Giving a print: how do you choose without knowing the wall?

Giving a print means choosing a picture that will live in someone else's home. You may know their tastes without knowing the dimensions of the wall where it will hang.

Start by choosing a subject that means something to them, then compare sizes and frames. Here are practical pointers for preparing a personal gift, taking into account what you actually know about their interior.

Choose the subject with the person in mind

A shared memory makes a starting point: a trip, an interest or a familiar place. They also need to enjoy the drawing itself, beyond the destination it depicts.

Think about their activities, their pet or the places they enjoy returning to. The travel, mountain, animal and sport collections let you compare different representations of these interests.

A botanical illustration, a black and white picture or a minimalist composition offers other directions. They do not automatically suit every interior: look at contrast, the density of the drawing and the colours the person usually chooses.

A brightly coloured print or a phrase can make an excellent gift if it matches their wishes. If you are unsure about the message, choose a more familiar subject or discreetly ask for an opinion. The gift can surprise without imposing an entire decorating scheme.

For someone who cycles at weekends, a cycling poster can recall a mountain pass, a peloton or a ride you shared. For a holiday memory, compare prints of Greece with posters of Spain, depending on the place that matters to them. In each case, consider the drawing style too: the same interest can be expressed through a realistic scene, a vintage illustration or a more graphic composition.

Compare sizes when you do not know the wall

The catalogue's paper prints are available in 21x30, 30x40, 50x70 and 70x100. A 30x40 is an option to consider when you lack information: it requires less space than a large print, though that does not guarantee a place for it in every room.

A small print can join a chest of drawers or an existing arrangement. A 50x70 or 70x100 requires more available wall. The space needed also depends on orientation and the frame's external dimensions. If you know the home, identify a specific area instead of thinking only in terms of “small” or “large”.

If the person already has a position in mind, ask for its measurements. Our guide to print sizes above a sofa helps compare proportions. A template lets you judge the actual space without assuming that a large size will always be preferable.

Should you include a frame?

A frame can be part of the gift when you want to offer a complete presentation. It also adds weight and a visible outline: check the print size and the person's preferences. An unframed print remains an option when they already own frames or enjoy choosing their own framing.

The print frame comes in light oak, white and black. Oak can echo furniture, black can emphasise the drawing and white can connect with joinery. Compare these finishes with the chosen picture; none is a universal choice.

Check the dimensions and what the selected version includes. Our guide to frames for a 30x40 print explains the measurements. The fixing will then depend on the wall and total weight.

Create a gift from a personal photograph

An important place, a family home or a portrait can become a very personal gift. The personalised print from your photograph lets you prepare a print using your file. Choose a picture the recipient will enjoy seeing at home, then check the crop.

Prefer the original to a screenshot. Sharpness depends on the file, the crop and the chosen size: a single pixel count does not guarantee the result. Examine faces and important details in the preview, then clarify the expected result if you have any doubts.

Check the ordered version and schedule

We print to order in our Fayence workshop. Before ordering for a specific date, consult the displayed production and delivery information, along with the chosen presentation, unframed or framed. Allow time to receive and prepare the gift.

Paper prints use 270 gsm semi-matt photographic paper with pigment inks. The paper, frame glazing and lighting all contribute to the result. This finish does not remove the need to check reflections in the chosen position.

For a restaurant, consulting room or office, ask the person furnishing the space about its available dimensions and the project's constraints. These details can guide the size, frame and position even before the subject is chosen.

Subject ideas for a personal gift

A seaside scene can recall a much-loved coast, and a city a shared trip. An olive tree or terracotta tones offer other pictures to compare. The selection below brings together several subjects: choose those that suit the person, then look at their palette and orientation.

Provence - The olive tree and the amphora Provence - The door at the end of the lane Olive branch in a bowl, sun shadows Provence - The olive tree in its basin Provence - Olive branch on stone sill Ball on the misty pitch Japan - Misty Mount Fuji Morning Ritual Skipping rope to a jazz beat Wild Slope The shadow of the wide hat The swimmer out at sea The flask with the ring The silhouette on the ice floe Paper boat on blue sea The giraffe on a scooter The garden of birds Dancing swallows The cat in the bathtub The birds of morning The pool with striped huts Women in wide hats Summer in straw hats Mediterranean Terrace over the Sea The convertible with citrus The amphora under the arch The straw hats on the beach Dance at sunset The blue door under the bougainvillea Brittany - Illustrated map of the Breton peninsula Martinique - Island in bloom, in brown line Martinique - Faceted coastline Martinique - The bay in terraces Horizon of snow Alpine Horizon The olive branch in the white jar Provence - Under the arcades The sun behind the hills Oranges beside the jug The olive branch

If you like two prints, compare them with the same frame and size in the wall planner. Then adjust the size using the information you have gathered about the wall.