Photos need roughly 300 DPI at print size for sharp results — in practice most modern phone photos are large enough for full-page prints, and a good tool warns you when an image is too small. Here is the full picture. The trick is not fancy design software — it is a few simple decisions and a tool that does the heavy lifting. First, aim for about 300 DPI at the printed size. Then, modern phone photos usually clear this easily. Finally, small images can still work at smaller sizes. Pixalby handles the rest: upload straight from your phone (HEIC included), and the auto-layout engine arranges everything into clean, print-ready spreads in minutes, respecting every crop and orientation. You do not need to be a designer or own a laptop — you can build the entire book from your camera roll, reorder spreads with your thumb, and add captions where they help. Every book prints on heavy 170gsm satin paper with a hardcover option built to survive real coffee-table life. Follow the steps below and you will have a finished, order-ready book faster than you expect. It is free to build and you only pay when you are ready to print.
The short answer
Photos need roughly 300 DPI at print size for sharp results — in practice most modern phone photos are large enough for full-page prints, and a good tool warns you when an image is too small.
Step by step
Start by making sure you aim for about 300 DPI at the printed size. Next, modern phone photos usually clear this easily. Then small images can still work at smaller sizes. With Pixalby, auto-layout turns that plan into finished spreads instantly — you review, tweak, and order. The whole thing can take under half an hour once your photos are chosen.
Why it matters for a printed book
Screens forget; paper does not. Getting this right is what separates a photo book you flip through once from one that lives on the coffee table for years. Pixalby keeps the process free until you print, so you can experiment with the layout and only pay when the book feels right.
Quick tips
- ✦Remember: aim for about 300 DPI at the printed size.
- ✦Do not skip this — modern phone photos usually clear this easily.
- ✦Finish strong — small images can still work at smaller sizes.
- ✦Build it free first, then order only when the book feels finished.
Frequently asked questions
- Will my phone photos be sharp?
- Almost always — today’s phone sensors exceed print needs at typical sizes.
- What if a photo is too low-res?
- Pixalby flags it and suggests using it smaller or not full-bleed.
- Do screenshots print well?
- Usually not at large sizes — keep them small if you use them.
- Does zooming in reduce quality?
- Cropping in reduces resolution, so crop conservatively for big prints.
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