DIY · 4 min read
Putting A Photo On A Phone Case: How To Get A Print That Doesn't Look Cheap
Photo cases live or die by image quality and print method. Here's what to check before uploading.
Uploading a photo and getting it back on a case is the most popular form of 'custom' case. It also has the highest disappointment rate — usually because of the photo, not the case.
What makes a photo case look great
- At least 2000×2000px resolution — anything smaller pixelates at case size.
- Good light in the original photo — flat indoor lighting prints muddy.
- Subject centered or rule-of-thirds; the camera cutout sits where the back of the head usually is.
What ruins a photo case
- Screenshots from Instagram — already compressed, lose another 30% in printing.
- Photos with heavy filters — they print darker than they look on screen.
- Group photos — faces get cropped at the camera cutout almost every time.
The technique pros use
Crop the photo yourself before uploading. Place the subject just to one side of the camera cutout (usually upper-left for iPhone Pro models). Add a 10–15% margin on every edge — wrap-around printing trims a few millimeters.
If you would rather not gamble on a photo
Photo cases are the hardest kind to get right, which is why most people end up preferring a finished design. Every Miarobi print is illustrated in-house and UV-cured into the shell, so there is no resolution to worry about and nothing to peel. Browse the full catalogue, or find your exact device first.
FAQ
- What resolution does a photo need for a phone case?
- At least 2000 by 2000 pixels. Below that the image visibly pixelates once it is printed at case size, because the print covers the whole back panel.
- Why do photo cases print darker than the screen?
- Screens are backlit and print is not. Heavy filters and low-light photos lose the most, so a bright, evenly lit original always prints closer to what you expect.
- Where does the camera cutout land on a photo case?
- Usually over the upper portion of the image, which is where faces sit in most portrait photos. Crop the subject slightly to one side before uploading.