Machines that moved the century

Why transport art

Most transport images are long and lean, and hang badly when you forget it

A boat, a bike or a wingspan is shot wide, so the wall it goes on has to be wide too.

Vehicles are photographed side-on far more often than not, which makes most of these images strongly horizontal. That suits a space above a sideboard, a bedhead or a sofa, and fights you in a narrow alcove or stairwell where a portrait shape would sit better. Check the aspect ratio before you fall for the picture. Also note which way the subject points: a nose or bow aimed off the edge of the wall pulls the eye out of the room.

Scale is where people go wrong. Aim for roughly two-thirds the width of the furniture below, so a 180cm sofa wants a print near 120cm wide, not 60cm. Centre the image about 145cm from the floor, or leave 20 to 25cm of clear wall above a sideboard. Palette is usually easy — sepia, monochrome and faded chrome sit with almost any wall colour. What fails is hanging three different eras and three different colour casts together; pick one treatment and repeat it.

How your print is made

1. Choose the size and finishPick a size, then stretched ready to hang or framed. The size guide on every print shows it to scale.
2. Printed to orderYour print is made on canvas in Melbourne once you order, at the size you choose.
3. Stretched, framed, checkedStretched or framed in Melbourne, then checked before it leaves.
4. Delivered free, Australia-wideMade to order in 10 to 14 days, then tracked to your door. Thirty-day money-back guarantee if it isn't what you hoped.