How to Make a Personalized Wall Photo Mural

Edit Photo

Open photo in photo editing program and ensure that the resolution is 300 pixels per inch. Add a vertical and horizontal guide at the halfway point on both axes.

Crop

Crop photo to a 4-by-3 ratio.

Crop to Sections

Crop photo into four sections: top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right. Once you crop, resize each individual section to 36 by 48 inches.

Save to Flash Drive

Save each section as a different file on a flash drive. Be sure to save as a PDF file type.

Print Photos

Take flash drive to a nearby copy center or office supply store that does engineer prints. Ask for each file to be printed separately as one engineer print. Tip: Although many copy centers also make oversized prints in color, it's much more cost-effective to have them printed in black and white. Ask your local copy center for a price comparison if you're interested in a color mural.

Trim Edges

After printing, trim excess white space from the edge of the sheets. Be sure to leave enough space for overlap on adjoining pieces.

Hang Photo

Starting with the top-left piece, roll tape backwards on itself and stick to each corner of the print. Affix to the wall. Add additional tape on the back side as needed around edges. Follow with top-right piece, then bottom two pieces, overlapping where necessary. Tip: The hanging process is best accomplished with two people so that it's easier to maneuver the pages. Be sure to use enough tape on the edges of the pages so that they don't gape or bulge. It may also be helpful to use a bit of tape in the center of each piece. Finally, be aware that this project will have seams where the pages meet; do your best to disguise them by ensuring that the pages are hung flat and taped thoroughly.

Smooth and Straighten

Stand back and ensure that each piece is level and matches adjoining pieces. Smooth out any bumps that may have occurred during hanging process.