INSTAGRAM: PRINTING AND FRAMING

Instagram is a quick, simple way to share and view photos. Your just snap your pic and upload it to the app on your phone or tablet, and it is instantly available to be admired and "liked" by millions of fellow Instagrammers. But what happens when you want to take those images beyond Instagram, to share with friends and family not yet on the popular app's bandwagon, or to decorate your own walls when you feel nostalgic for the simplicity of film camera prints? KeenART Media is here to help! We can turn your Instagram photos into stylishly square canvas prints (frameless is all the rage these days), or high quality, even saleable prints on archival fine art, or photographic, papers. We have picture frames in every style imaginable, and other display options as well. If you've decided to take your little square pictures from screen to wall, read on. We have tips and tricks for a painless transition.

SUMMARY We discuss turning your Instagram images into wall-hanging keepsakes: INSTAGRAM PHOTOS PRINT SIZES CANVAS INSTA-PRINTS OTHER PRINT OPTIONS Today's Instagram pictures are high quality Use the photos saved on your phone Instagram pictures can be printed up to 34" Graininess depends on lighting and focus Some subjects can be printed larger than others Frameless and modern Painterly effect and diminished graniness Floater frames Framed prints Plexi face mounts Plaque mounts Collages and Mosaics

INSTAGRAM AND PHOTOS

THE PROBLEM WITH OLD INSTAGRAM Old versions of Instagram were problematic when it came to printing photos. In order - presumably - to speed up loading times on the app, and due to the fact that people were rarely viewing the images at a size larger than their smart phone screen, Instagram would compress the image to a size that still looked great on a tiny phone screen, but was undeniably grainy or pixelated on computer screens or when one chose to zoom in or increase the size. INSTAGRAM TODAY Today, however, the photo produced by Instagram is essentially the same size as the one you took with your phone in the first place except, of course, that it is square rather than rectangular. It no longer seems to matter, either, whether you took the image with Instagram's in-app camera, or your phone's regular camera. This is great news, especially for people like me, who tended to delete their original photos after making their Instagram photo. This means you can easily create a print with the Instagram image - complete with filters and other editing - that was saved in your Photos. FROM APP OR ONLINE This does not mean you can take a screen shot of your image and make a large print, though. Doing this will result in an image approximately 1/4 the size of your original Instagram image. Instagram on your computer will also not allow you to right click and save an image - most likely to protect users from others taking their images without permission. That is not to say you can't get a photo this way, if you inadvertently deleted the original, but you will likely be able to print a crisp image at about half the size you would with the original.

INSTAGRAM PHOTOGRAPH SIZES

As mentioned above, the recent versions of Instagram tend to leave your photos the same size as the original (in other words: zero compression). This means you should be able to print an Instagram image that was saved to your phone at the same size you would print any other smart phone image. Newer smart phones should produce an image that is about 34 inches square. This doesn't mean every Instagram picture you've taken will look crisp and clear at 34 inches, but as long as the photo was in focus and the lighting was good to begin with, you should be able to print any size up to that. (Photos taken in the dark will appear grainy at smaller sizes.) Don't forget you aren't tied to the square shape. If you think your image would look better with a certain section cropped out, it can easily become an Instagram-filtered 8x10" or 18x24" image. We can even help you keep the original border! Bear in mind certain adjustments you make in Instagram might affect your photo, particularly Sharpen and Structure. These can result in a grainy appearance at a smaller size than you would see in your original. In such cases, it may be advisable to match - or have a graphic designer match - your original image to the Instagram version with editing software. At KeenART Media, we will let you know if we think your photograph will be of too grainy or otherwise unfit to print. We may suggest a smaller size, or a different image. Ultimately, though, the choice is up to you! Subject matter also affects the maximum size. Some graininess in a distant mountain landscape may be barely noticeable, while a portrait of the same size is unidentifiable.

PRINTING INSTAGRAM PICS TO CANVAS

Once you've settled on an ideal size for your chosen photos, it's time to pick your method of display. Canvas prints are a wonderful way to show off your favorite snapshots, and look really great as squares. Because our canvas is similar to plain artist's canvas, your prints have a beautiful, painterly texture. Another great thing about canvas: it can disguise imperfections if your print is just a little out of focus or pixelated. We offer some Special Instagram Pricing for canvas prints. You can also select your size from our Giclée Canvas Prints page and choose from a wide range of finishing options, including thin or thick gallery wrap or framed. A square Instagram print, be it a little 8x8" flower garden scene or a big 20x20" group photo, will look sharp and modern in a Canvas Floater Frame. These frames are made especially for canvas prints, and sit around the outside of the image, rather than overlapping the edge.

OTHER INSTAGRAM PRINT DISPLAY OPTIONS

Canvas isn't the only option for your Instagram pics, either. If you're looking for something different, we have many other great options for displaying your photos stylishly and safely. FRAMED PRINTS In addition to canvas, we can print your photos on top quality fine art paper or photographic paper. With more than ten to choose from, we're certain to have what you need to turn your little digital image into a work of wall art. We have more than 500 different picture frame moulding styles, as well as many mat colors to help you really round out that display. From smooth, modern black, to raw and rustic, to ornate gold leaf, KeenART Media has a frame for your budget and decor. PLEXI FACE MOUNT By sandwiching your print - on glossy or metallic fine art paper - between a sheet of thin aluminium di-bond and crystal clear acrylic glass, we create a vibrant, frameless image with all the punch of a super-saturated viewing screen. Because the acrylic is pressed tight against the print, light reflects off the photograph differently than in a traditional framed image, creating an almost three-dimensional effect and making the colors (or blacks and whites) extremely vivid. PLAQUE MOUNTS No longer just for motivational posters and office group shots, plaque mounts are a safe and beautiful way to preserve and showcase your art! Your Insta-pic is dry mounted to a wooden board, and laminated for a smooth matte finish. The bevelled edge serves as your frame, and can be any of a wide range of colors. You can even "mat" the image, or give it some depth with a Raised or Box mount. COLLAGES and MOSAICS Can't pick just one picture, or have a series that would look great together? Our graphic designer can whip up a collage for you, showcasing two, four, or ten of your favorite images all together on a single canvas or framed print. Want to compile all your Instagrams together in one place? How about a mosaic? Pick your favorite shot, and use the rest of your hundreds of images to recreate that picture. All your photos will be grouped together in miniature to form one big, beautiful print. Collages and mosaics are also a great way to make use of Instagram pictures that don't quite turn out in a large size.

Framed and matted Laminated plaques

Everything is digital these days, but if you want to escape the grasp of your smart device once in awhile, Instagram prints are a great way to do so. Show your friends your favorite images without needing to pull out your phone, zoom in, or swipe. Your beautiful photographs can be proudly displayed on your wall. And because all our products are time-tested and prepared with top-quality products, you'll be able to show off those images for decades! If you have any questions about printing your Instagram photos, or any of our other products or services, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our knowledgeable staff are always happy to answer your enquiries and provide suggestions or advice.