Better photo. Better pop.
Great pops start with great photos. We cannot fix blurry, dark or tiny images on our end, but you can fix them on yours and this photo tips page will help. Here is exactly what to look for before you hit upload.
What makes a great lollipop photo
We print exactly what you upload; no touch ups, no sharpening, no magic. What goes in is what comes out. The good news? Getting it right is easy once you know what to look for in a photo.
Clear and in focus
Sharp photos where the subject is crisp and well defined print beautifully. If it looks sharp on your phone screen when zoomed in, it will print well.
Well lit
Natural light is ideal. Photos taken near a window, outdoors on an overcast day, or with a good flash tend to have the detail and contrast edible ink needs to look its best.
Subject fills the frame
The closer the subject is to filling the crop circle, the more detail shows up on the finished pop. A face that fills the frame prints far better than a distant full-body shot.
Logos and artwork
Clean logos, illustrations and graphics print beautifully, especially on white pops. Use a PNG file with a transparent background for the cleanest result.
Screenshots from social media
Images downloaded from Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp are often compressed to a low resolution. They may print acceptably but your original photo file will always give a better result.
Not sure about your photo?
Upload it to our creator tool and check the live preview. If it looks off on screen it will look off on the pop. If it looks great, you are good to go. No commitment until you hit checkout.
Blurry or out of focus
Motion blur, camera shake and soft focus all get locked in when we print. There is no sharpening on our end. If it looks blurry on screen, it will look blurry on the pop.
Very dark photos
Edible ink on a frosting sheet needs contrast to look good. Underexposed or night-time photos with low contrast tend to produce muddy, hard-to-read prints.
Heavy filters
High-contrast Instagram filters, desaturated edits and extreme colour grading can look great on screen but print unpredictably. Use the closest-to-original version of your photo.
Which file type should I use?
We accept three file formats (jpg, png, heic). All work well but there are situations where one is clearly better than the others.
Maximum file size: 5MB. If your file is larger, reduce it in your phone's photo settings or use a free online compressor like TinyPNG.com.
How big does the file need to be?
Higher resolution = sharper pop. Here is the quick version. When in doubt, always use the original file straight from your camera roll, not a cropped screenshot or downloaded version.
A standard iPhone photo taken in 2020 or later is typically 12 megapixels or higher whihc is well above what we need. If you are using an older phone or a downloaded image, check the file size. A JPG photo above 500KB is generally fine.
Which lollipop colour prints best?
The lollipop colour you choose has a big impact on how your image looks. Here is a quick guide to the most popular options.
White
The gold standard for photo printing. Every colour in your image shows up accurately. Best choice for portraits, logos and detailed artwork.
Pink
Warm and vibrant. Works well with faces and colourful artwork. Very light areas in your image may take on a pink tint.
Yellow
Bright and bold. Warm-toned photos look great. Very light areas may pick up a yellow cast.
Black
Dramatic and striking. Works best with bold, high-contrast images. Subtle details and light tones in the photo will be harder to see.
Purple
Rich and colourful. Works well for wedding and event orders. Light areas in your image may take on a purple cast.
Clear pops
Translucent -- light passes through them. Images have a stained-glass quality. Best for bold graphics rather than detailed portraits.
Think your photo is good enough?
Upload it and find out. Our creator shows you a live preview before you commit to anything.
Create your Imagipop →Photo and upload FAQ
Quick answers to the most common photo and file questions we get asked.
What resolution should my photo be?
We recommend at least 800x800 pixels for a clean print. Higher is always better. Phone photos taken in the last few years are almost always high enough resolution. When in doubt, use the original file rather than a cropped or downloaded copy.
What file formats are accepted?
JPG, PNG and HEIC files up to 5MB. PNG is ideal for logos and artwork with a transparent background. HEIC is the default iPhone format and works perfectly without any conversion.
Can I use a screenshot or social media photo?
You can, but images downloaded from Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp are often compressed to a low resolution. Your original photo file from your camera roll will always give a sharper result. Use screenshots only as a last resort.
What if I am not sure whether my photo is good enough?
Use our creator tool -- the live preview shows exactly how your photo will look before you order. If the preview looks blurry or dark, that is your sign to find a better photo. No guesswork, no waiting.
Does the lollipop colour affect how my photo looks?
Yes. White opaque lollipops give the most accurate colour reproduction -- they are the equivalent of printing on white paper. Darker lollipop colours like black or purple can cause lighter tones in your image to appear more muted. See our flavors page for all options.
Can I use a logo or brand artwork?
Absolutely. Logos and clean artwork print beautifully, especially on white lollipops. Use a PNG file with a transparent background for the sharpest result. For large corporate orders message us @ contact imagipop and we will help you prepare your files.