Printing your photos is one of the most rewarding ways to preserve memories. From everyday moments to milestone events, high-quality photo prints allow you to share, display, and enjoy your images in tangible form. Shutterfly provides a wide variety of tools and options to ensure your prints look professional, vibrant, and long-lasting. This guide walks you through every step of the process, from selecting your photos to preparing your files, uploading, editing, choosing print sizes, and finally placing your order on desktop or mobile.
Step 1: Selecting the Photos You Want to Print
The first step in creating perfect prints is choosing the right images. This is about more than picking your favorites—it’s about considering purpose, display, and quality for each photo. Keep these questions in mind when selecting your images:
Where will these photos be displayed?
Will they go on a gallery wall, a desk frame, in a photo album, or as a gift? Display context affects which photos have the most impact.
Do these images tell a story together?
Albums or collections benefit from cohesive images—consider chronological order, thematic grouping, or consistent color schemes.
Are the images technically strong?
Look for photos that are sharp, properly exposed, and well-composed. Avoid images with motion blur or poor lighting, especially for large prints.
Are the moments meaningful?
Prioritize images capturing emotion, milestones, or special occasions. Prints should evoke memories that last a lifetime.
Do I need photos from others?
For images on someone else’s device, request the original file to maintain quality. Screenshots or social media downloads degrade resolution.
How many prints do I need?
Decide if this is a single photo for a frame, a batch for an album, or dozens for gifts. Knowing quantity helps plan upload and budget.
Tips for Selecting Photos
- Start broad, then refine: Collect potential candidates first, then narrow to the best technically and emotionally.
- Think about cropping: Ensure key subjects won’t be cut off when printed.
- Consider color and style: Consistent lighting, color palette, or filter style can help prints look cohesive in albums or wall displays.
- Duplicates and variations: Keep the best version of similar shots. Printing multiple near-identical images is usually unnecessary.
- Organize before uploading: Create folders or albums on your device. This saves time and reduces the chance of missing key photos.
Step 2: Preparing Your Files for Printing
Before uploading your photos, it’s essential to ensure your files meet Shutterfly’s accepted formats and settings. This guarantees compatibility and the best print quality.
Accepted File Formats
Shutterfly supports the following formats:
- BMP
- HEIC / HEIF (accepted only via iOS app, website, or mobile web; automatically converted to JPG upon upload)
- JPEG / JPG
- PNG
Note: HEIC and HEIF are not supported on the Android app.
Unsupported File Formats
Shutterfly cannot accept:
- TIFF / TIF
- GIF
- PSD
- Other file types
Tip: Avoid uploading unsupported formats; they will not process. Shutterfly does not provide file conversion services.
Recommendations for Editing Photos
When using photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom:
- Minimize compression to preserve image quality.
- Use RGB color space instead of CMYK.
- Set the image to 8-bit color.
- Save files in Baseline Standard JPEG format (Progressive Scan JPEGs can cause upload issues).
- Use “Save As” to create a copy in an accepted format, keeping the original file intact.
What Happens on Upload
- All uploaded files are converted and stored as JPG in your Shutterfly account.
- Transparency is removed if your original image contains a transparent background.
Pro Tip: Organizing your files in advance, using proper names, and confirming technical specs will streamline uploads and ensure your prints look exactly as expected.
Step 3: Uploading Your Photos
With your files ready, it’s time to upload photos to Shutterfly. Desktop and mobile workflows differ slightly.
Desktop Upload
- Sign in to your Shutterfly account.
- Navigate to Photos at the top right.
- Click Upload and choose your source:
- Computer storage
- Google Photos
- Amazon Photos
- Organize images into albums for easier bulk editing and ordering.
Mobile Upload
- Open the Shutterfly app and sign in.
- Tap the Photos icon at the bottom center.
- Select Upload or choose from your device library.
- Organize into albums if desired.
Pro Tip: Use descriptive album names (e.g., “Summer 2025 Trip”) to make selecting images later faster.
Step 4: Editing Your Photos
Shutterfly offers AI-powered tools and manual adjustments to ensure your prints are perfect.
Desktop Photo Editing
- Individual edits: Click the pencil icon on each photo to adjust crop, rotate, orientation, color enhancements, red-eye removal, and brightness/contrast.
- Bulk edits: Select multiple images to apply uniform adjustments such as filters, color correction, or borders.
Mobile App Photo Editing
- Tap each photo to crop, rotate, or apply a filter.
- Use red-eye removal and automatic color enhancement features.
- Preview photos in selected print sizes before ordering.
Pro Tip: Save edits and preview all photos before adding to the cart. This ensures consistency across albums or batch orders.
Step 5: Selecting the Right Print Size
Choosing the correct print size is essential for clarity, display impact, and proportion.
Recommended Sizes for Common Uses
| Print Size | Ideal For |
| 4×4″ | Small frames, scrapbooks, desk displays |
| 4×6″ | Standard photo albums, gift sets |
| 5×7″ | Medium frames, wall groupings |
| 8×10″ | Larger framed prints, wall displays |
| 11×14″ | Gallery walls, statement pieces |
| 16×20″ | Feature wall prints, oversized impact |
Pro Tip: If unsure about image quality for a given size, Shutterfly’s system checks resolution and recommends the largest print that maintains clarity.
Step 6: Ordering Your Prints
Shutterfly allows multiple ordering methods with slightly different workflows.
Option 1: Ordering Prints on Desktop
- Navigate to Photos → Select images → Order Prints.
- Edit images individually or in bulk. Options include crop, rotate, color correction, filters, borders, and back-of-print messages.
- Select print size and paper finish (Glossy, Matte, or Cardstock).
- Add to cart, review, and proceed to checkout.
Option 2: Ordering Prints on Mobile App
- Tap Photos → Select images → Prints.
- Choose size and paper finish.
- Edit as needed.
- Add to cart and checkout.
Pro Tip: The mobile app offers unlimited 4×4 and 4×6 prints; only pay shipping.
Related Resources on Ordering Photo Prints
Congratulations! You’ve gone from selecting meaningful photos to preparing, uploading, editing, sizing, and ordering professional-quality prints from Shutterfly. By following this expert guide, you ensure your prints are vibrant, high-resolution, and long-lasting—ready to be displayed, gifted, or archived for years of enjoyment.
Start your Shutterfly print order today and bring your memories to life in a tangible, beautiful way.
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