How to choose and prepare a photo for a 3D crystal portrait
Key takeaways
- The photo sets the ceiling. No software and no laser can add detail that was never in the picture.
- Look for sharp eyes, soft side light and a clear subject. Size matters less than focus.
- Dark hair and black clothes turn into clear glass. That is normal, but warn the customer.
- Busy backgrounds are fine: the subject is cut out automatically. Overlapping people and pets are harder.
- Old prints, small phone shots and blurry photos can often be rescued, but set expectations first.
Why the photo decides the result
A 3D crystal portrait is built from the photo in two ways at once. The shape of the face (where the nose, cheeks and chin sit in depth) is read from the picture, and the brightness of each area becomes dot density in the glass. A good photo helps both. A poor one hurts both.
The good news: most customer photos are good enough. The checks below help you spot the few that need a conversation before you take the order.
1. Sharp focus beats big size
The first thing to check is not the pixel count, it is the eyes. Zoom in. If the eyes are crisp, the photo will usually engrave well. If they are soft or smeared, the whole face will look soft in the glass.
- Good: a phone photo taken in daylight, subject still, eyes in focus.
- Risky: motion blur, a zoomed-in crop of a distant face, a screenshot of a screenshot.
- Size: around 2,000 pixels on the long side is plenty. Bigger doesn't hurt, but it won't fix blur.
If a photo is small but sharp, the optional Enhance photo step at upload ($0.20) enlarges it before the 3D is built.
2. Light: soft, from the side, no flash
Light is what gives a face its shape on camera, and it is what the 3D is read from.
- Best: soft daylight from a window or an overcast sky, coming slightly from one side. Cheekbones, noses and jawlines show clearly.
- Flat: direct flash from the front. Faces lose their shape and can look like masks in the glass.
- Harsh: strong midday sun. Deep shadows under the eyes and nose become empty glass, and bright patches burn out.
If a customer can choose, ask for a photo taken near a window, without flash.
3. Dark hair, dark clothes and shadows
In crystal, white is where the dots go. Dark areas get few or no dots and show up as clear glass. So:
- Black hair becomes a lighter, airier outline rather than a solid shape.
- A black suit or dress can almost disappear, leaving the face floating.
- Deep shadows turn into gaps.
This is how SSLE works, not a fault. It still looks beautiful, but tell the customer before they see it. (New to this? Our guide What is SSLE? explains why.)
4. Glasses and glare
Glasses are fine, glare is not. A bright reflection on a lens hides the eye behind it, and the eye is the first thing people look at in a portrait.
- Ask for a photo where the lenses are clear and the eyes are visible.
- Tinted or sunglasses hide the eyes completely. Avoid them for portraits.
5. Backgrounds
You don't need a plain background. dotte.ai cuts out the subject automatically, so only the person or pet goes into the glass, and the block around them stays clear.
What does cause trouble is when the background touches or overlaps the subject:
- someone's arm around the shoulder from outside the frame,
- a person standing right behind another,
- hair blending into a dark background of the same colour.
If the edge between subject and background is hard to see for you, it will be hard for the cut-out too.
6. Pets and fur
Pets make some of the best crystals. A few tips:
- Eye level shots beat photos looking down on the pet.
- Light and mid-tone fur engraves with lovely texture. Very dark fur loses detail, the same way dark hair does.
- A sharp nose and eyes matter more than a perfect pose.
- Pets in a customer's lap work well if the pet is clearly separated from the person's clothes.
7. Couples, families and groups
- Two to four people, close together, faces turned to the camera, work well in 3D.
- Big groups mean small faces. Each face gets fewer dots and less depth. For a large group, consider Flat (2D) mode, which keeps every face readable.
- Check that no face is half hidden behind another person.
8. Old photos, scans and prints
Customers often bring a print of someone who has passed away. These orders matter most, and they are often the hardest photos.
- Scan, don't photograph, the print if you can. If you must photograph it, do it flat, in daylight, without glare on the glossy surface.
- Faded or damaged prints: the optional Clean up photo step at upload ($0.30) reduces noise and blemishes. It checks that the person still looks like themselves.
- Tiny passport-size prints may be too small to rescue in 3D. Flat (2D) can be the better choice.
Be honest with the customer: a restored old photo can look wonderful, but it can't recover detail that was never captured.
9. Cropping for the block
Most blocks are taller than they are deep, so think about the frame:
- For a portrait, head and shoulders fill a rectangle well.
- Leave a little space around the subject. Don't crop off the top of the head or the ears.
- For a heart or iceberg, keep the subject compact so it fits the shape.
You can place and size the design on the block in the studio before you download.
10. Compression and screenshots
Photos sent through messaging apps or social media are often heavily compressed. You'll see blocky patches in skies and smeared skin. Always ask for the original file from the customer's phone or camera, sent as a file or by email, not a screenshot.
A quick checklist for every order
- Eyes sharp when you zoom in?
- Soft light, no flash, no harsh shadows?
- Subject clearly separated from the background?
- No glare on glasses?
- Dark hair or clothes? Warn the customer.
- Group of five or more? Consider Flat (2D).
- Original file, not a screenshot?
Check before you pay
You don't have to guess. Upload the photo and look at the 3D preview first: you get $5 free when you sign up, and 5 free 3D previews every day. You only pay when you finalise an order ($2.99 per 3D photo).
Next in this series: 2D vs 3D crystal engraving: which style suits which order.