11 June 2026
Print Sizes & Framing: A3 vs A2 vs 50x70
Print sizes are abstract until they're on your wall. Here is what A3, A2 and 50x70cm actually mean in a room, and how to choose between a poster, a framed print and a canvas - the three ways every Throttlefolio artwork is made.
The sizes, in real terms
| Size | Dimensions | Works where |
|---|---|---|
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 cm | Shelves, desks, hallway sets, snug walls |
| A2 | 42 x 59.4 cm | Above a desk or sideboard, garage walls |
| 50x70 | 50 x 70 cm | Above a sofa or bed, statement walls |
Quick test: cut a sheet of newspaper to size and tape it where the print would hang. Thirty seconds, and it settles every argument. Leave at least a hand-width of clear wall on every side.
Poster, framed, or canvas?
Posters (200gsm matte fine-art paper) are the flexible choice - frame them your way, swap them around, build a set. Best value at £34 to £49.
Framed prints arrive ready to hang in a solid wood frame, black or oak, with a protective front. Choose black for high-contrast art - blueprints, racing posters - and oak for warm landscapes and cream-ground ink. See framed prints.
Canvas is stretched over an FSC wood frame and hangs without glass - no glare in a bright room, and a surface that flatters painterly work like the Great Roads posters. See canvas prints.
Matching art to format
Fine ink line work (the cafe racer series) is crispest on paper behind a frame. Bold colour (Race Day posters) carries on anything. Landscapes and the Paint Shop's oil-painting style genuinely belong on canvas. When in doubt: framed A3 is the safest gift format - wall-ready, every style suits it.
Hanging heights
Centre of the artwork at 145-152cm from the floor (gallery standard). Above furniture, leave 15-25cm between the furniture top and the frame bottom. For a three-print set, gaps of 5-8cm between frames read as one piece.
Frequently asked
How big is A3 vs A2 vs 50x70cm?+
A3 is 29.7x42cm, A2 is 42x59.4cm, and 50x70cm sits between a movie poster and A1. A2 and 50x70 are wall pieces; A3 suits shelves and small walls.
Should I buy framed or frame it myself?+
Framed costs more upfront but arrives wall-ready in a fitted wood frame. Self-framing only wins if you already own a frame in the exact size.
When is canvas better than a framed print?+
Canvas suits painterly art and rooms with strong light - no glass means no glare. Fine line work is crisper on paper behind a frame.