A classic photo mug in its fullest layout: five pictures printed in full colour on plain white ceramic, with no coating, theme print or coloured interior involved. Five is the maximum this shape takes, and choosing it means accepting that each individual photograph is small.

The Ceiling, and the Reason for It

The printable band on a standard mug is a little over ten inches once unrolled. Split five ways, a frame is about two inches wide. A face is still identifiable at that width from normal reading distance, and almost nothing else is. Six would take the frames past the point where a person can be recognised, which is where the range stops. There is no technical barrier to printing more, only a practical one, and a mug covered in unrecognisable people is not worth the ceramic under it.

When Completeness Beats Size

Five is right when the whole set is the message and no single picture is carrying it. Five grandchildren, one each. A year in five photographs. Five generations of the same family.

Five dogs. In those cases nobody studies an individual frame, and leaving one person off would be the real problem. Five is wrong when one picture is the picture, because here it gets exactly the same two inches as the rest, and the single image version exists precisely for that case.

White Ceramic and Three Sizes

Plain glazed white is the ground that alters colour least, which counts for more as frames get smaller and have less room to absorb a cast. Eleven ounces is the everyday size, the one most cupboards hold. Fifteen ounces is noticeably taller and takes more. Twenty ounces is the tallest and the heaviest when full. With five narrow frames the vertical room on the larger sizes is the single most useful upgrade available.

Choosing and Sending the Five

Portrait orientation suits these frames better than landscape, since each is taller than it is wide. Pick all five before ordering rather than substituting later. If two of them came from the same afternoon and look much alike, drop one and take the four image version, where every remaining picture gets meaningfully more space.

The glaze takes the microwave. Use the top rack in the dishwasher. Washing it by hand keeps the colour brightest.

The picture is printed by sublimation. If an original looks flat, Colour Enhancement costs $1.99 per image. A hand wash keeps the picture sharper over years.

Full Gifting Experience

Gift Wrapping Service

Let ArtPix 3D wrap your present for you! We have a variety of festive patterns for you to choose from while customizing your item.

Pop-up Greeting Card

Add a 3D Greeting Card to your order! Each one opens to reveal a beautiful pop-up surprise.

Video Books

Make your message unforgettable with this sleek, hardcover video brochure, combining audio, video, and print for a truly personal touch.

  • Made in USA

    Every crystal is crafted in Chicago with care, precision, and premium materials.

  • Same-Day Shipping

    Order before 2 PM CT for same-day shipping, other shipping options available at checkout.

  • 30-Day Return

    Shop with confidence knowing every order is backed by our 30-day return policy.

You may also like

Classic Five Photo Mug FAQs

You can upload any high-quality image that you’d like to have engraved in your crystal. That could be a favorite family photo or a picture of you and your spouse. It could also be a really great selfie or a picture of your dog. Everyone has unique memories that are special to them, and at ArtPix 3D, we totally get that.

So go ahead! Upload a photo of the llama you saw at the petting zoo, the cactus that poked you on your family vacation, or the treehouse you used to hang out in before it got struck by lightning. Maybe this picture is linked to a significant moment in your life, or maybe it’s part of an elaborate inside joke; either way, we’re happy to engrave it in a custom crystal keepsake that you can treasure forever.

Of course! You can add custom text to any size of our 3D Crystal Rectangle, Square, Heart, or Diamond.

After uploading your photo, select the text box labeled Custom Engraving to write your message. It should be 150 characters or less, including spaces.

You can review your message in your order summary once you add the item to your cart. You should always proofread your text before completing your purchase!

We’re not able to engrave text on any of our crystal necklaces, keychains, or wine stoppers because of their small size. We’re also unable to add text to our 3D Crystal Iceberg due to its unusual shape.

All our crystal items come in a custom black gift box with internal padding, which protects your crystal during shipment, and offers a great way to store your crystal securely when not on display.

Ordering a custom crystal online at ArtPix 3D is easy! You’ll start by selecting a crystal product from our shop. Next, you’ll upload your photo and adjust its position on a template of your crystal shape. Once you’re happy with your preview, you can customize your crystal by choosing your size and writing a note or caption to be engraved below your image. You can also select various add-ons to be included with your order, such as light bases, greeting cards, and a cleaning kit.

When you’re finished, double-check to make sure you’re satisfied with the customization options you selected. Next, check the box that reads “The personalization I entered is correct,” and select Add to Cart.

You’ll have another opportunity to confirm your personalization in your cart. Check your order summary to verify that the size, shape, and orientation (if applicable) of your crystals are correct. You should also proofread any text and make sure your selected add-ons are all present and accounted for. If you enabled ArtPix HD for your photo, your summary should confirm it.

Next, enter your payment and shipping details. If you have a discount code, you can apply it at this stage under Apply Coupon. You can also provide any custom instructions under Order Notes. Finally, select Place Order to finalize your purchase.

Order before 2pm CT for same-day shipping!

Our estimated delivery timeframes are as follows*:

Free Shipping (1-4 days) with orders $79+

Standard $9.99 (1-3 days)

Express $22.99 (1-2 days)

High Priority Express $39.99 (1 day)

Tracking information is provided with all shipping options for your convenience.

*Please note that actual delivery times may vary, especially during peak seasons. Precise delivery times are available during checkout. Additionally, our shipping services are subject to specific cutoff times for same-day processing (2pm CT) and may have limitations on delivery locations. Same-day processing does not apply on Sundays and, therefore, may add an additional day to our estimated delivery timeframes.

The international shipping options that will be available to you during checkout are:

CountryFreeEconomyPriorityPriority PlusExpress
Australia4-9 days3-8 days3-5 days2-4 days1-3 days
Canada5-9 days4-7 days2-4 days2-3 days1-2 days
Germany4-9 days3-8 days3-5 days2-4 days1-3 days
New Zealand4-9 days3-8 days3-5 days2-4 days1-3 days
United Kingdom4-9 days3-8 days3-5 days2-4 days1-3 days

Great question! You earn 2 points for every dollar spent on any Crystal items and 1 point for every dollar spent on any non-crystal add-ons (light bases, wrapping paper, greeting cards, cleaning kit, ornament stands, candles, etc).

You can also earn points by leaving reviews on purchased items, referring a friend, following us on Instagram, liking us on Facebook, and subscribing to our Newsletters. We also celebrate our customers with points on Birthdays and Anniversaries! For more information, check out our Rewards page

Does ArtPix 3D specialize in custom crystal gifts? The answer to both questions is a hearty yes! We handle your digital photos with the utmost care, and we’ll never use them for any purpose other than to create your custom crystal.

Still have questions?

Help Center

Request a Callback

Leave us your number and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Chat With Us

Our awesome customer service team is ready to help!

Any Questions?

Request a Callback

Leave us your number and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Chat With Us

Our awesome customer service team is ready to help!

How to Create Your Own Custom Coffee Mug

Our custom mug printing process uses the latest in sublimation printing technology to ensure your favorite photos never peel or fade in the microwave or dishwasher. Add up to 5 photos, align them just the way you like, add text, then get ready to sip in style.

Looking for more creative custom gifts, keepsakes, and lifestyle goods? Check out our shop!