A1 canvas prints
At 594 x 841mm (23.4 x 33.1in), A1 is the smallest canvas that can carry a wall on its own. Go any smaller and most rooms will want a second piece beside it.
One picture, one wall.
Most people arrive at A1 after holding up a poster and deciding it looks timid. Stretched over 36mm bars, this size has real presence: hung landscape, it is about as wide as a doorway. It reads clearly from the far side of an ordinary living room, yet one person can still lift it comfortably.
Will it suit the furniture below?
A picture usually looks settled when it spans around two thirds of whatever sits under it. Here is how A1 behaves against common pieces. Furniture widths are typical, so measure your own.
| Hung over | Typical width | Best way round | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hall console | 900mm | Portrait, 594mm wide | Sits well |
| Sideboard | 1200mm | Landscape, 841mm wide | Sits well |
| Double bed | 1400mm | Landscape, 841mm wide | Sits well |
| Three-seat sofa | 2000mm | Landscape, 841mm wide | Looks small; try A0 or a pair |
What your image has to deliver
Take the longest side of your photo in pixels and divide by 33.1. A 5,000 pixel image gives about 150 pixels per inch, which is comfortable on canvas because the weave softens fine detail. A typical 12 megapixel phone photo, at around 4,000 pixels, lands nearer 120. That can still look good from a pace or two back, particularly with a soft, painterly subject, though less so if people will study it up close. Our page on enlarging a phone photo goes further.
Mind the shape as well. A sizes are longer and narrower than a phone picture and squarer than most camera files, so a little of your image will be cropped. Tell us if there is anything at the edges you need to keep. Remember too that the picture turns round the bars, so a signature or a date tucked into a corner may need moving inwards before you send the file.
The neighbouring sizes
| Size | Millimetres | Price |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | 420 x 594 | £59.00 |
| A1 | 594 x 841 | £79.00 |
| A0 | 841 x 1189 | £119.00 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
If you are torn between A1 and the next size up, cut newspaper to both outlines and tape them up for a day or two. Our A0 canvas page shows what the larger step involves, including getting it through the door.
Canvas at wall scale.
Your questions.
Is an A1 canvas heavy to hang?
Not usually. It is a wooden frame and canvas, so one person can normally manage it. Use a fixing that suits your wall, and two hooks will help it stay level.
Can I use an A1 canvas in a bathroom or kitchen?
Steam and splashes are hard on any canvas. A well-ventilated kitchen wall away from the hob may be fine, but tell us the room first so we can suggest something more suitable if needed.
Will A1 fit an off-the-shelf frame?
Most ready-made frames are not designed for the depth of a canvas on 36mm bars. Framing is available on request if you want a frame around it.