The accurate representation of the visual experience by photo-realistic simulations is central to the usefulness and credibility of visual impact assessments. However, little is known about how people view visual simulations. Hunter & Livingstone (2012) investigated the best focal length for photographic landscape representation. However, they did not investigate whether (1) the view is best represented by a single-frame or panoramic photograph, (2) the optimum size for displaying simulations, or (3) the distance at which participants found it “comfortable and natural” to hold the photographs. This paper reports the results of a small investigation of to determine the paper simulation format that best portrays an off-shore wind project’s scope and scale. It also compares the viewing distance that participants find most appropriate for each format to the geometrically correct viewing distance.