When it comes to printing your images, size really can make a difference, especially if you are a photographer entering competitions, selling your own work or an amateur (or professional) wishing to print a favoured image and sizing it so that it makes an impact in your own home.

To communicate the required print size with your printer, we will work with you to ascertain the size that you want and confirm this when the order is placed. Paper is available in numerous sizes and formats so there is probably a paper size to fit. In the UK paper is size is usually measured in millimetres or in a standard known as ISO 216 (the international standard for paper sizes) . Following is a pictorial guide the different photographic paper sizes:

There are many names and codes when it comes to paper sizing, but in order to keep it simple we generally use A sizes.

You have probably already come across some of the paper sizes listed in the UK and we generally use the A-Series. From the adjacent image you can see that each A size is half the size of the last.

For example, an A4 is half the size of an A3 sheet

An A3 half of A2, A2 half of A1 etc etc

Bleed for printing artwork

When you are ready to print your work you may come across another term in addition to the paper size, Bleed.

Bleed is primarily used by us when clients want an exact size image that is outside the standard A sizes, it may be required in some cases to make sure your image has no unprinted areas. The bleed areas are removed when the image is trimmed.

The bleed is added during the design stage, it can help to ensure that when printed and trimmed, the artwork or photograph is finished at the A-size (custom size) and that edge to edge printing remains.

Importantly, it ensures that none of the artwork is cut into.

As standard we recommend an additional 3mm on each side of your artwork. This should add up to an additional 6mm on both the horizontal and vertical axis. If you need a hand, get in touch by using our Contact tab above and we will get back to you. What ever your printing needs, we really are here to help you.