How to Choose the Perfect Photo for a Photo Blanket
The blanket is soft. The printing is sharp. But the thing that decides whether someone tears up when they unwrap it is the photo you pick. Here's how to choose one that looks just as good across a 60 x 80 throw as it does on your phone.
Start with the photo you keep going back to
Before you think about pixels, think about feelings. The best photo blankets aren't the most technically perfect pictures. They're the ones people stop scrolling for: the grandkids in matching pajamas, the dog asleep in the sun, the two of you laughing at something nobody else heard.
A quick test: if you'd frame it, it'll work on a blanket. If you'd only send it in a group chat, keep looking.
Light makes the biggest difference
- Daylight wins. Photos taken near a window or outdoors (not in harsh noon sun) print with true, warm colors.
- Skip the flash if you can. Flash flattens faces and turns pets' eyes glowy.
- Avoid very dark photos. Night shots that look moody on a bright phone screen often print muddy on fabric.
Check that it's sharp
Zoom in on the faces on your phone. If eyes and edges still look crisp at 2x, you're in good shape. If they turn soft or blotchy, the blanket will show it, because a big print magnifies everything.
- Use the original photo from your camera roll, not a screenshot.
- Photos saved from social media or sent through text apps are usually shrunk. Ask the person who took it to send the original.
- Older printed photos? Scan them, or take a straight-on photo in daylight with no glare.
Get close
A wide shot of eight people at a beach looks lovely on a phone and tiny on a blanket. Choose photos where the faces fill a good part of the frame. For pets, a close-up of the face nearly always beats a full-body shot from across the yard.
Think about the shape
Blankets are rectangles, so a vertical or horizontal photo with some breathing room around the subject works best. If the important part of the photo sits right at the edge, it may get trimmed. Leave a little space around heads and paws.
Quick checklist before you upload
- ✔ A photo you'd happily frame
- ✔ Taken in good, natural light
- ✔ Faces still sharp when you zoom in
- ✔ The original file, not a screenshot
- ✔ Faces fill a good part of the picture
- ✔ A little space around the edges
See it before it's made
When you tap Upload Your Photo on our blanket page, you'll see your picture on the blanket right away, so you know exactly what you're getting before you buy. And a real person checks every photo before it prints. If yours looks blurry or cut off, we'll email you first instead of printing something you won't love.
Every blanket is printed in the USA and shipped free. Order by Dec 10 for Christmas, and if you choose the big 60 x 80 size, the matching photo ornament is on us (in place of the 10% Christmas savings).