Pro Lab's editor flags photos with yellow or red warnings when their resolution is below the recommended quality for your chosen print size. This guide explains what each warning means, why you should never ignore them, and exactly how to fix each one.
The warning system at a glance
Warning Colour | What It Means | Action Required |
No warning | Photo resolution is excellent for the chosen size | None — proceed |
🟡 Yellow warning | Resolution is acceptable but borderline | Caution — will likely print soft, consider alternatives |
🔴 Red warning | Resolution is too low for sharp printing | Must fix — will look blurry or pixelated |
What yellow warnings mean
A yellow warning appears when your photo has enough resolution to print, but not enough for our recommended sharpness. The result will be:
- Slightly soft details
- Acceptable from a normal viewing distance
- Less crisp than other photos in your book
When yellow is acceptable
- The photo is irreplaceable (e.g. old family photo)
- The print size is small (4x6" or smaller)
- Soft detail won't hurt the photo (e.g. dreamy portraits, abstract shots)
When yellow should be fixed
- The photo will be a centerpiece (cover, full-page spread)
- The print size is large (12x18" or above)
- Sharpness matters (text, faces, fine detail)
What red warnings mean
A red warning appears when your photo is too low-resolution to print well at the chosen size. The result will be:
- Visible blurriness
- Possible pixelation (block-like patterns)
- Jagged edges on text and lines
- Customer dissatisfaction after printing
Red warnings should never be ignored for important photos.
How to fix yellow and red warnings
Option 1: Re-upload the original (most effective)
Why it works: WhatsApp, social media, and chat-app copies are compressed to roughly 100–300 KB. The original from your camera or phone is 10–30x larger and far sharper.
How to get the original:
- From your phone gallery: AirDrop, email, or use Google Drive to transfer
- From the original sender (WhatsApp): Ask them to share as a document, not as a photo
- From iPhone: Use "Export Unmodified Original" in Photos.app
- From Google Photos: Click Download original (not the screen-optimised version)
Option 2: Reduce the print size
If you cannot get a higher-resolution copy, choose a smaller print size where the photo will still look sharp:
Photo dimensions | Maximum recommended size |
600 × 900 px | 4x6" |
1200 × 1800 px | 8x10" |
2400 × 3600 px | 12x18" |
3600 × 5400 px | 16x24" |
4800 × 7200 px | 20x30" or larger |
See our File Resolution & Quality Requirements article for full details.
Option 3: Choose a different photo
If you have multiple shots of the same moment (e.g. several photos at a wedding ceremony), pick the sharpest one. The editor's preview shows which look best at full resolution.
Option 4: Apply AI enhancement
Pro Lab's AI enhancement can sharpen borderline photos and improve clarity. It works best on:
- Slightly soft photos (not severely blurry)
- Dim or shadowed photos
- Older photos with faded colours
It cannot fix:
- Heavily pixelated images
- Photos that were originally very low-resolution
- Out-of-focus shots from the original camera
Option 5: Professional upscaling (irreplaceable photos)
For irreplaceable family or heritage photos that you cannot replace, contact support@prolab.in — we can advise on professional upscaling services for an additional fee.
What I shouldn't do
- Don't ignore red warnings — the printed result will disappoint you
- Don't assume "it looks fine on screen" — screens are 72–96 DPI; prints are 300 DPI. Soft photos on screen look much softer when printed large
- Don't apply heavy software upscaling (Photoshop "Image Size") and expect quality — it can introduce artefacts
Pre-order checklist for photo quality
Before you order, verify:
- ✅ All warnings addressed — no red, minimal yellow
- ✅ Centerpiece photos (cover, full spreads) have no warnings
- ✅ You've zoomed in on the preview to spot soft photos
- ✅ Originals uploaded, not compressed copies
- ✅ Print size matches your photo resolution (see table above)
When to contact support
If you're uncertain whether a photo will print well, contact us before ordering:
- Email support@prolab.in with the photo (attached) and your intended print size
- We'll review and tell you honestly if it will print sharply
We'd rather help you avoid disappointment than process a complaint after delivery.
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