The 3D Memory Crystal™ Rectangle for Graduation is a high school, college, masters, doctoral, or specialty program graduation keepsake that turns the graduate's portrait, cap-and-gown photo, or diploma snapshot into a piece of K9 optical crystal. The Beyond Memories® rectangle is the classic portrait orientation — perfect for the formal academic headshot or the candid cap-toss. Engrave the graduate's name, school, degree, and date in Special Instructions for a complete commemorative keepsake.

Every Rectangle for Graduation starts with the photo you upload at checkout. Our design team in Las Vegas reviews and enhances the image for laser clarity, our artists set up the 3D engraving model, and a 4K laser fires millions of microscopic points inside the crystal — building the graduate's image one layer at a time from the inside out. Hand-polished, inspected, packed in a gift-ready box. Real artists, not algorithms.

100% K9 optical crystal — lifetime clarity, scratch-resistant, never fades
Rectangle portrait orientation — the natural format for academic portraits
4K laser engraving — millions of refractive points etched inside the crystal volume
Expert photo enhancement included — we touch up exposure, color, and background before engraving
Five sizes from Small to Max — pick by family display intent
Engrave a portrait, the school name, degree, and graduation date in one engraving
Standard or 4K HD engraving — HD recommended for crisp fine text
Compatible with the Memory Light Base for illuminated display
Premium gift-ready box included at no extra charge

Perfect for every graduation milestone

The Rectangle for Graduation works for every academic milestone in a family's calendar. Most-ordered scenarios: high school graduation (formal cap-and-gown portrait + name + school + year), college and university graduation (often paired with the parents-and-graduate candid from the ceremony), masters and doctoral programs (formal academic headshot + degree + university crest if available), and specialty programs (nursing pinning ceremonies, military academy, trade school completions). The rectangle's vertical format suits the formal academic portrait and gives clean text space for the credentials line below the photo.

How the personalization works

The engraving is built inside the crystal, not on its surface. After you upload the graduate's photo at checkout, our design team reviews it and enhances it for engraving clarity — sharpening detail, balancing exposure, simplifying busy backgrounds where helpful. We then convert the photo into a 3D model that maps to the rectangle's dimensions. The 4K laser leaves microscopic refractive points at exact depths inside the K9 glass, forming the graduate's image with lifelike volume. You can layer the portrait with text — name, school, degree, year — by adding instructions in Special Instructions at checkout. Our design team mocks up the layout before production starts.

What photo works best

For formal academic portraits: a clear cap-and-gown photo with the graduate's face well-lit and centered, JPG or PNG format at 2,000 px or larger. For candid graduation-day shots: a portrait where the graduate's face fills 30–60% of the frame, with the cap visible and a clean background (sky, wall, or simple architecture). Avoid wide-angle stage shots from the audience — the graduate ends up too small in the engraving. Plain or softly-blurred backgrounds engrave with more depth than busy ones. Our design team reviews every upload and will reach out if a photo needs to be re-cropped or replaced.

What's in the box

Your crystal ships in a premium gift-ready box — a navy presentation box with the Beyond Memories wordmark in gold, a soft microfiber pouch for cleaning, and a printed care card. A handwritten congratulations card slot lets you add a personal note inside the box. The crystal is nested in custom-cut foam to survive transit. If you add a Memory Light Base at checkout, it ships in the same box with its USB-C power cable.

Crystal care

K9 optical crystal is scratch-resistant and water-safe — the engraving is locked inside the glass, not on its surface. Wipe with the included microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints from the edges. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight, which is the only environment that can dim a 3D photo crystal over a span of decades. A drop of dish soap in warm water is safe for occasional deeper cleaning. The crystal pairs naturally with any indoor surface — mantel, nightstand, bookshelf, console table, or display cabinet.

Production and shipping

Standard production is 1-2 business days after your order. Express shipping options are available at checkout for time-sensitive gifts. Orders placed before 9 AM PST begin production the same business day. U.S. shipping is 3-5 business days via UPS, USPS, or FedEx. International shipping via UPS (Canada) and USPS (other countries), with rates calculated at checkout.

Frequently asked questions

Which size should I pick? Small is best for a desk or nightstand in the graduate's first apartment; Medium and Large suit a parent's mantel or the graduate's office. XL and Max are showpieces for grandparent-display or family group settings.

Can I include the school name, degree, and date in the engraving? Yes — add the full text in Special Instructions at checkout (no extra charge). Common layout: portrait centered, name below, school and degree on next line, year at bottom.

Can I engrave a university crest or logo? Yes — upload it as a transparent PNG or vector file alongside the portrait. We position it as a watermark or corner element. (Note: some universities have trademark restrictions on their crests — check with the school if uncertain.)

Standard vs 4K HD engraving? 4K HD is recommended for graduation keepsakes — the finer point density preserves text legibility (degree titles, dates) and academic portrait detail.

Does the crystal need a light base? No — the engraving is visible in normal indoor light. A Memory Light Base adds gentle illumination from below and makes the engraving glow in dim rooms — especially nice for evening study desk display.

Related from Beyond Memories

explore all graduation gifts
Rectangle (recipient-agnostic)
gifts for her collection
gifts for him collection
Rectangle for Mom variant

Backed by 20,000+ verified reviews and a 4.9-star average rating, hand-crafted in Las Vegas, Nevada by Beyond Memories®. 30-day satisfaction promise on every order.

Graduation Gifts

3D Memory Crystal™ - Tabletop - Rectangle - Graduation

3D Memory Crystal™ - Tabletop - Square - Graduation