Why size changes everything
A photograph at A4 is a document. The same photograph at two metres wide is an experience.
Most photography cannot make that transition. Enlarge a standard image beyond a certain point and the quality breaks down: the image softens, pixels become visible, and the detail that made it compelling at small scale simply disappears.
Gigapixel photography is different. Because the files are so large, they scale to sizes that are simply not possible with conventional photography, and they do so without any loss of quality. Standing in front of a two metre wide gigapixel panorama of the London skyline, you can still read the names on buildings, identify cranes on the horizon, and find detail that rewards extended looking.
That is not a feature of the print; instead, it’s a feature of the file behind it.
How a gigapixel image becomes a large format print
The process starts long before anything reaches paper or acrylic. A gigapixel cityscape is constructed from dozens or even hundreds of individual frames, captured in sequence and stitched together in post-production. The resulting file can run to several gigabytes. It contains far more information than any display can show, which is precisely what makes it printable at very large scale.
Once the image is finalised, the print process depends on the intended finish and size.
Giclée prints are produced using archival pigment inks on 100% cotton 300g Photo Rag paper. This is museum-quality paper, used for fine art reproduction at the highest level. The finish is matt, the colour rendition is exceptional, and the prints are produced to archival standards, meaning they will not fade or degrade for decades under normal display conditions.
Acrylic Dibond mounted prints bond the image edge-to-edge to a single piece of 8mm thick acrylic. The result is a contemporary, frameless finish most often chosen for corporate spaces. The maximum size is 3 x 1.5 metres, and the presentation is striking: the image appears to float on the wall, with a depth and vibrancy that a framed print cannot match.
Framed prints are available up to 2.1 metres wide in black, white or natural oak. These suit more traditional or domestic settings while still delivering the scale and detail that makes a gigapixel print distinctive.
Hand silver-gilded prints are the most unusual option and among the most striking. Real silver leaf is applied by hand to the surface of the print, giving an organic, luminous quality that transforms the image. Each gilded print is unique. They are produced in strictly limited editions and have been exhibited at Sotheby’s.
Installation
At very large scale, a print is not simply something you hang on a wall. Transportation, handling, and installation all require specialist care, particularly for diptychs, triptychs, and panoramas that span multiple panels.
I can arrange professional installation for larger pieces, handling transportation, insurance and fitting. For corporate clients specifying art for offices, reception areas or meeting rooms, this is often the most practical option.
For large-scale wall manifestations and feature wallpapers, the process is different again. These floor-to-ceiling installations create an immersive environment rather than a framed object, and are particularly effective in reception areas, break-out spaces and hospitality settings. I have installed work of this kind in corporate spaces across London.
Who buys large format prints
Private collectors looking for a significant work for a home or investment. My prints are held by collectors in the UK and internationally. The silver-gilded editions in particular have attracted serious collector interest, including exhibition at Sotheby’s.
Corporate clients specifying art for offices, headquarters, and client-facing spaces. A large-scale gigapixel cityscape in a boardroom or reception is a statement piece that also rewards the close inspection of anyone who stops to look. I have installed work at 20 Fenchurch Street, Gatwick Airport and other landmark London locations.
Architects and interior designers working on high-specification projects where the art needs to be as considered as the architecture. The bespoke nature of the prints, available at any size and in multiple finishes, makes them adaptable to almost any brief.
Ordering a print
Every print is bespoke. There are no standard sizes or off-the-shelf options, because the whole point is that the image is made to fit the space.
To order, you need to decide:
- Which image you’d like
- What width you need
- Which finish suits the space: giclée, acrylic-mounted, framed or silver-gilded
- Any additional requirements such as overseas delivery or professional installation
If you have a space in mind and an image that interests you, get in touch and we can discuss what’s possible.
There is also a large offline archive of images not shown on the site. If you have a specific location or subject in mind, it is always worth asking.