How to prepare a phone photo for a mailed postcard

Choose a photo that can print clearly

• Use the original camera file when possible instead of a screenshot or social-media download.
• Choose a photo with a clear subject and enough space around it for cropping.
• Avoid tiny images, heavy compression, or screenshots that include interface controls.
• Check faces, horizons, and important details at the edges after changing the crop.
• Use JPEG, PNG, or WebP files up to 15 MB.

IRIS checks the decoded image dimensions against the selected print size. A low-resolution file may look acceptable on a phone while producing a soft printed result, so the editor rejects files that cannot support the required crop.

Choose a photo that explains the occasion

A new-home photo can make a moving announcement feel personal. A clear storefront photograph can help an existing customer recognize your new location. For a property update to a known contact, use a photograph of the actual property and check the address, description, and any open-house details before sending. An illustration is decorative; it should not stand in for a photograph of the property you are describing.

For a winter greeting, choose one family or team photograph with faces that remain clear at postcard size. A Halloween porch, an autumn garden, or a winter landscape can also carry a seasonal note without putting people in the picture. Pick an image that suits the person receiving it and that you have permission to use.

Uploading a photo replaces the front artwork. Work with one image and the editor's title and optional greeting; keep the important part of the photograph clear of those words.

Review home, property, and group photographs

• Leave space around a house, doorway, or group so the crop does not remove a roofline, face, or other important detail.
• Check the preview for readable private documents, license plates, access codes, or people who should not appear on a publicly visible card.
• For a property or storefront message, confirm that the photo shows the correct place and does not imply a feature or condition you have not checked.
• Use a clear original file for a team or family photo; enlarging a small downloaded image does not restore lost detail.
• Review the crop and title placement again after choosing the final size, layout, or font.

4 x 6 or 6 x 9

Create and mail the postcard

1. Choose your own photo in the postcard editor.

   The original photo remains in the browser.

2. Pick the postcard size.

   Choose the size before checking the image resolution and final crop. A larger print needs more detail from the original photo.

3. Position the subject.

   Move the horizontal and vertical focal controls until the important subject sits safely inside the preview.

4. Add the required front title and an optional greeting.

   Keep the words short enough to remain readable over the photograph.

5. Write the back message and signature.

   Review spelling, names, and dates.

6. Add addresses and check both sides.

   Add the return and recipient addresses, then inspect both preview sides.

7. Continue to Stripe Checkout.

   IRIS uploads only the generated front and back print PDFs, not the original photo file.

Write a short note to go with the picture

For a new-home photograph, try a front title such as “Our new place” and a back message such as “We have a new front door! We are settling in and would love to stay in touch. Our new mailing address is below. — Maya and Lee” Replace the names and add the full new address and effective date in the message; check the return address separately.

A closing congratulations card can keep the focus on the recipient: “Congratulations on your new home, Jordan. It was a pleasure helping you find it. Wishing you many happy mornings there. — Alex” Use an actual property photo only when you have permission and are comfortable with it being visible during mailing.

For a team photograph, a winter note might read: “From our workshop to your home, thank you for your support this year. Wishing you a peaceful winter and a happy new year. — The Cedar team” For a January card, “A fresh year, a little hello, and our best wishes for the months ahead. — Maya and Lee” works without claiming it will arrive on New Year's Day.

These are examples to adapt to the real relationship. The editor allows up to 40 characters for the front title, 80 for the optional greeting, 420 for the back message, and 60 for the signature. Leave room for the practical details and review both sides before payment.

Allow time for a date-specific photo postcard

A moving announcement, open-house invitation, or seasonal photograph still needs printing and postal transit time. USPS describes First-Class Mail delivery as 1–5 business days after the mail enters its network; that is not a checkout-to-door estimate. Allow additional time for preparation, holidays, weather, and address issues. Share urgent event details or changes through a faster contact method.

Remember that postcards are visible

A postcard is exposed during printing, handling, and delivery. Keep passwords, account credentials, medical details, payment information, government identifiers, and other confidential material out of the image and message. Use an enclosed letter when the contents should be shielded during postal handling and delivery, but do not submit passwords, payment credentials, government identifiers, or highly sensitive medical records through IRIS without an applicable written agreement.