How to print photos for a scrapbook at the right size
Choose a print size, crop a copy to that shape and check the remaining pixels. At 300 ppi, a 6 by 4-inch print uses 1800 by 1200 pixels. Print a small test set before ordering the rest.
Most printing problems show up after the prints arrive: a head cut off, a soft face or a shine that glares under the page protector. Each is cheaper to catch before you order.
Sketch the page first and list the sizes it needs. Then crop and print every photo for that page in one go, so the colour matches across it.
Make a digital scrapbook
Add your photos and keepsakes in tbf scrapbook, then arrange them on the pages.
| Print size | Pixels (inches x 300) | Shape | Cropped from a 4:3 photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 by 2 inches | 900 by 600 | 3:2 | About 11 percent off the short side |
| 3.5 by 2.5 inches | 1050 by 750 | 7:5 | About 5 percent off the short side |
| 3 by 3 inches | 900 by 900 | Square | A quarter off the long side |
| 4 by 4 inches | 1200 by 1200 | Square | A quarter off the long side |
| 5 by 5 inches | 1500 by 1500 | Square | A quarter off the long side |
| 6 by 4 inches | 1800 by 1200 | 3:2 | About 11 percent off the short side |
| 7 by 5 inches | 2100 by 1500 | 7:5 | About 5 percent off the short side |
| 8 by 6 inches | 2400 by 1800 | 4:3 | Nothing |
| 10 by 8 inches | 3000 by 2400 | 5:4 | About 6 percent off the long side |
| A6, 148 by 105 mm | 1748 by 1240 | About 1.41:1 | About 5 percent off the short side |
| A5, 210 by 148 mm | 2480 by 1748 | About 1.41:1 | About 6 percent off the short side |
Pixels needed: inches times 300
Adobe describes 300 pixels per inch as a standard for high-quality prints. Treat it as a planning target; the lab's specification and a test of the actual file decide what is usable.
To find the largest sharp print a file allows, divide each side in pixels by 300. A 2000 by 1500 file gives about 6.7 by 5 inches.
Screenshots and photos saved from messaging apps are often far smaller than the original. Ask whoever took the photo for the original file.
Crop to the print's shape before upload
If your photo is 4:3 and the print is 3:2, filling the sheet crops the short dimension. Keeping the full photo instead leaves blank bands. Check the preview rather than accepting the default.
Crop it yourself to the exact ratio, so you decide what goes. Check all four edges for heads, feet, hands and writing before saving the copy.
Matte, lustre or gloss
Gloss can show reflections and fingerprints. Compare the actual papers under the page protector you plan to use; finish names and appearance vary between printers.
Matte and lustre read more easily under sleeves and lamps. Use one finish for the whole book so facing pages match.
Home printer or lab
A home inkjet suits odd sizes, a few prints at a time and pages finished the same day. Use photo paper made for that printer's ink and let prints dry fully before mounting them.
A lab suits standard-size batches, but colour can vary with paper and automatic corrections. Order a dark image, a bright one and a face as tests before the full batch.
For sizes a lab does not list, use a 6 by 4 sheet. Lay two 3 by 4-inch portraits, or four 3 by 2-inch photos, on one 1800 by 1200 pixel canvas and cut them apart.
Check pixels after the crop
A 2000 by 1500 file cropped to 3:2 becomes 2000 by about 1333 pixels. Its 300 ppi print is about 6.7 by 4.4 inches; using the uncropped height overstates the available detail.
Steps
List the sizes per page
From the page sketch, write each photo's print size and orientation, such as 6 by 4 landscape or 3 by 4 portrait.
Check pixels and crop
Find the original file, check its pixels against the table and crop to the print's shape. Put the size in the copy's name, such as beach-01-6x4.
Print a test set
Print three photos, one dark, one bright and one close-up of a face, on the finish you plan to use. Look at them under the room's own light.
Print the page set together
Order or print every photo for the page in one batch so the colour matches. Let inkjet prints dry before any adhesive or sleeve touches them.
Questions
What resolution should photos be for scrapbook prints?
Aim for 300 pixels per inch. Multiply each side in inches by 300: a 4 by 4-inch square needs 1200 by 1200 pixels.
Is it cheaper to print scrapbook photos at home or at a lab?
For batches of standard sizes, compare the lab's price per print with your paper and ink cost per sheet. Home printing earns its place for odd sizes and single prints.
Should scrapbook photos be matte or glossy?
Matte or lustre if the pages go into plastic sleeves or get handled a lot, since they show less glare and fewer fingerprints. Gloss suits pages with no cover.