A mouse pad is the one personalised gift where a group photo is a good idea. Everything else we print is small or curved; the personalised mouse pad is flat, rectangular and large enough that six faces stay six faces. It is also looked at more than any other object on a desk, which is why a pet, a holiday or a child's drawing on it does something a framed photo does not: it gets seen every day without being looked for.
What it is
A smooth fabric top on a non-slip rubber base. The fabric surface is what the mouse glides on and what the design is printed into, so there is no laminate to peel and no edge to catch the mouse. The rubber base keeps it still on a desk during work, browsing or light gaming. It is a desk mouse pad, not a full-width desk mat.
Photos: the rules are looser here
- Landscape photos fit. The pad is wider than it is tall, so the photo your phone took sideways at the beach is the right shape for once.
- Group photos work, within reason. A family of six across the width of the pad is fine; a wedding party of forty is a pattern.
- The mouse lives in the middle. Whatever sits in the centre of the pad is under the mouse most of the day. Put faces towards the top or to one side and let the middle be sky, grass, table or water.
- Bright, clear, evenly lit. Dark or blurry photos print dark or blurry; the pad is big enough to show it. Send the original file, not a screenshot: the upload guide explains why.
Names and wording
A name on its own, large, in one corner reads as a desk nameplate and is the most common order from offices and schools. "Miss Patel", "Dave's desk", "Do not touch" in Block or Mono. For a photo with a name, put the name in the corner the mouse is least likely to cover (top left for a right-handed user) and keep it to one line.
Logos
For a business the mouse pad is the cheapest branded thing that stays on a desk for years. A logo prints best with a transparent background, in one or two flat colours, positioned top-centre with the rest of the pad in a brand colour rather than white. Order one to check the colour before a set of twenty. For staff names on each, add the name below the logo; every pad becomes its owner's rather than the company's.
Children's drawings
Photograph the drawing flat in daylight, straight on, crop the edges, and it prints as a drawing rather than as a photo of paper. A grandparent's desk with a grandchild's drawing on the mouse pad is the version of this product that gets the most repeat orders.
Keeping it clean
Wipe with a damp cloth and a little washing-up liquid, then let it air dry flat. Do not put it in a washing machine or tumble dryer: the rubber base does not like either. Coffee rings come out with the damp cloth if dealt with the same day.
Everything is printed to order in Cheshire, usually dispatched within one to three working days, with free UK delivery. Because the pad is printed from the image you send, it cannot be returned for a different image, so use the centre-of-pad rule and check the file. More desk ideas are in desk gifts for people who work from home, and the small companions are the fabric coaster and the kraft notebook.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a group photo on a mouse pad?
Yes; it is the one personalised gift where a group photo works, because the print is flat and wide. Keep faces towards the top or one side, since the mouse covers the middle.
Is the personalised mouse pad washable?
Wipe it with a damp cloth and a little washing-up liquid and air dry flat. Do not machine wash or tumble dry; the rubber base does not cope with either.
What file does a logo need for a mouse pad?
A PNG with a transparent background in one or two flat colours. Order one pad first to check the colour before ordering a set for a team.
