Review your portrait before printing

Review likeness and detail separately

Begin with the whole image at the size at which it will normally be seen. Does the composition feel balanced, and do the people remain the centre of attention? Then inspect one face at a time against the reference. Check expression, glasses, hairline and other distinctive details. A pleasing artistic style can distract from an identity error, so separate your reaction to the style from your review of likeness.

Look at hands, clothing edges, jewellery and the boundaries between people and background. If something needs changing, describe its location and the desired correction rather than saying only that it looks strange. Keep a short numbered list so that a revised version can be checked against the same points. Do not assume that every new version automatically preserves the details you already approved.

Match the image to the destination

Confirm the intended orientation and the dimensions of the frame or display. If the image and frame have different proportions, decide whether to crop, add a border or choose another frame. Preview the actual crop before sending the file. Keep eyes, hair, names and other important details comfortably away from the edge, especially when a mount or frame will cover part of the print.

Ask the print provider what file dimensions, format and colour handling it expects for your chosen size. The letters HD alone do not establish that a file is suitable for every print. Check the delivered file rather than a small preview or messaging-app copy. If the final use matters greatly, a small proof from the intended printer can reveal problems before a larger order.

Keep a compact approval record with the version name, chosen size, crop decision and any printer instructions. If you approve the image but still need to check the spelling, mark that distinction clearly instead of calling the entire file final. When someone else arranges the gift, share the approved file and these decisions together. That avoids a well-meaning helper choosing a different crop or downloading an older preview. The record can be a few lines; it does not need to become a complicated production document.

Approve one final version

Check every word again, including names that you know well. Familiarity makes it easy to overlook a missing accent or an incorrect date. Open the file you intend to deliver and confirm that it contains the approved image and text. Give it a clear version name, and keep the original reference and earlier drafts separate so that the wrong file is not sent for printing.

For a digital gift, test how the image appears on the intended device and confirm that the recipient can open the format. For a printed gift, distinguish approval of the artwork from ordering, shipping and delivery. Those are separate steps with their own confirmations. Save the approved file somewhere you can find it again if you later need another crop or replacement print.

Sources

• Adobe: image size, print resolution and resampling

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