Wall prints guide

Each print is bespoke - it is produced on demand (POD) by our printers according to your choice of materials, and they then deliver it to you. They use digital inkjet giclée (pronounced 'gee-klay') printers, as opposed to traditional technologies, which adds depth and richness to images, and also prevents fading. Find out more below about formats and frames for your new piece of art.

Please note that we're currently unable to deliver wall prints to European Union countries and Northern Ireland.

 

Step 1: choose your print

It's possibly the hardest - but best - bit, so why not settle down with a cuppa or glass of wine and take your time looking through our gallery, including those from the current and previous annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) competitions and the stunning birds by John James Audubon. Any copyright wording showing on the product image will not show when created for your wall print.

 

Step 2: choose your type of format - paper or canvas?

Paper options

The paper used is sustainably sourced and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Its stock is measured in gsm, and both of these options are a similar thickness to the flexible card-like front covers of magazines:

Photo paper (260gsm): a favourite of professional photographers as it gives a satin, lustre finish with a pearl-like texture.

Fine art paper (280gsm): ideal for museum-quality reproductions and gives a gently textured matt surface.

 

Canvas options

The 400gsm cotton canvas is often preferred by photographers and artists for its textured finish, clarity and consistent quality. Choose between:

Stretched canvas: your print will be hand-stretched (with no border) over a custom-made wooden frame ready to display (the image is confined to the full front face of the canvas, it is not stretched to wrap the sides which remain white.) Or, in addition, you can choose to have it mounted in a frame.

Rolled canvas: your print will arrive rolled and ready for you to frame yourself (it comes with at least a 10% white border).

 

Step 3: choose your size

Once you select the type of format you would like for your print, the sizes are presented in the next drop-down menu. The measurements are shown width by height in centimetres, eg photo paper 50cm x 40cm. The sizes in this drop-down menu are of the print before the frame is added (including any border). 

 

Actual image size

All images are produced in their original uncropped format. Depending on the options you select for photo or fine art paper, the actual image size within the border will vary.
If you select canvas, the image is stretched to cover the full front face of the canvas, therefore the size selected from the drop-down size menu will also be the actual image size.

 

Step 4: choose your frame

Once you have selected the format and size, the framing colour options can then be shown in the next drop-down menu, eg gold, natural (which is a natural wood colour). Frames are 2cm wide and stand 2.3cm from the wall.

Each frame is handmade from sustainably sourced wood, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and industry-standard 2mm water-white float glass or, for larger prints, the more robust acrylic plexiglass.

It comes ready to hang - and enjoy.

Unframed prints by John James Audubon

Take a look at our collection of unframed prints by John James Audubon the American wildlife artist who transformed bird illustrations in his celebrated book: The Birds of America (published between 1827 and1838).

All of these prints are:

- limited edition

- printed on acid and lignin-free archival paper for a near-perfect match to the original finish

- numbered, debossed (stamped) with the Natural History Museum logo, and include a certificate of authenticity (see below)

Please consider these points (displayed on the product descriptions) before choosing your unframed Audubon print:

- overall paper size: the size of the physical piece of paper that you will receive

- original plate size: the size of the artwork as it was in its original format. The image on the unframed wall print that you receive will be as close to this original plate size as possible, but plates sizes are approximate.

See before you buy? Some of these prints are on display in the Museum's Birds Gallery. Why not book your free ticket to come and see them? 

 

Example of the certificate of authenticity
Example of the debossed Museum logo and limited edition numbering