Printing guide
Your files are print-ready. This page covers the few settings that make a print look the way it does on screen.
Which file do I use?
- PDF for printing at home, and for any shop that accepts PDFs. There is one for each size in the download.
- PNG for photo kiosks and shop apps that only take pictures. We include A4 and A3 at 300 dpi.
- Square image and phone wallpaper for sharing and for screens. They are not meant for printing.
Printing at home
- Open the PDF for the size you want. Choose the one that matches your paper, such as A4 for A4 paper.
- In the print window, set the scale to Actual size or 100%. Do not choose "Fit to page" or "Shrink to fit", which can shrink the design and leave a wider border.
- Set the paper type to match what is in the tray (for example "Matte photo paper"), and the quality to High or Best.
- Print one copy and look at it in daylight before printing more.
Most home printers cannot print right to the paper edge, so you will see a thin white border. That is normal. Light styles hide it best, and a frame with a card mount hides it completely. If you want a design that goes right to the edge, a shop can print it borderless.
Paper
- Weight: 200 to 300 gsm gives a print that feels like a print. Ordinary 80 gsm office paper is fine for a first look, but it curls and shows through.
- Matt or satin: matt has no glare and hides fingerprints, which suits a frame by a window. Satin gives slightly richer blacks and is a good choice for the dark styles.
- Heavier is not always better: check the maximum weight your printer accepts before buying thick card.
Dark designs use a lot of ink
A midnight-blue poster is mostly ink. If you print at home, the light colourways (look for Ink saver, Mono or Paper) use far less and cost a lot less to print. For a dark style, a shop will usually do a better and cheaper job than a home inkjet.
Photo shops: Boots, Max Spielmann, Snappy Snaps
Services and sizes vary between shops and change over time, so check with your branch. In general:
- Use the PNG at a photo kiosk or in a shop's app or website. Pick the A4 or A3 file to match the print size you order.
- Choose the size closest to your file, and select no crop or fit if you are offered "fill" or auto-crop, so the edges of the design stay in.
- Ask for matt or lustre paper for a calmer finish than gloss.
- For sizes the kiosk does not list (such as A2 or 50 × 70 cm), ask whether the shop can print a PDF at the counter or through its large-format service.
- If the shop asks for a resolution, the PNG is 300 dpi at its size.
- Bring the file on a memory stick or upload it first. Do not edit the picture on the kiosk.
Sizes and frames
Every size below is in the download. The inch and millimetre sizes are the print size, before any mount.
| Size | Millimetres | Inches | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 | 8.3 × 11.7 | Desk, shelf or a standard frame |
| A3 | 297 × 420 | 11.7 × 16.5 | A wall, a hallway or above a bed |
| A2 | 420 × 594 | 16.5 × 23.4 | A large wall, usually printed at a shop |
| US Letter | 215.9 × 279.4 | 8.5 × 11 | US home printers and frames |
| 8 × 10 in | 203.2 × 254 | 8 × 10 | A common US frame |
| 11 × 14 in | 279.4 × 355.6 | 11 × 14 | A common US frame |
| 12 × 16 in | 304.8 × 406.4 | 12 × 16 | A medium US poster frame |
| 50 × 70 cm | 500 × 700 | 19.7 × 27.6 | A big frame, printed at a shop |
Frames labelled with a standard size are made for that size of print. If your frame has a card mount, the visible window is smaller than the print, so check the print size and not the window size.
Looking after it
Keep a framed print out of direct sunlight, which fades most inks over the years, and behind glass or acrylic if the room is steamy or smoky.
Quick answers about printing
Which size should I print?
A4 fits a desk or a standard frame, A3 suits a wall, and 50×70 cm suits a large frame. In the US, Letter and 8×10 are the common ones. Every size is included, so you can try one and print another.
What paper should I use?
A matt or satin paper of 200 to 300 gsm gives the best result, and ordinary 80 gsm office paper works for a quick look. Dark designs use a lot of ink, so for home printing try one of the light "ink saver" styles.
Can I print it at home, or at a photo shop?
Yes to both. At home, open the PDF and print at "Actual size" or "100%", not "Fit to page". At a high-street photo shop or kiosk, check with the shop, then upload the PNG and choose the matching print size.