8 Tips for Bronze Grave Marker Photos

One of the advantages of a bronze grave memorial is the ability to customize it with photos. Depending on the manufacturer and company you are working with, there are usually a couple different ways pictures can be used to personalize a grave marker.

Trigard Memorials, for example, offers portrait as well as collage-style markers in both Brilliant Impressions® Color and traditional oxide. A portrait marker showcases the person’s likeness as its main focal point.

Collage memorials are more versatile. They can feature a series of photos depicting loved ones at different stages of their life, celebrating special events, and may also include images of their spouse, significant other, or family. Adding a medallion is another special way to enhance a memorial’s beauty and value.

If you are considering incorporating a photo or group of photos into the grave memorial you will be purchasing, we’ve put together 8 tips for bronze grave marker photos to help ensure you are happy with the finished product.

Tip #1: Choose a High-Resolution Image

Image resolution is the amount of detail a photo holds. Selecting photos with a resolution of 300 pixels per square inch or more will help make certain the images portrayed on the grave memorial are clear and vivid. Most scanners give users the option of adjusting the resolution in their settings.

A low clarity image may be salvageable by scanning it at a higher resolution. Unfortunately, doing so with older pictures that are blurry or dark to begin with won’t add any more detail to the original image.

Bear in mind that not all cameras have the same capabilities. For most people, using a smartphone is the preferred method of taking pictures. However, not all smartphones have enough megapixels needed to produce photos that will result in a quality grave marker.

Although not always the most convenient, the best choice is to use photos taken on an actual camera.

Tip #2: Take the Size of the Image into Consideration

While picking out an image with a high-resolution is important, it does not necessarily guarantee the images on the grave marker will be sharp and bright. Here is an example demonstrating how the image’s size comes into play.

Let’s say you want to use a wallet-size photograph that has the desired resolution of 300 pixels per inch. Scanning an image at its original size preserves the quality of the picture.

However, enlarging an image of this size to fit a full-size grave marker will reduce its resolution. There is always the option of scanning the image at a higher PPI to begin with, but you run the risk of the photo being grainy and having other imperfections.

Families sometimes want to create a marker by using a driver’s license photo, most of which are substandard. An experienced designer may be able to do some amount of clean-up to make it more suitable, but a lot of small scale, low-resolution photos can only be refined to a certain level.

Tip #3: Make sure the JPEG is Properly Compressed

JPEG compression allows you to reduce the size of the image file so that it takes up less computer storage space and is easier to email.

Most newer digital cameras can compress images, while the majority of camera phones can not. The good news is most scanners and photo editing software will allow you to adjust a photo’s compression once it is saved.

Be aware that if you compress an image too much it will have a checkerboard-like appearance. Even a high-resolution image can be ill-suited for a marker if it is compressed too much.

Tip #4: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Your Salesperson for Help

We have now touched on a photo’s resolution, size and compression. If this all seems a bit foreign to you and technology isn’t your strong suit, scanning and adjusting a picture may be a task you aren’t comfortable undertaking. Don’t worry too much, your salesperson should be able to provide some assistance.

Although you may prefer to scan and email the file from the comfort of your own home, you can always hand-deliver or mail photos to your salesperson. Most grave memorial providers have a scanner on hand and can send the pictures for you.

You should also be able to submit a photo “as is” and rely on the person designing the marker to optimize the quality of the image. The drawback of doing so is you may find out the photo(s) you selected don’t meet the requirements needed to produce an acceptable memorial. This can not only be disappointing, but you will also have to wait longer for the marker to be finished.

Tip #5: Refrain from Taking a Picture of a Picture

If you plan to use a printed photo to create a grave memorial, a seemingly convenient way to submit it is to take a picture of the photo itself with your smartphone and email or text it to your salesperson.

Although quick and easy, this method is not favorable. A phone’s shadow can result in the image being skewed and having a dark spot in its center. The photo’s detail and contrast are negatively affected as well.

No matter how good the original photo may be, taking a picture of it will not do it any justice.

Tip #6: Start Planning Now with a Professional Photographer

The advantages of preplanning end of life arrangements are plentiful. Those who have the opportunity to create a grave memorial before a death has occurred have the option to hire a professional photographer to take pictures.

Pictures taken by a seasoned photographer with a high-end camera translate best to grave memorials. Older pictures taken by a photographer are, of course, good to use as well.

Professional photos can take a grave marker to the next level, but they certainly are not a must. Beautiful grave memorials can be made from all sorts of pictures taken on many different types of cameras.

Tip #7: Steer Clear of Screenshots

Screenshots, also called screen captures, may seem like a great way to obtain images for grave markers.

A benefit to social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram is they allow users to see and obtain pictures they wouldn’t normally be able to access. The problem with using a screenshot is it’s usually subpar and is not a good portrayal of the original image. Contacting the person who posted the photo and having him or her send you the actual printed photo is a much better option.

Tip #8: Have a Backup Photo or Two

All too often a family is displeased when they pick out a photo that appears to be suitable for their loved one’s marker and find out it’s not ideal for producing a high-quality grave memorial. Selecting a couple of photos as alternates is always a good idea.

Most grave memorial providers will have their designers create a computer-generated proof of the marker for a family to approve prior to production. This gives the purchaser(s) an idea of how the photo or photos may look when the piece is complete.

Since a proof doesn’t give an exact representation of a photo’s quality, the graphic designers at Trigard Memorials will indicate on the proof that the image is low quality and at risk to be blurry.

A Few Takeaways

One would think that choosing pictures that aren’t fuzzy or dark will result in the memorial looking just as envisioned. While this would be ideal, you now know this isn’t always the case.

To achieve optimal satisfaction with the finished product, consider going through all of your old photos to ensure you pick out the best ones. You may want to ask family members and friends for any photos they may have that you could use.

Another idea is to keep an eye out for photos that might look nice on a marker when choosing pictures to display at a visitation or memorial service. Once you have decided on the image(s), it is highly recommended to take a little extra time to make any necessary edits after the photo is scanned.

Including pictures on a grave marker has the power to transform a standard marker into a timeless work of art that is just as unique as the person being commemorated. Selecting photos should be done with thoughtful consideration so they can generate fond memories and feelings of comfort for graveside visitors. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words and will tell a story for years to come.