Technical details on how to create your own photo cards

Discover everything you need to know about creating your own photo cards. On this page, you’ll find clear guidance on safe zones, trim lines and bleed lines, essential tips to help you design photo cards like a pro. Learn exactly where to place your photos and text, so every detail appears perfectly after printing. With these simple tips, your personalised photo cards, invitation cards, and business cards will all have a flawless, professional finish every time.
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Questions you might have about designing your own product

What type of file can I upload in the creator?

You can upload HEIC/HEIF, JPG/JPEG and PNG files. It's not possible to upload PDF, TIFF and WEBP files in our creator.

Which products can I create using my own design?

You can create your own cards, photobooks, labels, party favour gifts, puzzle, chocolate with photo in the shape of a heart, travel mug, mouse pad, tshirt, apron, snow globe,... Click on the links above to find out, and have fun!

What size should my photos be to create a photobook?

For the best result, we recommend uploading images of at least 3220 x 3319 pixels for square photobooks, 2560 x 3319 pixels for portrait photobooks and 4565 x 3319 pixels for landscape formats. This ensures your photobook is printed in beautiful, crisp quality. It also allows you to easily switch between medium, large, and extra-large sizes without losing any of the sharpness or detail in your photos.

How do I know if my photo is high enough quality?

If your photo isn’t sharp enough for printing, you’ll see a small warning icon with an exclamation mark. No warning? Then your photo is of good quality and ready to be printed beautifully.

What is a bleed line, trim line and safe zone?

The trim line shows where the product will be cut to size. Anything outside this line will be cut, so avoid placing important details too close to it. Do not align your photo with the trim line!

The bleed line marks the outer edge of your photo zone. It’s a small margin that extends beyond the final cut. Make sure your photos go all the way to this line, so your design prints beautifully to the edge without any white borders. White borders could possibly appear during printing, if the printing machine shifts even a few millimeters. To make sure this doesn't happen, your photo zone extends beyond the trim line.

The safe zone is the area in which you have to keep all text and photo zones and symbols, to ensure they stay perfectly visible after creating your product.

Can I add a photo across two pages in my photobook?

Yes, you can place one photo across two pages in your photobook. There’s a small bleed on the outer edges of each page, but not along the centre fold. This means your photo will flow beautifully across both pages without any important parts being cut off in the middle of the photo. That means our photobooks are perfect for adding panoramic shots or wide landscapes!

What editing features can I use in the online creator tool?

The editing possibilities available in the creator depend on the product you are ordering. Here is an overview of the possibilities:

  • Photos: Add a photo or a new photo zone. In case you have multiple photo zones, you can use our Autofill tool to automatically fill in your photo zones.
  • Frames: Add a colour effect or filter to your photos.
  • Text: Here you can type your text, choose your font and font style, adjust the text colour and the alignment.
  • Symbols: A wide range of symbols in different styles is available to decorate your photo or text zones.
  • Lay-out: Choose a different lay-out for your photo zone. There are different styles available: square photos, funny designs, portfolio with photos all the way to the edge of your page,... It's possible to have 1, 2, 3, 4 or even up to 24 photo zones on your page.
  • Pages: Choose the design for the left or right page of your photobook.
  • Background: Change the background colour, using one of our predefined colours, or choose a pattern.
  • Options: Depending on your product you can change the cover, the size, shape, card type, orientation or colour.


You can save your product at any time and continue working on it later. There is also a help button that shows more information on using our creator tool.

Is there something I should know before I place my order?

When your design is ready, use the preview function to review your creation before ordering. Navigate through the pages of your photobook, the sides of your card, or the items of your gift using the arrows. Carefully check each page for spelling, layout, and photo placement to make sure everything looks exactly as you want it. Taking a few extra minutes to review your product ensures a perfect result once it’s printed.

Do I have to create my own design?

No! We offer literally thousands of ready-made designs, created by our in-house design team, that can still be tweaked to your liking. You can add a background colour, add symbols, remove or add text and photo zones and even add a filter to your photos. The choice is yours!

What is a bleed?

A bleed is the area that extends slightly beyond the edge of your design. It ensures that your photo, background, or colour runs right to the edge once printed, without leaving any unwanted white borders. The bleed gives our printing machines a bit of extra space to trim the paper precisely, so even if there is a tiny shift during cutting, your design will still look perfectly aligned and beautifully finished.
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Create your own design now

Hello, creative souls! On this page you can find all the information you need if you want to upload your own design, or start creating products from scratch. Whether you're desiging a heartfeld card, a personal photobook or a thoughtful gift, this is where creativity meets craftsmanship. Ready, design, go!

The joy of creating something truly personal

You can create from scratch using your favourite design tool, such as Canva or Adobe Illustrator, or start directly in our easy-to-use creator. Upload your design, fine-tune the details, and preview your product before ordering.

From elegant invitations to playful labels or stylish home décor, every creation is printed with care on premium materials, ensuring a flawless result that looks and feels just right.

So go ahead – let your imagination take the lead. Turn your ideas into something tangible, personal, and lasting. Because when it’s made by you, it’s more than just a product. It’s a memory brought to life.

Turn your inspiration into something real

There’s nothing quite like creating something yourself. Whether it’s a charming card, a one-of-a-kind photo book, or a meaningful personalised gift, designing your own product lets you express exactly what you want to say.

On this page, you’ll find all the information and tips to bring your design to life. Use your favourite creative tool or start from scratch in our online creator. You’ll have full control over every element – from colours and photos to fonts and layout – so your design feels authentically yours.

When you’re ready, we print your creation with the greatest care and attention to detail. Using premium papers, high-quality inks, and professional finishing, we make sure your design looks as beautiful in print as it does on your screen.

Your creativity deserves to shine. With smartphoto, creating your own design is simple, inspiring, and endlessly rewarding.

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