A personalized photo Christmas gift: the photo mosaic
Published
One picture that tells a whole year: from afar, the portrait of the people you love; up close, hundreds of memories. Here is how to make this gift, which photos to pick and when to start so it is under the tree in time.
In short: pick a well-lit portrait, gather 150 to 400 photos from the year, make the mosaic in Pixmosa and download the HD files (US$19.90). Have it printed at 20 × 30 in on matte paper and order in early December so it arrives in time.
Why it makes a great gift
A photo mosaic is looked at twice. From afar, you see the portrait. Up close, you discover the hundreds of small photos it is made of: holidays, birthdays, family dinners. It is a gift people take time to explore, and it is like no other because it is made of your own photos.
Ideas for each person
| For | Main photo | Small photos |
|---|---|---|
| Grandparents | The grandchildren together | The moments you shared this year |
| Your partner | A photo of the two of you | Your trips, your evenings out, your story |
| Your parents | The whole family | Family photos from every era |
| A friend, a team | A group photo | Shared memories and events |
| A pet lover | Their four-legged friend | Photos of the pet and of home |
Making the gift in four steps
- Pick the main photo. A face up close, well lit, on a simple background: that is what people will recognise from afar. Avoid group shots where faces are tiny.
- Gather the small photos. 150 to 400 varied photos give a great result; 50 are enough for a small size. Mix colours and light. The guide how many photos you need gives the right number for each size.
- Make and check the mosaic. The preview is free and needs no account. Open the HD loupe on the faces: that is where the eye goes first.
- Download and print. You get the HD PDF and the photo-lab JPEG. The guide where and how to print your mosaic tells you which file to send and which paper to choose.
Timing it for Christmas
The files are ready in minutes: printing sets the schedule. Labs publish their last order dates for delivery before Christmas every year; they vary with the size, the material and the country.
- Late November, early December: make the mosaic and order the print. You keep some margin if the lab is very busy.
- Plan the frame: if you want a ready-made frame, pick a common frame size in the tool, such as 24 × 36 in or 50 × 70 cm.
- Check your lab's deadline before ordering, especially for canvas or rigid prints, which take longer to make.
At the last minute
Even on December 24, the mosaic takes only minutes to make. Two options:
- Print it nearby, if a photo shop in your town prints posters on site: bring the photo-lab JPEG.
- Give the mosaic as a picture first, on screen or on a card, and have the poster printed after the holidays. You can download the files again for 30 days.
Your photos stay on your device: the mosaic is computed in your browser, and nothing is uploaded. Printing is not included in the price of the files: print wherever you like, at your lab's price.
Questions
How long does it take to make the mosaic?
A few minutes once the photos are gathered: the preview is computed in your browser, and the HD files are ready to download as soon as you pay. Printing and delivery are what take time.
How much does this gift cost?
US$19.90 (plus sales tax where it applies; €19.90 in Europe) for the HD files of one mosaic, plus the print at the lab of your choice, which depends on the size and the material.
Can the person find out about the surprise?
Not through Pixmosa: there is no account, and your photos never leave your device. Just mind the device you make it on if it is shared.
What if I don't like the result?
The preview and the HD loupe are free: check the mosaic before you pay. After buying, you get a refund on request within 14 days.