A photograph can make a coaster personal without adding a line of text. A place, a building, a landscape or a small detail from an event can carry the whole idea. The challenge is choosing an image that still works when printed at coaster size and partly covered by a drink.
Start with the original photograph rather than a screenshot or a copy saved from a conversation. Then decide what the coaster should show. A clear subject and a deliberate crop usually matter more than adding effects or trying to preserve everything visible in the full image.
Choose a photograph with one obvious subject
A wide landscape with a strong horizon can work beautifully, but a busy scene full of tiny faces may be difficult to appreciate. At 93 mm across, fine details become small. Look for a subject you can recognise quickly without zooming in.
Buildings, bold colour contrasts and simple travel scenes often give you room to crop. For a portrait, check that the face remains large enough to read and does not sit awkwardly beneath the glass base. A photograph chosen for its emotional meaning may still need a different composition for print.
Hold a rough printed crop at a normal viewing distance. If you have to explain where the important detail is, consider another image. The coaster does not need to tell the entire story of a trip or celebration; one recognisable moment is enough.
Crop for the final shape
A square format can suit an architectural detail or a scene with important features near the sides. A circle can frame a central subject, but it removes the corners. Do not judge the crop only inside the square artwork document if the final coaster will be round.
Try both outlines before making detailed adjustments. Leave breathing room around faces, buildings and other essential elements. A tight crop may feel dramatic on screen but become uncomfortable when cutting variation or the glass itself hides part of the subject.
Compare round paper coasters and square formats. Both are 93 mm wide at Hey Coasters, so the choice changes the frame rather than increasing the overall width. Keep the same photograph in both mock-ups when comparing them.
Check resolution before editing
A large-looking image on a screen may still have too few pixels for a sharp print. Check the actual pixel dimensions of the source file rather than its appearance in an app. Enlarging a small file does not recover detail that was never captured.
The Hey Coasters artwork guide asks for 300 DPI at final size and gives a 1,170 × 1,170 px or larger square artwork reference including the required document area. Keep the original image larger than the final crop where possible so you have enough detail after reframing.
If the only available image is small, choose a less demanding crop or another photograph. Repeatedly sharpening the file can create harsh edges without solving the underlying limitation. Be especially cautious with pictures downloaded from social platforms or passed through several messaging apps.
Leave room for bleed and safe margins
For a 93 mm coaster, prepare a 99 × 99 mm document with 3 mm bleed on every side. Extend the image or background into that extra area so the cut does not leave an unintended white strip. The bleed will not appear in the finished coaster.
Keep essential content at least 4 mm inside the cut line. That includes an important face or architectural feature, not only added text. If the subject sits directly against the edge, a small trimming difference can change the composition noticeably.
A border requires particular care. A narrow frame can make minor cutting differences more obvious, while an image extending to the edge may feel more forgiving. Print a full-size mock-up, mark the final outline and check what is removed before uploading the file.
Expect a matte printed photograph
Hey Coasters uses 470 g beer mat board, giving the image a different setting from a glossy photo print or a backlit phone screen. Review the photograph for a clear subject, sensible contrast and visible detail in the important areas.
Very dark scenes can hide small features, while pale low-contrast images may feel quieter than expected. Make restrained adjustments to the original file rather than using a strong filter simply to make the preview appear more dramatic. If exact colour matching is essential, discuss the requirement before ordering.
Look at the mock-up under the lighting where it will be used. A photograph of a night-time street may feel atmospheric in daylight yet become difficult to read in a dim bar. The intended venue should guide the final choice as much as the image itself.
Use a photograph you are entitled to print
Choose your own work or an image with permission for the intended printed use. A photograph found online is not automatically available for reproduction. For business orders, confirm the licence covers the project and keep the permission record with the approved artwork.
For private photographs featuring other people, consider whether they are comfortable with the image being distributed and photographed at the event. Children and private family moments deserve particular care. If there is any doubt, a landscape or meaningful object can provide a personal design without using a portrait.
Give the final file one last physical check
Print the artwork at actual size and place the intended glass on top. Check the crop, covered areas and visible border. Ask another person to look at the same mock-up, because familiarity can make an awkward crop harder to notice after a long editing session.
Keep the crop settings with your approved artwork so a later reorder uses the same composition.
Upload the completed file in Hey Coasters Studio, then select the shape and quantity and inspect the preview. If a ready-made illustration suits the occasion better, explore the event coaster collection. Keep the original photograph and the approved print file separately so future edits begin with the best available source.
