For years now our smartphones have been our go-to, personal cameras. There's little need to carry a dedicated point-and-shoot when the mini-computers in our pockets take more than adequate photos.
But far fewer people actually do anything with those photos. Instead, they sit untouched in our camera rolls and digital galleries or in our preferred cloud storage vaults, with little more than a passing glance on occasion.
Sticky9, a photo printing service wants to change that. Rather than snapping more photos than ever and not enjoying viewing them, the company wants to take your best digital photos and turn them into physical keepsakes. Starting out by turning Instagram photos into magnets, the company now offers a range of products from prints to posters to magnets, greetings cards, photobooks and even custom gadget cases.
I took Sticky9's free iOS app for a spin (Android app also available) to see how easy it is to create your own photo-based mementos and what the end product looked like.
The app itself is super straight forward to use — check out the products on offer, select the one you wish to order and add in your photos. You’ll get a preview of the result and can have it ordered to your door in minutes. Adding your photos is easy. You can select them from your camera roll, Instagram profile or Facebook albums.
The ordering process has been optimized well for the mobile form factor with clear instruction and visual feedback. Sticky9’s iOS app also takes advantage of Apple Pay in the USA and UK meaning adding your address and credit card details takes seconds, or you can add them manually as you might expect.
One downside to this mobile app optimization is that not all of Sticky9’s offerings can be ordered through the app at this time. You can create and order photo magnets, prints, posters and greetings cards but not all of the products purchasable through the website. More products are coming to the app “soon”, but it would have been great to have access to them all.
For my order (I opted for the eponymous set of 9 photo magnets) the shipping time was speedy with a 4 day turnaround. This particular product is made in the UK and, me being based in England, means the shipping time was terrific. Sticky9 ships worldwide though and, depending on your location or the product type you order, you can expect to have your product delivered within 5 days to two weeks. Shipping is free on all products to all locations which is awesome.
Quality and price are the two main considerations for the end product itself. The latter is very reasonable, especially when you factor in that shipping is included — a draw over many competing services.
The quality of the magnets I received was good for the price. The printing isn’t the highest quality — certainly not the pixel-perfect or 100% color accurate — but the images are clear and bright. Although some prefer a glossy effect, I am a fan of the matte finish of Sticky9’s photo magnets as this gives of a more modern feel in my opinion. Magnetically, they are strong enough — and could hold a few sheets of paper to your fridge — but they are more decorative than functional, so bear that in mind.
Sticky9’s products make for excellent keepsakes and are a great way to display and enjoy the best digital snaps you take. The value for money is good and with the company’s ‘quality promise’, you can order with confidence knowing you’ll get a product you’re happy with or your money back.
Check out Sticky9’s iOS app on the App Store and the Android version on Google Play.
If you intend to order products as gifts ahead of the holiday season, check out the company’s last order dates to ensure your order will be with you in time!
