Which Photo Works Best for a 3D Crystal? Good and Bad Examples

A 3D photo crystal can only be as good as the photo it starts from. The good news: you don't need a professional shoot. Most of the best crystals we engrave start as phone photos. What matters is focus, light and how much of the frame the faces fill. Here is how to choose.

How your photo becomes 3D

We remove the background, then turn the people (or pets) in your photo into a 3D model with depth: noses come forward, ears sit back, hair has volume. A laser then etches that model inside the crystal as thousands of tiny points. Fine detail in the photo becomes fine detail in the glass, and blur stays blur. That is why focus matters more than anything else.

Good photo vs bad photo

Works well	Engraves poorly
Faces sharp and in focus, especially the eyes	Motion blur, or focus on the background instead of the face
Soft, even light, such as near a window or in open shade	Harsh sun with deep shadows, or a bright window behind the person
Faces fill a good part of the frame	Tiny faces in a wide landscape shot
People standing close together	A long line of people with gaps between them
Eyes visible and unobstructed	Sunglasses, hat brims shading the eyes, hands over faces
The original photo file	Screenshots, social media downloads or photos with filters

Group photos

The more people you add, the smaller each face becomes. Choose a larger crystal for bigger groups; each crystal's page lists how many people or pets fit each size. A landscape rectangle is usually the best shape for families and teams. See our family photo crystals.

Pet photos

• Get down to their eye level.
• Sharp eyes and whiskers make the portrait.
• Daylight shows fur texture best; flash can make eyes glow.
• Dark-coated pets need good light so their features don't disappear.

More tips on our pet memorial crystals page.

Old printed photos

Old prints work well for memorial and anniversary crystals. Scan the print if you can. If not, lay it flat in daylight and photograph it straight on with your phone, without flash and without glare from glossy paper. Crop to the print's edges. Small creases and scratches are fine.

Background, colour and filters

The engraving is monochrome (it shows as white and grey points inside clear glass), so colour doesn't matter. Contrast and detail do. Skip beauty filters and heavy edits, which smooth away the texture that makes 3D engraving look real. We remove the background for you, so a busy room is fine.

Not sure about your photo?

Add a 3D proof at checkout and we'll email you a preview of your crystal to approve or change before we engrave. It's the easiest way to be sure, especially for an important gift.

Choose your crystal and upload your photo: every crystal is engraved to order in Langley, BC and ships free across Canada.