The Impact of Size: How Print Dimensions Affect Visual Impact
- You Can Achieve Visual Impact With Small Prints and Intimate Details
- Opt for Large Prints for Bold Visual Impact
- Custom Sizing for Specific Display Spaces
- Scaling Your Art for Different Viewing Distances
- The Best Place to Order Different Sized Prints
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Thanks to technology like digital cameras, computers, and smartphones, people are used to looking at photos on screens. However, without a doubt, our favorite way to view pictures is high-quality photo prints. Prints not only offer superior sharpness compared to digital images, but they also provide unlimited options for sizing your photos.
In this article, we’ll share four ways print dimensions affect the visual impact of your images. You’ll learn when and why are the best times to choose small prints, large prints, or custom-sized prints. Moreover, we’ll recommend our favorite print shop to partner with, regardless of the type of photos (and size) we print.
With that in mind, join us as we dive in and discover everything there is to know about the impact of size and how print dimensions affect visual impact!
Check out the video above by First Man Photography to learn more tips and tricks about printing your photos.
Table of Contents
You Can Achieve Visual Impact With Small Prints and Intimate Details
Photo by EHStock via iStock
Small prints are perfect for displaying photos with hidden, intimate details. Only when people get close and focus on small prints will the viewers notice the photo's fine details and strong visual impact. Examples of intimate detail include facial expressions, emotions, loving embraces, etc. Small prints pair well with portraits, travel photography, and street photography.
When selecting small prints, we like using framed fine art prints. You can hang them directly on your walls or use a standing frame to put them anywhere from your kitchen to your office. They also make great gifts for friends, family, and loved ones. The smallest standard-sized prints typically start at 5 x 5 inches, but the most popular size is 8 x 10 inches.
Opt for Large Prints for Bold Visual Impact
Photo by KatarzynaBialasiewicz via iStock
On the other hand, if you want to make a bold statement with your photos, for them to have an even stronger visual impact, and to immediately capture people’s attention, you should opt for a large print instead. Large prints make ideal centerpieces at home in living and dining rooms or at offices in waiting and meeting rooms.
Three types of images that look excellent as large prints include wildlife, landscape, and architecture photography. While you can buy large framed prints, we prefer large, unframed, fine art paper prints. Standard sizes go up to 40 x 60 inches.
Learn More:
Custom Sizing for Specific Display Spaces
Photo by KatarzynaBialasiewicz via iStock
You must order a custom-sized print if a specific space requires a print smaller than 5 x 5 inches or bigger than 40 x 60 inches. Usually, these sizes are reserved for special circumstances like billboards, advertisements, schools, and businesses. That said, anyone can order them. Check out some prices here.
Another alternative is to order an innovative Peel and Stick Wall Mural. Instead of hanging them, you stick them directly to the wall. They are great for renters since they don’t make any holes or marks on the walls. Furthermore, they come in sizes up to 12 x 12 feet. You must still place a custom order if you want bigger than that.
Scaling Your Art for Different Viewing Distances
Photo by TommL via iStock
Not all sized prints are designed to be viewed from the same distance. As a general rule of thumb, the farther away the viewer will be, the larger you want the image. If it’s too small, people can’t get a good visual impact of the image. Alternatively, if it’s too big, it distracts and overwhelms people.
For photos you plan to display in a standing frame, we recommend photo prints that are 8 x 12 inches and smaller. Good sizes for prints you want to hang as decorations around the house or office range from 10 x 20 inches to 40 x 60 inches. Bigger than that is good for art studios, exhibitions, posters, and promotional prints.
The Best Place to Order Different Sized Prints
Now that we’ve covered how print dimensions affect the visual impact of your photos, you are probably wondering where is a good place to order prints. Well, for us at Photography Talk, we usually use Lumaprints.
Lumaprints is a trustworthy and reliable online printing lab that offers museum-grade quality prints, nationwide shipping, a world-class team of friendly customer service representatives, and affordable pricing. They are our go-to company whether we are printing large fine art paper prints for our business or small framed fine art paper prints to showcase around our homes.
Additionally, they offer drop shipping, online integration, and bulk order services. So, they can be a one-stop shop for both beginner and professional photographers. Here are links to all the different types of premium prints and wall art Lumaprints currently sells:
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