We’ve seen thousands of photos from Xpozer fans, each one more beautiful than the last. From experience, we understand that it’s not always easy to select which photo you want to print, especially when you take so many great photos. how can you select the photo that best suits you and your space and gives you a good feeling? This practical guide will show you the way in three easy steps.
Step 1: Choose photos that inspire you
When selecting a photo as a wall print, it’s not only about the best composition or most stunning scene. The most important thing is how the photo makes you feel. Surrounding yourself with visual reminders of people, places and experiences that make you happy is literally good for you. Especially when your daily life is busy, the impact of the positive vibe that radiates from such photos will do you good. Keep this in mind when you’re selecting which photos to transform into wall prints.
Feeling
How does this photo make you feel? If you have so many photos saved that it’s hard to decide where to start looking, you can take a walk down photo memory lane with these questions:
- When did you visit an intensely beautiful location?
- Which special moments have you shared with family and friends?
- What is the most stunning animal that you have photographed so far?
- What is the most unique trip you have been on?
- Which extraordinary people or cultures have you photographed?
- Which city has stolen your heart?
- Which abstract photo have you taken that would amaze others?
Step 2: Look at your space
It’s important to consider the space where your wall print will hang. As you select a photo, look at your interior and think about how you’d answer these questions.
Which effect do you want to create with your photo?
Colors can spur us to action, calm us down or have a neutral effect on us. Think about the feeling and mood you want to create in the room or space where your wall print will hang and choose a photo that either has those colors in it or could be edited to the shade you want. You could match color tones, or choose a wall print with very bright or very understated colors.
Raise energy
If you want the photo to raise the energy in your space, look for ones that are prominently red, orange or yellow. Red often creates a strong first impression. In a living room or dining room, red can bring people together and encourage conversation. Yellow conveys an uplifting, energizing and welcoming feeling. Orange is an especially energetic color, evoking excitement and enthusiasm.
Calming effect
For a calming, relaxing or more serene effect, consider photos with more blue, green or purple tones. Warm or bright blues encourage relaxation, while green has an equally calming effect. Green is considered the most restful color for the eye, encouraging unwinding but also promoting comfort and togetherness — a true combination of the refreshing quality of blue and the cheerfulness of yellow. In its lightest versions, such as lavender and lilac, purple can bring a restful quality, while in its darkest values, such as eggplant, purple is dramatic and sophisticated.
Neutral colors
Neutral colors such as black, grey, white and brown are infinitely flexible. If your space already has a lot of color in the floor or furniture, a wall print that is strong with neutral colors may be perfect.
Step 3: Consider the photo quality
Composition: Is the photo’s composition pleasing to the eye?
Choose photos that follow basic composition rules (rule of thirds, layering, leading lines, framing, and others) to be certain that you will enjoy looking at them for years to come.
Tip: You can test this by putting a small print of a photo you’re considering for a wall print in a spot where you’ll see it every day. If you look at it for a week and still smile when you see it, you’ll know it’s an eye-pleaser.
Sharpness: Is the photo sharp?
It’s distracting to look at a wall print that is unintentionally blurry. If you have multiple photos of the same subject, always examine them at 100% (actual size) and choose the sharpest one for printing If you’re printing a portrait photo, check sharpness by looking at the eyes: if these are sharp, the photo will generally be sharp.
Tip: If your photo is a landscape, check it for sharpness everywhere, including along the edges.
Resolution Is your photo quality high enough?
Your photo doesn’t need to have 300 PPI to look great on the wall, but it is important that the photo’s resolution fits the size you want to print. Xpozer, like other photo printers, lists on its website the minimum resolution needed for each print size.
Tip: If you want to print 24” x 36” or larger (approx. 60 x 90 cm), you need a minimum of 80ppi. Because the viewing distance for a wall-print is greater than for smaller photos, you generally don’t need as high a resolution.
Photos transform a house into a home.
Read the book on Photofocus and own the printed version, too
Every other week a new photo and the story behind it will be published here on Photofocus. Clemens and Ivan have made copies of “Amazing Photography” available for the cost of shipping — $8.99 alone. The book retails for $29.99 regularly. Here are some highlights …
More than 100 breathtaking photos by professional and hobby photographers- 13 personal stories from pro’s and hobbyists such as Albert Dros (pro-photographer), Laura Vink (pro-photographer), Andre Kuipers (astronaut and photographer), Ori Guttin (co-founder Viewbug) and Evgeny Tchebotarev (co-founder 500px)
- 4 practical photo guides to help you enjoy your photos to the max
- 7 DIY quick fixes for unexpected photography situations
- World’s top 15 under-the-radar spots for stunning photos
- Would you rather …? A hypothetical photography game for friends
- The science behind how your photos can affect your happiness and well-being.
