Photo Requirements & Best Practices

Get the best quality prints by following these photo requirements and recommendations.

Minimum Requirements

Resolution & File Size

• Minimum file size: 1MB per photo
• Recommended: 2MB+ for full-page prints
• Optimal: 3-5MB for best quality
• Resolution: At least 1800x1200 pixels for full-page

Supported Formats

• ✅ JPG/JPEG: Most common, fully supported
• ✅ PNG: Supported, larger file sizes
• ✅ HEIC: iPhone format, automatically converted
• ❌ RAW files: Not supported (convert to JPG first)
• ❌ GIF: Not recommended for printing
• ❌ BMP: Not supported

File Size Limits

• Maximum per photo: 50MB
• Upload batch limit: 100 photos at once
• Total project limit: 500 photos per photobook

Photo Quality Guidelines

Resolution by Print Size

Aspect Ratios

Common aspect ratios and their best uses:

• 4:3 (1600x1200): Standard digital camera
• 3:2 (1800x1200): DSLR cameras, iPhone
• 16:9 (1920x1080): Widescreen, landscape photos
• 1:1 (2000x2000): Square format, Instagram
• 9:16 (1080x1920): Portrait orientation, phone photos

Photo Quality Checklist

✅ Good Photos

• Clear and sharp when zoomed
• Good lighting (not too dark or bright)
• High resolution (2MB+ file size)
• Minimal compression artifacts
• Original files from camera/phone

❌ Avoid These

• Screenshots from social media
• Photos taken from other photos
• Heavily filtered/edited images
• Extremely cropped images
• Low-resolution downloads
• Watermarked images

Common Issues & Solutions

Issue: "Low Resolution Warning"

Cause: Photo is too small for the selected layout size

Solutions:

1. Use a higher resolution version of the photo
2. Resize the photo to a smaller space on the page
3. Choose a different layout with smaller photo slots
4. Upload the original photo from your camera/phone

Issue: "Blurry When Zoomed"

Cause: Photo is not sharp enough or resolution too low

Solutions:

1. Use the original photo file
2. Avoid using edited versions from social media
3. Check if you have a higher quality version
4. Consider using photo enhancement tools first

Issue: "Photo Appears Pixelated"

Cause: Image has been compressed or resized too much

Solutions:

1. Find the original uncompressed file
2. Check your phone's photo library for originals
3. Download from cloud storage (original quality)
4. Avoid using photos from messaging apps

Best Practices

1. Use Original Files

Always use photos directly from:

• Your camera's memory card
• Your phone's camera roll (original quality)
• Cloud storage (download full resolution)
• Professional photographer's delivery

2. Check Photo Quality Before Ordering

Use our editor's zoom tool to check:

• Zoom to 100% or more
• Look for blurriness or pixelation
• Check faces and important details
• Replace low-quality photos before ordering

3. Organize Photos First

Before starting your project:

• Delete duplicates
• Remove unwanted photos
• Select your best shots
• Group by theme or date

4. Photo Editing Tips

If editing photos:

• Save in highest quality (JPG quality: 90-100%)
• Maintain original resolution
• Avoid excessive filters
• Keep a copy of the original

5. Consider Photo Orientation

Plan your layouts:

• Portrait photos: Best for full-page vertical layouts
• Landscape photos: Ideal for two-page spreads
• Square photos: Work well in grid layouts
• Mix: Use varied orientations for dynamic pages

Technical Specifications

Color Space

• sRGB: Recommended for web uploads
• Adobe RGB: Supported, may be converted
• CMYK: Automatically converted for printing

Compression

• Light compression: Acceptable (JPG quality 90+)
• Heavy compression: May affect print quality
• No compression: Best (PNG, max quality JPG)

Metadata

We preserve EXIF data including:

• Date and time
• Camera settings
• GPS location (optional removal)
• Copyright information

Photo Sources

✅ Recommended Sources

• Original camera files
• Phone camera (full resolution)
• Professional photographer deliveries
• Cloud storage (original quality downloads)
• Your own scans of printed photos

⚠️ Use with Caution

• Social media downloads (often compressed)
• Email attachments (may be resized)
• Messaging app photos (usually compressed)
• Web downloads (check resolution)

❌ Not Recommended

• Screenshots of photos
• Photos of photos (unless scanning)
• Heavily watermarked images
• Copyrighted images without permission

Upload Tips

Before Uploading

1. Check file sizes (should be 1MB+)
2. Verify photos open correctly
3. Organize in folders by theme
4. Delete unwanted photos

During Upload

1. Use stable internet connection
2. Upload in batches (100 at a time)
3. Don't close browser during upload
4. Wait for confirmation before closing

After Upload

1. Verify all photos uploaded
2. Check for any error messages
3. Preview photos in the editor
4. Delete any duplicates

Need Help?

If you're unsure about photo quality:

• Use our editor's quality indicator
• Check the preview at 100% zoom
• Contact support to review your photos
• Email samples to hi@qarta.ge

Related Articles

• Getting Started with QARTA
• How to Place an Order
• Account Management

Pro Tip: When in doubt, use the highest quality photo you have available. Larger file sizes typically mean better print quality!