PrintReady printing guide · Updated 12 October 2026 · Reading time: about 6 minutes
Quick answer: Match the shape of your photo to your paper size before ordering. If you want the image to reach every edge, you may need to crop it. If you want to keep everything in the picture, add borders. Then check the pixels available at the size you intend to print.
1. Why does a photo get cut off when printed?
Every photo and print size has an aspect ratio: the relationship between width and height. A 4 × 6 photo is 2:3; an 8 × 10 photo is 4:5. A typical 3:2 camera image can fill a 4 × 6 print without cropping, but an 8 × 10 print is a different shape. To fill it edge to edge, part of the original image must be trimmed.
Here are useful pixel targets at 300 PPI for portrait-oriented prints. Rotate the dimensions for landscape. These are planning targets, not minimum requirements set by every print lab.
| Print size | Shape | Pixels at 300 PPI |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in | 2:3 | 1200 × 1800 |
| 5 × 7 in | 5:7 | 1500 × 2100 |
| 8 × 10 in | 4:5 | 2400 × 3000 |
| 11 × 14 in | 11:14 | 3300 × 4200 |
A file can have more pixels than the target and still lose pixels during cropping. Inspect the actual cropped area rather than relying on the dimensions of the original image alone. For other sizes, use the photo print-size calculator.
2. Should you crop or add borders?
Crop to fill is best for an edge-to-edge photo. It enlarges the image within the selected frame shape, removing pixels that do not fit. Use the position sliders to protect important subjects near the edges.
Add borders is best when every part of the picture matters. The entire image remains visible; spare space is filled with your chosen border color. This is part of the downloaded image, not a physical mat or mount.
Crop: The frame has a 5:4 shape. To fill it, the landscape photo uses 2500 × 2000 pixels, cutting off a total of 500 pixels in width (250 from each side if centred). The resulting print has 250 PPI.
Borders: To keep all 3000 × 2000 pixels, fit the photo into a 10 × 6.67 in area. That leaves about 0.67 in of border at the top and bottom. The photo area has about 300 PPI. Neither option invents detail.
3. How many pixels do you need for a clear print?
PPI (pixels per inch) describes how densely image pixels are placed on paper. Calculate it by dividing the retained pixel width by its printed width in inches, and the retained pixel height by its printed height. After a crop, use the retained pixels—not the original full dimensions.
PrintReady uses 300 PPI as a reference for close-viewed photos, 200–299 PPI as a lower-density range, and below 200 PPI as a reason to inspect the result carefully. A large wall print viewed farther away may look fine at a lower density. Your lab, paper, viewing distance, compression and original sharpness all affect the result.
Changing a file's PPI metadata alone does not create extra pixels or repair blur. DPI describes printer dots; PPI describes the image you supply. If you want to work out how big a 4000 × 3000 image can print, try the pixels-to-inches calculator.
4. How to prepare an 8 × 10 photo in PrintReady
- Open the photo-to-frame editor and select your original JPG, PNG or WebP image. Prefer the full-resolution file rather than a screenshot or a social-media copy.
- Choose 8 × 10 in under print size and set portrait or landscape to match your frame.
- Choose Crop to fill for an edge-to-edge print or Add borders to preserve the whole image.
- Review the preview carefully, adjust crop position or border color, and check the displayed PPI and export dimensions.
- Download the JPG. At your printing service, order the same physical size and review its final crop preview before paying.
You can also select 4 × 6, 5 × 7, 11 × 14, larger common sizes, A4/A3, or enter custom inch/centimetre dimensions. Matching the size in both places prevents a second automatic crop.
5. What does the downloaded JPG contain?
The downloaded file contains the selected crop or borders, not the decorative frame shown around the preview. PrintReady prepares a JPG at up to 300 pixels per intended inch without enlarging the original image pixels. For browser reliability, exports are limited to 24 megapixels and 8000 pixels along either edge. The editor reports the actual output dimensions and effective PPI before you save.
PrintReady creates a new image in your browser rather than passing through the original file unchanged. Original EXIF metadata is not intentionally copied, and embedded print-density metadata can differ by browser. Always choose the intended paper size at the print shop instead of trusting a file's embedded DPI/PPI label.
6. Before you order: a practical checklist
- Check the edges: faces, signatures, captions and important details should not be too close to where a physical frame may cover them.
- Check the preview at the lab: some print services enable automatic fill/crop, even if you already prepared the file.
- Check borders: if you used borders, order the matching size with no additional auto-crop so the border is retained.
- Check original quality: a low-resolution image, motion blur or heavy JPEG compression is not repaired by exporting another JPG.
- Make a proof: for an expensive or unusually large print, request a small test print first.
7. Common photo printing questions
Why is my 4 × 6 photo cropped when I select 8 × 10?
The shapes differ: 2:3 versus 4:5. Choose borders to keep the full picture or crop to fill the new shape.
Is 300 PPI always required?
No. It is a helpful close-viewing target, not a guarantee or a universal lab requirement. Larger prints viewed from farther away often tolerate lower PPI; check the print provider's guidance.
Can PrintReady make a blurry image sharp?
No. It checks pixel density and prepares image dimensions; it does not recover missing focus, remove motion blur or generate new detail.
Are my uploaded photos stored online?
No. The editor processes selected images in your browser. They are not uploaded to a PrintReady image server. See the privacy policy for details.
How these recommendations were calculated
Aspect-ratio and PPI examples above are arithmetic based on pixel dimensions and paper dimensions. For an independent explanation of pixel dimensions, physical size and resampling, see Adobe's guide to image size and resolution. The PPI ranges are practical planning guidance, not professional print-quality certification.