We're the Perfect Print team. "I wanted my photo a bit bigger, but the kiosk only offered 4x6 or 5x7" — "I printed it and the edges were cut off." Sizing is the most common print problem we hear about. Photo kiosks are convenient, but they pour your image into a fixed slot, so to hit an exact size or avoid cropping, you have to prep the layout first. This article shows how.
Why store prints don't come out the size you want
Most store printing falls into two buckets: photo prints (4x6, 5x7, 8x10, wallet) and document prints (letter, legal). Photo prints are fixed standard sizes — you can't ask for some custom size in between. And when your photo's aspect ratio doesn't match the paper's, the machine auto-crops the overhang. That's exactly what "the edges got cut off" is.
In other words, it's hard to control size at the counter. So the reliable move is to finish the layout in an app first, then bring it in. We handle that "build the data at real size" part in Perfect Print.
Decide the size first, then print
The idea is simple: make a single image with your photo placed at the exact size you want, inside the paper. In Perfect Print, choose a paper size (a letter sheet, or 4x6 / 5x7 photo print), set the photo's width and height in inches, and position it. For example, fit the photo with a margin so it isn't clipped, or place it larger on a letter sheet. Save the finished layout as one image.
Take that image to a print service — upload to Walgreens, CVS, or FedEx Office, or print it on your own printer. When exact size matters, a document print on a letter sheet is the most flexible, because you can print at 100% and the machine won't re-crop a layout you've already set. If you specifically want a photo print, build your layout on that photo-print paper size (like 4x6) from the start. For uploading and choosing services, see our store-print guide.
Avoiding crop and margin mistakes
What gets clipped is anything important near the edge — a face or text. When you place the image, leave a little margin around the key parts so a small shift won't cut them. Conversely, if you want a full-bleed, edge-to-edge print, place the image a touch larger than the paper to avoid a white border. For anything where the finished size matters, choose a document print you can run at actual size (100%), and check it with a ruler after printing.
Perfect Print
A free app that places images at real size (in inches) to build print-ready data. Avoid cropping, lay out several at once. No sign-up, iPhone / Android.
Learn more about Perfect PrintFrequently asked questions
Can I print at a custom size between 4x6 and 5x7?
Photo prints are fixed standard sizes, so there's no free in-between size. To get an exact size, place the photo at that size on a letter sheet in Perfect Print and run a document print at actual size.
How do I keep the edges from being cut off?
A mismatch between the photo's aspect ratio and the paper's triggers auto-crop. If you build an image with the photo placed inside the paper with margin, the machine prints your layout as-is without cutting it.
Where can I print this?
You can upload to Walgreens, CVS, or FedEx Office, or print on a home printer. When you want to hold an exact size, a document print on a letter sheet is easiest to run at actual size.
Can I print large without a printer at home?
Yes. Build the layout on your phone and upload it to a print service. You can also tile a large image across several letter sheets and tape them together to go bigger than a single sheet.