How do I add my own handwriting?

Your words, in your own handwriting. Write a note on paper and add a photo: Snailmail prepares it for printing on the back of your postcard. The card is printed with your note; someone does not write it out by hand.

1. Open Real handwriting

Open your card’s Write your message step. Choose the Real handwriting tab, then Get started.

2. Write a short note on paper

Use plain paper and a dark blue or black pen. Aim for 4–6 short lines, leaving room for your sign-off. Leave space around the entire note, including signatures, punctuation and any little doodles.

Good lighting helps. Include the whole message in your photo, with a little space around the edges. Your handwriting does not need to be neat; it needs to be readable and yours.

When you are ready, choose I’ve written my note →. If you already have a photo, continue with this same button, then choose Choose image in the next step.

3. Add your photo

On a phone, choose Take photo or Choose image. On a computer, choose Choose image, or drop the photo into the photo area. JPEG, PNG, WebP and iPhone HEIC photos are supported.

Using your computer but want to take the picture on your phone? Choose Take a photo with your phone, scan the private code, then choose Take photo or Choose image on your phone. When you see Photo sent, continue on your computer to crop and review it. The private upload link expires after 15 minutes. If it expires, go back and open a new link. If you cannot use the phone link, transfer the photo to your computer and use Choose image instead.

A computer also offers Use webcam. Allow camera access if prompted, then choose Take photo. If your camera cannot open, use Choose image instead.

4. Crop and prepare your note

In Crop photo, drag the corners around your whole note. Leave a little padding around the sign-off, punctuation and doodles. Use Rotate 90° if needed. You can pinch to zoom and drag the zoomed photo to pan; on a computer, Fine-tune crop has edge sliders, and focused crop corners also respond to arrow keys.

Choose Prepare my handwriting, then wait for the cleaned preview. This prepares the photo; it does not approve the note for your card yet.

5. Review it and choose the placement

Compare Original with On your postcard. Check every word, the punctuation, your sign-off and any doodles. Cleanup is not a guarantee of a perfect result, so approve only a preview you are happy to print.

Use Zoom in to inspect it closely. Inspection zoom does not change the print size. On a phone, Adjust placement lets you drag to move and pinch or use − Smaller and + Larger to resize. Finish with Done. On a computer, use Size, Horizontal position and Vertical position. Placement changes are free.

When everything looks right, choose Use this handwriting. Your chosen result is then added to the card. Check the final postcard preview again before checkout.

What does it cost?

Real handwriting is $0.49 USD or €0.49 EUR extra for each physical postcard that uses the approved handwriting, in your checkout currency and added to the postcard price. Quantity discounts do not reduce this add-on. For example, three cards using it add $1.47 USD or €1.47 EUR. A card using a typed message has no real-handwriting add-on.

Preparing and previewing the photo does not select the paid add-on. Use this handwriting selects it for the order at the price shown in your currency; payment happens at checkout. Review the card quantity, add-ons and total before you pay.

Typing your note and choosing Handwriting font under Type is a writing style, not a photo of your handwriting. That option has no real-handwriting add-on.

Need another result?

Each project includes 3 successful photo cleanups. The allowance is shared across its postcard designs and copies of the project; it is not three per recipient. A failed cleanup does not use the allowance.

Try again returns to the crop; Choose another photo lets you add a different image. Preparing another version uses one cleanup. Moving or resizing a prepared result does not. When more than one result is saved, use Saved results to compare them. If you have used all three cleanups, choose a saved result or use your typed message.

Once approved, Replace handwriting opens the replacement flow when another cleanup is available. To return to typing, open Type and choose Use typed message. This restores your typed note and removes the real-handwriting add-on before checkout; it does not transcribe the photo into editable text.

Sending to several people?

Real handwriting changes the shared message for the selected postcard design. A recipient who already has a personal typed message keeps that separate note. Review each recipient; choose Use shared message for a recipient only if you want that person to receive the shared handwritten note.

The extra is charged for the physical cards that actually use the handwriting, even when the same note is printed more than once. This workflow does not upload a different photographed note inside each recipient’s personal-message editor. See personalising messages and sending several postcards.

For more help, read writing a message or postcard pricing.