TUBE MAP FRAMING SPECIFICATIONS
The Gallery Standard: Tube Map Print Framing
Museum-Grade Presentation
My framed tube map prints are unique "ready-to-hang" fan gifts. I don't use plastic frames or cheap laminate; I use FSC®-certified solid wood crafted in Germany.
- Precision Finish: 16mm wide, 25mm deep profile for a sleek, modern gallery look.
- Professional Mounting: Each print includes a 1400-micron acid-free white mount (45° bevel cut) to provide depth and protect the paper from touching the glass.
- German Craftsmanship: Quality you can feel, built to last a lifetime.
Premium Glazing & UV Protection
Protecting your art is my priority.
- Standard Sizes: I use edge-ground float glass providing approximately 45% UV protection to prevent fading.
- A1 Statement Prints: For my largest size, I use 3mm premium clear acrylic. It offers the same clarity as glass but is virtually shatterproof during global transit.
The Gold Standard of Paper
I use Hahnemühle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth (305 gsm).
- 100% Alpha Cellulose: This is a premium, acid-free archival paper.
- Ultra-Smooth Texture: Designed to capture the intricate details of my complex music maps with vibrant, deep blacks.
Art with a Conscience (Carbon Neutral)
Your purchase supports the planet as much as it does the arts.
- Carbon Neutral: Produced under certified carbon-neutral processes.
- Supporting Forests: My UK supplier is a member of the Woodland Trust’s carbon capture scheme, and all wood is FSC-certified from responsibly managed forests.
Shipped Safely, Globally: Every framed print is housed in custom-engineered packaging to ensure it arrives in pristine condition, no matter where in the world you are.
ABOUT MIKE BELL - TUBE MAP DESIGNER
Mike Bell Maps is my growing collection of tube map art prints that reimagine music, movies, and history through the visual language of underground maps.
Each detailed design presents albums in order, film plots, and complex creative histories as clear, engaging tube-style timelines created for fans who value depth and research in their favourite subjects.
RESEARCH-LED DESIGN
Every artwork is built on original research and careful verification. Albums become stations. Musicians, characters, and ideas form connecting lines. This approach turns detailed information into visual storytelling, creating art prints that bring clarity and meaning to subjects people already care about.
MY STORY
My background is rooted in live sound and large-scale show design, working across music and cultural events for many years. That experience shaped how I understand collaboration, creative evolution, and structure. During lockdown, I applied that knowledge to mapping music and films, developing underground maps that balance accuracy, design, and narrative.
THE ARTWORK
Each print is produced to archival standards and designed to last. These are not novelty posters. They are considered art prints created for people who value music history, film structure, and informed design. They make thoughtful gifts for fans who want something personal, researched, and meaningful.
Mike Bell Maps is where research-led tube maps become art prints, and where stories worth knowing are mapped clearly, carefully, and beautifully.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What are Mike Bell’s tube map art prints?
A: My prints utilise an advanced visual language based on the logic of underground maps to organise complex histories. By moving beyond basic cartography, I transform albums into "stations" and musicians or themes into "connecting lines." This allows fans to explore hundreds of data points - from session musician credits to chronological collaborations - within a single, intuitive visual system.
Q: How do these maps differ from standard music or tube posters?
A: The primary difference is information density and quality. While standard posters are often low-resolution decorative pieces on thin paper (135-170gsm), my prints are research-led discographies printed on archival-grade, 305gsm+ heavyweight giclée paper. They are designed to be "read" like a book, rewarding deep curiosity with discoveries not found in mass-produced merchandise.
Q: How is the accuracy of the research verified?
A: Accuracy is the core of my design process. Every map is synthesised from primary sources, including official liner notes, session archives, musician interviews, and verified fan databases. By incorporating musician inputs and fact-checking against trusted archives, I ensure that each map is a historically accurate record of the subject’s career.
Q: What subjects are available in the collection?
A: The collection spans a wide range of cultural histories, including music discographies, film plots, politics, and Formula One. Each map focuses on a single narrative, presenting the whole "story" of a subject - such as the evolution of a band or the timeline of a sport- in a clear, high-density visual format.
Q: Are these prints produced sustainably?
A: Yes. I prioritise a carbon-neutral workflow by producing prints locally to the buyer to reduce the shipping footprint. I use sustainable wood frames and archival materials designed for 100+ years of colour stability, ensuring the art is a lasting investment rather than disposable décor.
Q: Why do these maps make the best gifts for music and film fans?
A: Unlike generic posters, these are bespoke cultural maps that celebrate a fan's deep knowledge. Because they are research-led and visually unique (featuring narratives not seen elsewhere), they offer a sophisticated, gallery-quality alternative for those who value the "deep dive" into their favourite artist or film.