How printing works
You bought a set of files, not a piece of paper. That is the point: you choose the size, the paper and the frame, and you can print again whenever you like. Here is how to get a result that looks like it came from a gallery.
Pick the file for your frame
Every download includes five ratios. Use the one that matches your frame and nothing gets cropped:
- 2:3 file: 4x6, 8x12, 12x18, 16x24, 20x30, 24x36 inches
- 3:4 file: 6x8, 9x12, 12x16, 18x24 inches
- 4:5 file: 8x10, 11x14 with a mat, 16x20 inches
- 11:14 file: 11x14 inches without a mat
- ISO file: A5, A4, A3, A2 for European frames
Three ways to print
A local print shop or photo lab
The easiest route for anything above 8 by 10. Ask for a print on matte or lustre photo paper, or on a heavy matte fine-art stock if they offer it. Bring the file on a phone or USB stick, or upload it to their website.
An online lab
Upload the matching file, choose the size and paper, and it arrives in a few days. Look for labs that offer giclee or archival options for prints you intend to keep for years.
At home
A recent inkjet printer with a photo setting produces excellent 5 by 7 and 8 by 10 prints. Use the printer maker’s own matte photo paper, set the paper type in the print dialog, and turn off any fit-to-page scaling so the ratio stays true.
Paper
Matte hides fingerprints and glare behind glass. Lustre adds a little depth to dark inks. Glossy is best avoided for wall art because it reflects the room. Heavier is better: 200 gsm and up lies flat in a frame.
Framing
- Print at the exact frame size, or one size larger with a mat.
- Let the print dry fully before it goes behind glass.
- Hang the center of the print at about 57 inches from the floor, or level with the top of a sofa plus eight inches.
Still unsure which size to choose? Every product page lists the sizes its files support, and a note from the contact page is answered within a day.