Adding Text to a Photo Gift

Most personalized photo gifts let you add text such as a name, a date, or a short message alongside the photo, and that text prints exactly as you type it, including spelling and capitalization. The number of text fields and characters allowed varies by product, and you enter and review them at checkout. This guide covers how text fields work, what prints how you type it, and how special characters are handled.

What Text You Can Add

The text options depend on the product, but most formats accept a name, a date, or a short line or two of personalization. A song-style plaque has several labeled fields for titles and dates; a name plate has lines for a name and title; a puzzle or crystal may offer one optional engraved line. The product page shows exactly which fields a given item has and how many characters each holds, so the limits are always visible before you order rather than guessed at.

For original wording examples with checked counts, see short messages for a photo crystal.

Whatever the fields, one rule applies across all of them.

Text Prints Exactly as You Type It

Your text is printed or engraved character for character, as entered, with no edits on our side. That means the spelling, capitalization, spacing, and punctuation you type are what appear on the finished piece. A name typed in all lowercase prints in lowercase; a typo in a date prints as the typo. Because there is no separate proof-approval step (see whether you get a proof before a photo gift is printed), the moment to check the text is at checkout, on the preview, before you confirm.

This is also why character limits exist and why they matter.

Character Limits and Why They Exist

Each text field has a character limit so the text stays legible at the printed size. A few practical points:

• Limits vary by product and field; a title line typically allows more characters than a short date or label field.
• Spaces and punctuation count toward the limit, so a long name with a middle initial uses more of the allowance than it looks.
• Shorter text reads better at a glance than text squeezed to the maximum, so the limit is a ceiling, not a target.

The field on the product page enforces its own limit as you type, so you cannot exceed it by accident. Special characters are the last thing worth knowing about.

Names, Dates, and Special Characters

Standard letters, numbers, spaces, and common punctuation print reliably, including apostrophes in names and slashes or dashes in dates. Accented letters and diacritics found in many names are generally supported, though very unusual symbols or non-Latin scripts may not render in every font; if a name relies on special characters, it is worth confirming before ordering. For names, type them in the order and format you want them to appear, since they print as entered. The full ordering process, including the checkout review that replaces a proof, is in our guide on how ordering a personalized photo gift works, and every customizable piece is in our personalized photo gifts collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a name or date to a photo gift?

Most formats allow it. Depending on the product you can add a name, a date, or a short message in labeled text fields. The product page shows which fields are available and how many characters each holds.

Will my text print exactly as I type it?

Yes. Text is printed or engraved character for character, including spelling, capitalization, and punctuation, with no edits on our side. Proofread it on the checkout preview, since there is no separate proof-approval step.

How many characters can I use?

It depends on the product and the field. Title lines allow more than short date or label fields, and spaces and punctuation count toward the limit. The field enforces its own limit as you type, so you cannot exceed it.

Do apostrophes and accented letters work?

Generally yes. Apostrophes, dashes, slashes, and most accented letters print reliably. Very unusual symbols or non-Latin scripts may not render in every font, so confirm before ordering if a name depends on them.