Measuring a wall for a graphic
No wall is truly square, and the difference between one end and the other is often enough to spoil a full-wall graphic. Six measurements and a photo will give us what we need.
Measure in threes.
Use a steel tape or a laser measure, not a dressmaker's tape or a paced guess, and write everything in millimetres. Measure the width near the ceiling, at waist height and near the skirting. Then measure the height at the left, in the centre and on the right.
Differences of 10mm or more are common, especially in older buildings. That is the whole reason for taking six figures instead of two.
A survey, filled in.
| Position | Width | Position | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | 4120mm | Left | 2410mm |
| Middle | 4108mm | Centre | 2395mm |
| Bottom | 4115mm | Right | 2402mm |
If the graphic runs wall to wall, you plan for the largest figures, so 4120 x 2410mm, then add an agreed trimming allowance at each edge, as the film gets trimmed to fit on site. Forget the allowance and you will end up with a visible sliver of wall in the narrow spots. Ask us how much to add for your material. Your artwork stays in proportion to the size you have decided, plus bleed, as explained in setting up bleed for large format.
If the graphic is a panel floating in the middle of the wall, life is easier. Choose a size smaller than the smallest figures, leaving a margin, so that nothing needs to be cut to fit. Remember that the eye will compare the gap on each side, so a slanting ceiling may still show.
Everything that is not flat wall.
Sketch the wall on paper, however rough, and mark each of these with its distance from the left end and from the floor:
- Doors, windows and their frames
- Sockets, switches, thermostats and fire alarm points
- Radiators and pipes
- Beams, boxing and corners that stick out
- Skirting, dado and picture rails
- Anything that stays in front, such as a fixed bench or a counter
Fire alarm points, exit signs and similar safety items must not be covered. If you are unsure, check with whoever manages the building.
Photographs that help.
Take one picture of the whole wall, standing as square-on as you can, then one close-up of each obstacle. Hold the tape measure in the shot or stick a strip of tape of known length to the wall. Those photos will answer most follow-up questions without a site visit.
Then what?
Send the figures, sketch and photos with your enquiry. A clear survey makes for a more accurate quote, and for mural work it lets us plan where the joins fall. See planning a mural layout for that stage. If the wall is curved, heavily textured or very large, tell us, as the best answer may be a survey on site, agreed in the quote.
Walls measured for print.
Your questions.
Should I take measurements with the furniture in place?
Move it if you can. If it cannot move, measure above and around it, and tell us what stays in front.
What if the wall is not flat?
Bowed or uneven walls can be fine for a graphic, though straight lines in the artwork may show the bow. Tell us, and pick a design that forgives it.
Do I need to measure a wall for a poster?
Not to this level. For a single print, read our guide to choosing a print size for a wall instead.