The secret to a great photo magnet is starting with the right photo. Here are the tips we use when we help people pick theirs.
1. Use the original, not a screenshot
Screenshots and photos saved from social media or messaging apps are often shrunk and compressed. They can look fine on a phone but blurry when printed. If you can, upload the original photo straight from your camera roll.
2. Pick a photo that's sharp where it matters
Zoom in on faces before you choose. If the eyes are crisp, the magnet will look great. A little blur in the background is fine; blurry faces are not.
3. Think about the crop
Magnets are small, so the subject should fill most of the frame. Close-ups and portraits work better than a wide shot where everyone is tiny. When you upload, use the preview to check nobody's head is cut off at the edge.
4. Look for good light
Photos taken in daylight, near a window or outdoors in the shade print beautifully. Very dark photos, or ones with harsh shadows across faces, lose detail when printed.
5. Keep the background simple
A plain wall, sky, grass or a soft blurry background makes the people (or pets!) stand out. Busy backgrounds can make a small magnet hard to read from across the kitchen.
6. Choose a photo with a story
The best magnets aren't always the "perfect" photo. They're the funny face, the first fish caught, the messy birthday cake. Pick the one that makes you smile, because you'll be seeing it every day.
7. Make a set
Can't decide? You don't have to. A set of magnets lets you tell a whole story on one fridge: a whole family, a whole trip, or a whole year.
Quick checklist before you order
- Original photo, not a screenshot
- Faces are sharp when you zoom in
- Subject fills the frame
- Good, even light
- You checked the preview before adding to cart