Getting a phone photo ready for canvas

How big your photo can go, why you should never send it by text, and how the canvas wrap works.

By Kris Maestas · Aug 5, 2026 · Canvas

Most canvas orders start with a photo on someone's phone. Phones take great pictures, but a few things decide whether the canvas looks sharp or soft.

Send the original

Texting, Facebook and Instagram all shrink your photo. Send the original file from your camera roll by email or on the quote form. Turn off "small" or "medium" size options when you email.

How big can it go?

A recent phone photo usually holds up to around 16x20, and larger when the shot is in focus and well lit. Older or zoomed-in photos get soft faster. We check every file and tell you the size it will print well at before you pay.

Canvas forgives a lot. Blurry still looks blurry.

Crop for the wrap

Gallery-wrapped canvas folds the edges of the image around the frame. Leave some room around faces and heads so nothing important ends up on the side. If the photo is tight, we can mirror the edge or wrap it in a solid color.

Fixes we can make

• Color and brightness correction
• Removing a stranger, a pole or a date stamp
• Combining two photos into one piece
• Restoring old printed photos from a scan