ōban 大判

Lit. "large format." A size of *ukiyo-e 浮世絵 print. The term ōban refers to various types of paper in different sizes.

1　Also called ōnishiki 大錦. A half sheet of sheet cut from a standard *ōbōsho 大奉書 sheet. Approximately 39-39.5 x 26-27 cm. The most common format size of full-color woodblock prints *nishiki-e 錦絵 after 1780.

2　Also called *ōōban 大々判. A full sheet of *minogami 美濃紙. Approximately 33 x 46 cm. Used for prints of beautiful women *bijinga 美人画 and *uki-e 浮絵 in the mid-18th century.

3　Also sometimes called yoko-ōban 横大判. A paper which is generally placed horizontally (the width is greater than the height), measuring approximately 27-29 x 36-38 cm. The same size as two pages of a 17th century book when opened wide. Used for sets of prints *kumimono 組物 by the very early ukiyo-e artists, such as Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣 (?-1694), Torii Kiyonobu 鳥居清信 (1664-1729), as well as Okumura Masanobu 奥村政信 (1686-1764).

4　Also called ōōban. A paper size of approximately 28-30 x 41-43 cm. Used for sets of prints by Hishikawa Moronobu and actor prints *yakusha-e 役者絵 by Torii Kiyomasu 鳥居清倍 (active early 18th century).