This guide will explain how to print wallet-sized photos on Mac. If you want a wallet-sized picture DIY printing method, this guide is for you!
Wallet-sized photos are perfect for photo keepsakes and ID copies. Regardless of why you want to print wallet-sized photos, though, continue reading.
Preparing the Photos
The first step is preparing the photos for printing. We will be using the Photos app on Mac to resize photos for wallets. Photos is the built-in Mac photo editing and photo viewing app. It allows you to select wallet photo dimensions for your pictures, although it’s not intuitive how to do so right away, so keep reading.
To crop photos on a Mac to fit into wallets, you should first open the picture in the Photos app. If it’s not showing up on the Photos app but is on your device, here is how to open it in the Photos app:
- Open the Photos app.
- Click on File in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Click on the Import option, as demonstrated in the screenshot below.
- Select the photo you want to import from your computer’s gallery.
- You will get a success pop-up message saying it has been imported successfully.
Setting Up the Print Layout
Once you have imported the photo, it’s time to choose the correct layout. While there’s no wallet photo template on Mac, you can lay out wallet photos without photo arrangement software for Macs.
First, in the Photos app, select and open the photo you want to print. At the top of the screen, under the File tab, click on Print, as highlighted in the screen below.
Next, select the type of paper you will be printing on. Most likely, you will be printing on A4 paper, so choose that.
The trick, though, is not to choose any of the layouts such as “Fit” or “Fill.” Instead, select the “Custom” option, which allows you to enter wallet dimensions for your picture.
The custom dimensions to put in are 2.5 × 3.5 (inches). That is the industry standard for wallet-sized photos, and selecting this size will ensure that the photos fit perfectly in your wallet.
You can also choose 3.5 × 2.5, depending on whether you want your photo to be vertical or horizontal.
The Printing Process
The next step, of course, is the actual printing process. You’ll need to insert wallet photo paper into your printer. You can use standard A4 paper, but you will need to cut out the wallet-sized photo that gets printed on it.
I recommend buying transparent vinyl or plastic ID cardholders designed for wallets, so you can insert the photo you printed out and keep it safe from damage. There are many of these on Amazon; just search for “plastic ID cardholder.”
In any case, once you have prepared your printer, click on the “Print” button at the bottom of the screen to start the borderless photo printing process.
You will be shown your printing options. You can choose which printer to print it to and how many copies you want to print.
If you haven’t yet added a printer, choose the “Printers & Scanners Preferences” option from the drop-down list (under “No Printer Selected”). That will take you to your print wallet photos settings on Mac.
Then, click on the plus (+) sign to add your printer. The easiest way for your computer to find your printer is to connect them via USB, but you can also search for it on your network via the printer’s IP address.
Printing Wallet-Sized Photos from an iPhone
Printing wallet-sized photos from an iPhone is a bit more difficult. The best option for iPhone photo printing is to use a wallet print app or website like Squared.one, which does the printing for you. All you need to do is upload your photo, and Squared.one will print it and send it to you in the mail. It will be printed on premium paper with a glossy or matte finish.
Of course, you can do this on a Mac as well. The benefit is that you don’t need to own any sort of premium paper or printer.
Wi-Fi printing on iPhone to AirPrint enabled printers is possible as well. You can share photos from the Photos app to a printer to be printed, but it won’t necessarily be in the size you want.
Understanding Wallet Photo Sizes and Standards
As I mentioned, the standard wallet photo size is 2.5 × 3.5 inches.
It’s important to understand wallet photo vs. passport photo sizes. Passport photo sizes are not the same as wallet photo sizes. Instead, they are 2 × 2 inches in the United States, although other countries may have slightly different guidelines, such as 2 × 2.5 inches.
Wallet photo dimensions worldwide, though, typically don’t vary as much. Most wallets around the world are designed to fit photos that are 2.5 × 3.5 inches.
Printing Wallet-Sized PDFs
If you ever want to print a wallet-size PDF, you can use Adobe’s tools to resize a PDF for printing. Simply open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat and select the Print option from the file menu. Click on “Size,” and then click on “Custom Scale.” That allows you to enter custom dimensions.
If you select the print PDF to scale option, it will automatically resize the PDF to the size of the paper you are printing it on.
Troubleshooting Common Wallet Print Issues
Let’s talk about printer troubleshooting/wallet photo tips for solving common issues you might experience when printing wallet-sized photos.
- The colors are off: Make sure your printer has the correct ink cartridges installed. If a color cartridge is low or out of ink, it could mess up the print. You can also try color calibration on Mac to check if the issue is with your Mac.
- Blurry wallet prints: If the prints are blurry or faded, a cartridge might be low on ink.
- Wrong photo size: You might have selected the wrong photo size. You can fix the wallet photo size by entering 3.5 × 2.5 in the custom settings. Your wallet may also have different dimensions, although that’s rare.
Creative Uses for Wallet-Sized Photos
You might be wondering why you would want to print a wallet-sized photo in the first place. There are many creative uses for wallet-sized photos:
- Wallet photo crafts: You can create bookmarks, small “I love you” cards, or other sweet photos and notes.
- Unique wallet photo ideas: You can print out your memories and gift it to your boyfriend, girlfriend, or loved ones.
- Gift cards: Another great idea for personalized gifts with wallet photos is to buy a digital gift card or discount code and print it on a wallet-sized photo, along with a custom note or message.
Conclusion
Wallet-sized photos are perfect for personalized photo gifts. Some other wallet photo display ideas include a temporary ID (such as the temporary digital driver’s license you get when ordering a new one). In this article, we have covered the best wallet photo apps, so start printing!
