How to Print Your Photos
You bought the photo — now let's get it printed and on your wall. Follow the five steps below, from downloading your file to picking the right size and paper. At the bottom, you'll find a few extra tips on framing, hanging, and taking care of your print.
Last updated: August 5, 2026
Why should I buy a digital download instead of ordering prints directly?
You get the full-resolution file with no watermark and no print markup. That means you choose the lab, the size, and the paper — and you pay for printing once, not twice. I recommend Nations Photo Lab for true color and good paper choices (I earn a small fee if you use them), but your file works anywhere.
Beyond the wall: photo books, greeting cards, phone and desktop backgrounds, album covers, gifts. My hope is simple — more art in more hands, at a price that makes that possible.
How do I download my photo after purchase?
Grab the full-size file from your order.
Once your purchase is done, download links show up right on the confirmation page. We also send them to your email, just in case. Each link gives you the full-size photo with no watermark — that's the file a print shop needs.
- →Click the download button on the confirmation page, or open the link in your email.
- →Save the file to a computer, not just your phone. Computers keep the full picture quality and make uploading to a print shop much easier.
- →Don't edit or resize this original file. Keep one clean copy saved somewhere safe, so you can always print it again later, even at a different size.
How do I choose a print shop for my digital photo?
Pick a place to print it. I recommend Nations Photo Lab, but the choice is yours.
Each shop prints your photo and mails it to you. The pro labs — Mpix, Nations, Bay Photo, and WHCC — usually have better paper choices and truer colors. Snapfish and Shutterfly are good if you just want something fast and affordable, like a gift.
I'm partnered with Nations Photo Lab and earn a small fee when you print through them. But it's your file to use however you like — print with them, use a lab you already trust, or even print it at home.
Visit Nations Photo LabMpix
Great prints for everyone
Our top pick — good paper, true colors, and fast shipping
Nations Photo Lab
Trusted by working photographers
Accurate colors and lots of paper choices
Bay Photo Lab
Pro lab & wall art
Great for metal prints and fancy wall mounts
White House Custom Colour
Premium pro lab
Fine art paper and gallery-style prints
Snapfish
Fast, cheap everyday prints
Good for small prints, gifts, and quick orders
Shutterfly
Prints, photo books & gifts
Easy to use for standard prints and personal gifts
How do I prepare my photo file and pick the right print size?
Check your file, then tell the lab how big to print it.
On the print shop's website, create an account or start a guest order. Then upload the photo file you downloaded in Step 1. Before you upload, run through this quick checklist so your print comes out sharp and true to color.
- →Resolution: Aim for at least 300 DPI (dots per inch — a measure of how sharp the print will look) at the size you're printing. Lower than that, and your photo may look soft or blocky once it's enlarged.
- →Color Space: sRGB is the safest choice for almost every lab. If your file is set to Adobe RGB or ProPhoto, switch it to sRGB first — otherwise your colors could turn out dull or off.
- →File Format: A high-quality JPEG works everywhere. Some pro labs also accept TIFF files if you want the absolute best quality, though it usually is not necessary.
- →Aspect Ratio: Match your photo's shape to the print size you choose. If it doesn't match, crop it yourself first — otherwise the lab will crop it for you, and you could lose part of the picture you wanted.
Good news: the file you downloaded from us is already a high-resolution JPEG in sRGB, so the first three are already covered. Just double check the aspect ratio matches the size you're ordering.
Not sure what size to pick? A simple rule of thumb: 8×10" for a desk or small wall, 16×20" for a statement piece, and 24×36" when you want the photo to take over the room.
Before you order, grab a tape measure and check the wall space or frame you're printing for. It's the easiest way to avoid a print that's the wrong size for the spot.
These pixel counts are based on 300 DPI, the standard for sharp, professional prints. Your downloaded file already meets or beats these numbers.
What paper finish should I choose for my photo print?
The paper you pick changes how the whole photo feels.
After you pick a size, the lab will ask you to choose a paper or finish. Shiny finishes make colors pop but can glare under bright light. Flat, matte finishes calm things down and cut the glare, but colors read a little softer. Here's what each option is good for, and which kinds of photos suit it best.
Want to see and compare each finish for yourself? Nations Photo Lab has a paper guide with photos of each finish side by side.
Read the Paper GuideGlossy
Shiny and reflective, which makes colors bright and adds a lot of contrast. Great for bold, colorful photos — but it can glare under strong light or camera flash.
Matte
Flat, with no shine at all. It cuts glare and hides fingerprints, and gives photos a quiet, elegant look — though colors read a little softer than glossy. A strong match for black & white.
Lustre
A light sheen — not flat, not shiny. It's the safe, all-purpose pick most photographers reach for when they're not sure which finish to choose.
Metallic
Has a pearly glow that makes colors look deep and almost three-dimensional. Bold and eye-catching, though it can feel too flashy for soft or black & white images.
Fine Art / Baryta
A thick, textured cotton paper used for museum-quality prints. Deep blacks and rich detail that hold up for decades without fading.
Canvas
A fabric-like texture stretched over a frame — no glass and no separate frame needed. The texture can soften very fine detail, so it works best with bolder images.
What should I check before placing my print order?
One last look before your order ships.
Most labs show you a preview or proof before you pay. Take a second look and check three things:
- →The photo isn't cropped in a way you don't like.
- →The colors and brightness look right — not washed out, not too dark.
- →The size, paper, and quantity all match what you meant to order.
Then pick a shipping speed. Standard shipping costs less but takes longer; rush shipping costs more and arrives faster. If the print is a gift or tied to a date — a birthday, a holiday, an event — order it early. Printing and shipping together almost always take longer than people expect, and rush options aren't offered by every lab.
What else should I know about framing, hanging, and caring for my print?
A few more tips for a print you'll love, once your order is placed.
Use acid-free mats and UV-protective glass for framing. Measure wall space before choosing a size. Keep prints out of direct sunlight to prevent fading. A few smaller prints grouped together on one wall can look just as good as one big piece.
How do I frame and mat my photo print?
A mat is the cardboard border inside a frame, between the print and the glass. It gives the photo room to breathe and keeps it from touching the glass. Look for acid-free or archival mats — regular cardboard can turn yellow over time. Wood frames feel warm and classic; metal frames feel clean and modern.
Matting
A mat is the cardboard border inside a frame, between the print and the glass. It gives the photo room to breathe and keeps it from touching the glass. Look for 'acid-free' or 'archival' mats — regular cardboard can turn yellow over time.
Glass Options
Regular glass is fine for most rooms. If the print will hang somewhere sunny, look for UV-protective or museum glass — it blocks fading and cuts down on glare.
Frame Material
Wood frames feel warm and classic. Metal frames feel clean and modern. Pick whichever one matches your photo's mood and the room it's going in.
Float Mounting
Canvas and metal prints don't need a frame at all. A float mount or hanging wire gives them a clean, modern look straight off the wall.
How do I pick the right print size for my wall?
A print should fill about a third to half of the wall space it is on, especially if it is the only piece hanging there. Measure the wall or frame space with a tape measure before you order. If you are stuck between two sizes, size up — a little too big usually looks like a choice; a little too small can look like a mistake.
- ✓The farther back people stand, the bigger the print can be. A photo on a desk should be small; one across a living room can be much larger.
- ✓A simple rule of thumb: a print should fill about a third to half of the wall space it's on, especially if it's the only piece hanging there.
- ✓Measure the wall or frame space with a tape measure before you order. It's the easiest way to avoid a print that doesn't fit.
- ✓Stuck between two sizes? Size up. A little too big usually looks like a choice; a little too small can look like a mistake.
How do I hang and care for my print long-term?
Keep prints out of direct sunlight — sunlight fades photos over time, even through a window. Dust frames gently with a soft, dry cloth. Use real wall anchors for bigger frames, not just a nail. Let canvas prints sit slightly away from the wall so they can breathe.
- ✓Keep prints out of direct sunlight — sunlight fades photos over time, even through a window.
- ✓Skip humid rooms like bathrooms for paper prints. Canvas handles moisture a little better.
- ✓Dust frames gently with a soft, dry cloth. Never spray cleaner straight onto the glass — spray the cloth instead.
- ✓Use real wall anchors for bigger frames, not just a nail. Two hooks spread the weight out evenly.
- ✓Let canvas prints sit slightly away from the wall so they can breathe — avoid pressing them flush against it.
- ✓A few smaller prints grouped together on one wall can look just as good as one big piece.