A family photo is personal, but a painted card feels like a small gift. With Agent Letter Desk, you can have both: you upload a photo, and our picture tool draws the people or the pet in it in a style that you choose. We print the card, put it in an envelope and mail it in the US.
An example: the Millers
On our cards page you can see one family photo and the cards made from it. The photo shows the father, the mother, three children and their golden retriever by the Christmas tree and the fireplace. From that one photo came three fronts, each with the words "Merry Christmas, the Millers":
- a bright gouache picture-book scene,
- a wax crayon drawing on kraft paper,
- a Scandinavian folk painting with flowers and birds.
The family stays the same. Only the style changes.
How it works
- Tell your AI app that you want a Christmas card made from your photo.
- It gives you a link to our upload page. Upload the photo there (JPEG or PNG, up to 10 MB).
- Tick "Use this photo as the model for a picture in a style", and confirm that you may use the photo and that the people in it agree.
- Go back to your AI app. It suggests two styles that fit the occasion, and asks you for two or three personal details, such as a hobby, a place or the dog's name.
- Our picture tool makes three drafts. You see each draft as the printed card front, and choose one, or ask for another round.
- Write the message together, check the preview of the whole card and the price, and approve.
Without the tick, we print your photo as it is.
Which photos work best
The picture tool works from the faces, hair, clothes and markings in your photo. The clearer they are, the more the drawing looks like your family.
- Faces clearly visible. Everyone looks toward the camera, with no sunglasses, hats low over the eyes or hands in front of faces.
- Good, even light. Daylight or a bright room. Strong shadows across a face, or a dark photo, make the likeness harder.
- Close enough. A photo where the people fill much of the frame works better than a small group far away.
- Few people. A family of five works well. A whole reunion gets crowded.
- The background does not matter much. The tool does not copy the background, text or logos from your photo. It paints a new scene in the style.
Styles that fit families and pets
When you upload a photo, your AI app sees a short list of styles that keep people recognizable. A few that suit Christmas:
- Loose watercolor portrait. Soft, light and classic. Our default for a photo when you do not choose a style.
- Gouache picture-book scene. Bright and cheerful, with rounded friendly shapes. Places people or a pet in a storybook scene. A good fit for families with young children.
- Colored-pencil portrait. Gentle strokes on cream paper. Lovely for a pet: it keeps fur, eye color and markings.
- Wax crayon. Hand-drawn and playful, like a child's drawing at its best.
- Scandinavian folk painting. Flowers, hearts and birds in folk red and blue. Festive and warm.
- Retro photo with doodles. Keeps your photo as it is, as a vintage snapshot surrounded by hand-drawn stars and hearts.
For a dog or a cat, say so: "Our dog Pepper, a black lab with a white chest." Details like that help the drawing.
Tips for a good likeness
- Name what matters. Glasses, freckles, curly red hair, a missing front tooth, the dog's bow: tell your AI app, and it can pass these details on.
- Look at each draft closely. A drawing is never a photo. If a face looks wrong, ask for another round with a note, for example "Make Sam's hair shorter."
- Expect a style, not a copy. If likeness matters most, choose a portrait style.
The people in the photo
Before you upload a photo of people, make sure that it is fine with them.
- Use a photo that you may use. Your own photo is the easy case.
- Ask the people in it. They agree to a drawing of them going to everyone on your list.
- Children. For children in the photo, a parent or guardian agrees.
The upload page asks you to confirm this before the picture tool may use the photo.
What we do with your photo
- We send the photo to our picture tool only to make your pictures.
- We remove the hidden photo data, such as the camera, the place and the time.
- We keep the photo like every card picture: 24 hours, or until your cards are finished. The drafts expire after 24 hours.
- Every draft goes through our automatic checks before you see it.
A message to go with it
Dear [name],
Merry Christmas from all five of us, and from Maple, who insisted on being in the picture. We hope your holidays are cozy and calm.
Love,
The Millers
The inside has room for about 550 characters. This is an example to adapt, not a template: you or your AI app write the message.
FAQ
Can you turn my family photo into a drawing for a Christmas card?
Yes. Upload the photo on the page that your AI app gives you, tick "Use this photo as the model", and choose a style with your AI app. Our picture tool makes three drafts to choose from.
Can I use a photo of my dog or cat?
Yes. Styles such as the colored-pencil portrait or the gouache picture-book scene keep fur, eye color and markings. Tell your AI app the pet's name and look.