A photo that looks perfect on your phone can print soft on a 20x30 frame. The reason is almost always the file, not the camera.
1. Send the original, not a forward
WhatsApp compresses photos when you send them normally. To keep full quality, send it as a document (Attach → Document → pick the photo), or turn on Settings → Storage and data → Media upload quality → HD.
2. Don't screenshot
A screenshot of a photo has your screen's resolution, usually much lower than the original. Save the image instead.
3. How many pixels do you need?
Printers talk in pixels per inch (PPI). Small frames are viewed up close, so they need more; big frames are seen from across the room.
- Up to 12x15: about 150 PPI for the best result (a 12x15 needs roughly 1800 x 2250 pixels)
- 12x18 to 16x20: about 120 PPI
- 20x24 and larger: about 100 PPI (a 20x30 needs roughly 2000 x 3000 pixels)
Every phone from the last five years shoots well above this. Problems start with forwarded, cropped or downloaded images.
4. Low light and old photos
Dark or old photos can still print well. Our designers clean up noise, fix colours and restore old prints before sending you a preview. Nothing is printed until you approve it.