Frequently Asked Questions
Creating and uploading images to PrinterStudio
- What is pixel?
- How do I know the pixel of my image?
- What are the supported file types?
- Can I use Black and White images or Sepia ("old-fashioned") images?
- What is the preferred image quality or resolution for uploaded images?
- How can I submit my images?
- How do I scan my images properly?
- Are there images that do not reproduce well?
- What are the minimum image size requirements for your heart puzzle?
- How can I save my photo(s) or image(s) or design(s) or artwork(s) at my photo library or album at your site?
- How can I get my saved image(s) in 'my library' at your site?
- How can I save my project at your site?
- Why do I see a grey and a white border at the upload image page of custom cards or playing cards?
- What is the safe area for ensuring my design is not cut off and what is your full upload specification on bleeding area?
- Why can't I resize my uploaded image?
- How can I get images from my Facebook account to your site?
- Do you print images of celebrities or famous characters?
- What are the tips for choosing good photos to create my animated cards?
- How can I get photos from my Instagram account to your site?
- The preview image on your builder looks pixelated, will my order turn out that way?
- What content is acceptable for designs on PrinterStudio?
- What are the image resolution guides for each product?
- How to upload image(s) of your Etsy order to us?
Q. What is pixel?
A. Pixel is the basic unit of measurement of every digital image and the number of pixels in a digital image is sometimes called the resolution. A high-resolution image will result in a better quality in print than a low-resolution image. The higher the resolution your photo is, the clearer your photo will reproduce on your gift. If the image resolution is too low, your printed item may look blurred.
Q. How do I know the pixel of my image?
- A. Windows users: Right click your file, select "Properties" and look under "Details"
- Mac users: Right click your file and select "Get Info"
- Photoshop, choose "Image" and then "Image Size"
Q. What are the supported file types?
A. There are 5 basic file types you can use for your personalized gifts: .jpg, .bmp, .tif, .png, and .gif.
Q. Can I use Black and White images or Sepia ("old-fashioned") images?
A. Yes & they can give your personalized gifts a "timeless" feel that will give them a special feeling to you many years from now. Feel free to use even just designs your kids have drawn using Paint or some other computer-graphics program.
Q. What is the preferred image quality or resolution for uploaded images?
A. What looks good on your screen will not necessarily look good printed. The preferred image resolution depends on the size the image will be printed on your personalized item. We will display a message if you select an image we feel may not have a high enough resolution to look good. For best results, please check our Instructions for the item you are creating to make sure that your image meets the recommended size.
Q. How can I submit my images?
A. You can upload your images via the upload feature that is located in the product you are ordering. If you do not have a digital image and need to have an image scanned, then please see below for scanning instructions.
Q. How do I scan my images properly?
A. Checklists:
- Wipe your scanner to ensure that all the dust and particles are removed.
- Scan original image, and not a copy.
- Glossy photos do scan the best.
- Must be scanned at 300 dpi
Q. Are there images that do not reproduce well?
A. The following is a list of images that generally DO NOT reproduce well:
- Images that appear out-of-focus or blurred
- Images with severe exposure issues (too dark or too light)
- Images that have been previously altered or cropped
- Images that have been improperly scanned
- Images shared/stored on web sites
- Images sent back and forth via email
- Cell-phone images (not suitable at all)
Q. What are the minimum image size requirements for your heart puzzle?
A. Please use image(s) with a minimum of 1350 x 1087 pixels.
Q. How can I save my photo(s) or image(s) or design(s) or artwork(s) at my photo library or album at your site?
A. After you have uploaded your photo(s) or image(s) or design(s) or artwork(s), please click on
button at the top or bottom of the page to save them in your photo library.
Click the following PDF file to view a demonstration: Save to photo library
You will need Adobe Reader to view the above PDF file. Download here if required »
Q. How can I get my saved image(s) in 'my library' at your site?
A. You can click on the
button on the right side of our online builder to get image(s) you saved in your library.
Click the following PDF file to view a demonstration:Get image in my photo library
You will need Adobe Reader to view the above PDF file. Download here if required »
Q. How can I save my project at your site?
A. You can save your incomplete project and return to our site to work on it later by click on the "save" button
at the top or bottom of the page. You may enter a project name or use our default project name by project created date and time for future reference.
For more information, please click the following PDF file: Save project
You will need Adobe Reader to view the above PDF file. Download here if required »
Q. Why do I see a grey and a white border at the upload image page of custom cards or playing cards?
A. The grey border is just for better website presentation on card thickness and the white border is the bleeding area of the cards for production. They will not appear on the finished decks.
For more information, please click the following PDF file: Cardborder
You will need Adobe Reader to view the above PDF file. Download here if required »
Q. What is the safe area for ensuring my design is not cut off and what is your full upload specification on bleeding area?
A. The Safe Area is highlighted with a red dotted line. Keep text and other important parts of your design, image, or photo INSIDE the Safe Area!
During the production of your product, some of the content outside the safe area may be cut off. Everything inside the safe area will be preserved. If there is no red dotted line shown, then the safe area does not apply.
Mini size cards
The actual printed size is 1.75" x 2.5" and the minimum image upload size requirements are 597 x 822 pixels.
Download template »
Bridge size cards
The actual printed size is 2.25" x 3.5" and the minimum image upload size requirements are 747 x 1122 pixels.
Download template »
Poker size cards
The actual printed size is 2.5" x 3.5" and the minimum image upload size requirements are 822 x 1122 pixels.
Download template »
Tarot size cards
The actual printed size is 2.75" x 4.75" and the minimum image upload size requirements are 897 x 1497 pixels.
Download template »
Large size cards
The actual printed size is 3.5" x 5.75" and the minimum image upload size requirements are 1122 x 1797 pixels.
Download template »
There is a difference of 72 pixels for each dimension (36 pixels each side) to accommodate for print bleeding, therefore you will see 36 pixels cut off each side of your images that you upload. This is industry practice to allow printing to the edge without seeing inconsistent white gaps.
Q. Why can't I resize my uploaded image?
If our builder does not allow you to increase the size of your image, it means that your uploaded image is already at its maximum and is not big enough to retain high print quality if the image was increased in size.
If our builder does not allow you to reduce the size of your image, it means your image is already at its minimum. We do not allow images to be reduced smaller than the minimum size as this would produce empty spaces on your product.
If your image is resizable without affecting the printing quality, you can resize it on the image edit screen by dragging the corner handles to size.
Q. How can I get images from my Facebook account to your site?
A. To get photos from your Facebook account, click on the
button on the right hand side of the builder. Sign in to your Facebook with email address and password. Once you connect to your Facebook account, you will have access to photos in your and your friends' Facebook accounts.
Click the following PDF file to view a demonstration: Get image from my Facebook account
You will need Adobe Reader to view the above PDF file. Download here if required »
Q. Do you print images of celebrities or famous characters?
A. PrinterStudio does not print the likeness of these individuals or any licensed characters. We cannot reproduce images of celebrities or licensed characters unless they are personal photographs. Otherwise, you have to provide written permission from the content owner. For more information, please visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office at www.uspto.gov.
Q. What are the tips for choosing good photos to create my animated cards?
A. When creating a flip animated card, you will need 2 images. Choosing the right images is an important step in the process of making a good flip animation and here're some tips for you to look out for when creating your own animated cards.
Tip No.1:
Use images that have similar background or a similar color palette
Tip No.2:
Use images that feature subject(s) that are similar in size and position
[You can use the edit function on our builder to reposition image(s)]
Tip No.3:
Use aligned images. Make sure the subjects in both images are aligned to each other. For example, if you use a portrait photo, make sure the eyes and face are aligned.
[You can use the edit function on our builder to reposition your image]
Tip No.4:
Use the quick preview function on our builder to check out how your animation look and edit your image to get better results.
Animation cards are not only let you capture and share memories, the ways you can use them are only limited by your imagination. You might use them to create a theme to convey mood, sensation, message, etc. For example, tell a family story with before and after images, express a sense of humor, etc. So try it out today and have fun!
Q. How can I get photos from my Instagram account to your site?
A. To get photos from your Instagram account, click on the
button on the right hand side of the builder. Sign in to your Instagram with email address and password. Once you connect to it, you will have access to photos in your Instagram account.
Click the following PDF file to view a demonstration: Get image from my Instagram account
You will need Adobe Reader to view the above PDF file. Download here if required »
Q. The preview image on your builder looks pixelated, will my order turn out that way?
A. In order to speed up the download time, the preview image is a reduced-resolution version of the original image that you uploaded and it is not the one that is printed.
The high resolution image you uploaded is used for printing on the products and will be much sharper.
However, please also note that if you receive a warning symbol
next to any of your images on builder, it indicates that the image resolution is too low and the results may be unsatisfactory. Please try again with a higher resolution image.
The warning looks like this:
Q. What content is acceptable for designs on PrinterStudio?
Acceptable Content Guidelines
A. We aim to give you as much control and ownership over your content as possible and encourage you to express yourself freely through PrinterStudio products. However, you must be responsible for the content used. In particular, none of the contents listed below are allowed at PrinterStudio:
- No images or text of obscenity, pornography or nudity that is not artistic in nature
- No images or text that infringe on any intellectual property rights including, but not limited to copyrights, trademarks and rights of privacy/publicity
- No images or text that encourage or glorify drug use/abuse
- No content that is libelous or defamatory
- No content that can reasonably be viewed as harassing, threatening, or otherwise harmful
- No excessive violence, hate speech and offensive content
- No content that can reasonably be viewed as discriminatory based upon race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability
- No content that violates or encourages anyone else to violate any law
PrinterStudio reserves the right to cancel any orders containing products that violate the rules above at any time.
Q. What are the image resolution guides for each product?
A. Click on the following to download our guide file for resolutions and sizing specifications.
PrinterStudio reserves the right to cancel any orders contain products that violate the rules above at any time.
Playing cards template guide »