Make & keep
How to print photo strips without cutting off faces
Pixel size, paper size and the fit-or-fill setting that matters.
A strip can look perfect on a phone and still print badly. The most common preparation mistake is to choose a paper size and let the printer silently crop the picture to fill it.
Start with the file
Use the original export where possible, rather than a screenshot or a social-media download. Inspect the complete border and all four frames. If your strip includes a signature or date you want to keep, leave it inside the printable composition instead of assuming the printer will preserve it at the edge. Changing a filename does not increase resolution.
Calculate a target size
For a chosen print density, pixels equal inches multiplied by pixels per inch. As an example, a 2-by-6-inch strip at 300 pixels per inch needs 600 by 1,800 pixels. A 4-by-6-inch sheet at the same density needs 1,200 by 1,800 pixels. These are planning examples, not universal booth dimensions or a guarantee that every printer needs exactly 300 ppi.
Choose fit before fill
‘Fit’ generally keeps the whole picture within the print area; ‘fill’ generally covers the area by cropping when the shapes differ. Printer labels vary, so read the preview. You can place two narrow strips on a wider sheet with space for cutting. Keep a margin around faces and decorative borders, and print one test before making copies for everyone.
Separate image quality from paper choice
An enlargement cannot recover detail that was never recorded. Paper finish changes glare and feel, while the printer and colour settings affect tone. Test black-and-white images for unwanted colour casts. Let the printer’s instructions guide drying and handling. If the final print will be a gift, keep the original digital file so the recipient is not limited to photographing the paper later.