For parents in the 21st century, it’s a common problem: What to do with all those adorable kid pics you have clogging up your smartphone. So we tried out some products for getting your fave photos off your phone and into your hands. Here are three we liked:
Pics to prints
PostalPix (free, iPhone, Android) takes photos directly from your phone and mails you prints within a few days. The photos are easy to select, and the app warns you if resolution quality is poor. You’ll pay a little more than at your local photo spot (pics range from 29 cents for a 4×4 to $3.49 for an 8×10), and it takes a few days for delivery, but we were pleased with the photo quality. Some were so clear, they’d look great in a frame. The app also features order history, account and support icons, so you quickly can find what you need.
Family photo album
If you like making photo books, but don’t have the time, try Mosaic (free, iPhone). This app allows you to make a 20-page photo book for a flat rate of $20. We liked the ease of adding and reordering photos to produce the perfect little book. You’ll want to edit your photos first-problems with red eye and lighting are more obvious when printed. We think the best feature is the pretty tiled cover, making it ideal for displaying on your coffee table. Or the pop-up alerts that let us know exactly when the book was printed, mailed and set to be delivered (a lightning-fast three days).
Wall art
The showstopper was CanvasPop , a website that takes your photos from smartphone, as well as Instagram and Facebook, and turns them into beautiful canvas prints. CanvasPop is a pricier option, with selections starting at $30 for an unframed 8×10, but the end result is a treasure you’ll keep forever. Save 25 percent off your CanvasPop order through April 30 with discount code CHICAGOPARENT.
