers, we recommend that you use high-quality, sharp images. Note that larger print sizes are typically viewed from a distance, so while they may be pixelated when closely-inspected, the presentation may be acceptable when viewed further away.
| Size | Suggested Resolution |
|---|
| 4' and below | At least 1920px |
| 6' and larger | At least 2880px |
If you have any questions not covered above, please contact Fotomoto Support.
