18in x 12in prints
Here is an inexpensive way to find out how a big print will look. At 457mm by 305mm, it shares its shape with 30in x 20in and 60in x 40in, so what you see scales up.
Use it as a rehearsal.
Paying for a 60in x 40in print and then finding the shadows too heavy is an expensive lesson. Since 18in x 12in is the same 3:2 shape, a test at this size shows the crop, the composition and the overall tone of the bigger print, for a small part of the price.
How to run a useful test
- Keep your file unchanged. Do not sharpen it or change the colours for the test. It has to be the same image that you plan to print large.
- Choose the same finish as the final piece, if you can. A matt test of a gloss print tells you less.
- Check it in the right light, ideally in the room where the large one is going.
- Look at the darks and the skin tones. Those are the first things to go wrong, and the easiest to adjust.
- Check the edges, as anything cut off here will be cut off there too.
A test at this size will not tell you everything. It will not show how sharp your file looks when it is enlarged, because the small print hides soft detail. For that, ask us about printing a section of your image at full size. Our proofing guide covers the options.
In its own right
At 18 inches long, it matches a big chopping board, and it is a good, modest size for a home or an office. It has a more elegant, longer shape than A3, and a camera file goes in without a crop. A 6,000 pixel wide image gives you 333 pixels per inch, while an older 12 megapixel camera at 4,288 pixels still gives you around 238, so sharpness is seldom a worry.
Hang six in two rows of three, and you have a strong photographic wall for a modest outlay. Allow 50mm between prints and the group takes up about 1,470mm across. That is three prints at 457mm plus two gaps of 50mm. For more on arranging, read choosing a print size for a wall.
Price against A3
| Size | 1 print | 5+ prints | 20+ prints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18in x 12in (457mm x 305mm) | £8.99 | £5.99 | £4.50 |
| A3 (420mm x 297mm) | £7.99 | £5.50 | £3.99 |
You pay a little more than for A3, and get a slightly larger sheet with a shape that needs no crop. If your image started on a camera, that often makes it the better buy. If it started as an A3 layout, stick with A3. For a single test print, ask how our £35 minimum on large format poster printing works. Testing several images in one go may make more sense, as the 5+ rate looks at the size and not the picture.
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
Frames
Frames sold as 12 x 18in are made, but they are less common in UK shops than A3. Do check availability before you commit, or ask us about framing.
Sets of smaller prints.
Your questions.
Does this size work for a small poster?
Yes, particularly for a tall, slim layout in a window or on a noticeboard. If your design was built for A3, keep it at A3 so that nothing has to be cropped.
Will a test print match the large version exactly?
It should be close if the material and the file are the same, but a different material will behave differently. Tell us it is a test so we can keep the job consistent.
Is 18in x 12in the same shape as an A3 sheet?
No. This size is 3:2, and A3 is about 1.41 to 1. On a camera file, A3 means losing a little from the long side.