diff --git a/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/Features/Manifest/Validators/PresentationManifestValidatorTests.cs b/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/Features/Manifest/Validators/PresentationManifestValidatorTests.cs
index 2899547a..8ed0e3be 100644
--- a/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/Features/Manifest/Validators/PresentationManifestValidatorTests.cs
+++ b/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/Features/Manifest/Validators/PresentationManifestValidatorTests.cs
@@ -1,12 +1,24 @@
 using API.Features.Manifest.Validators;
+using API.Settings;
+using AWS.Settings;
+using DLCS;
 using FluentValidation.TestHelper;
+using IIIF.Presentation.V3;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
 using Models.API.Manifest;
 
 namespace API.Tests.Features.Manifest.Validators;
 
 public class PresentationManifestValidatorTests
 {
-    private readonly PresentationManifestValidator sut = new();
+    private readonly PresentationManifestValidator sut = new(Options.Create(new ApiSettings()
+    {
+        AWS = new AWSSettings(),
+        DLCS = new DlcsSettings
+        {
+            ApiUri = new Uri("https://localhost")
+        }
+    }));
 
     [Theory]
     [InlineData(null)]
@@ -29,4 +41,70 @@ public void Parent_Required(string? parent)
         var result = sut.TestValidate(manifest);
         result.ShouldHaveValidationErrorFor(m => m.Parent);
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+    
+    [Fact]
+    public void CanvasPaintingAndItems_Manifest_ErrorWhenDefaultSettings()
+    {
+        var manifest = new PresentationManifest
+        {
+            Items = new List<Canvas>()
+            {
+                new ()
+                {
+                    Id = "someId",
+                }
+            },
+            PaintedResources = new List<PaintedResource>()
+            {
+                new ()
+                {
+                    CanvasPainting = new CanvasPainting()
+                    {
+                        CanvasId = "someCanvasId"
+                    }
+                }
+            },
+        };
+        
+        var result = sut.TestValidate(manifest);
+        result.ShouldHaveValidationErrorFor(m => m.Items);
+    }
+    
+    [Fact]
+    public void CanvasPaintingAndItems_Manifest_NoErrorWhenSettings()
+    {
+        var sutAllowedItemsAndPaintedResource = new  PresentationManifestValidator(Options.Create(new ApiSettings()
+        {
+            AWS = new AWSSettings(),
+            IgnorePaintedResourcesWithItems = true,
+            DLCS = new DlcsSettings
+            {
+                ApiUri = new Uri("https://localhost")
+            }
+        }));
+        
+        var manifest = new PresentationManifest
+        {
+            Items = new List<Canvas>()
+            {
+                new ()
+                {
+                    Id = "someId",
+                }
+            },
+            PaintedResources = new List<PaintedResource>()
+            {
+                new ()
+                {
+                    CanvasPainting = new CanvasPainting()
+                    {
+                        CanvasId = "someCanvasId"
+                    }
+                }
+            },
+        };
+        
+        var result = sutAllowedItemsAndPaintedResource.TestValidate(manifest);
+        result.ShouldNotHaveValidationErrorFor(m => m.Items);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/Integration/ModifyManifestCreateTests.cs b/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/Integration/ModifyManifestCreateTests.cs
index 74390ee1..fdfb1d03 100644
--- a/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/Integration/ModifyManifestCreateTests.cs
+++ b/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/Integration/ModifyManifestCreateTests.cs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 using DLCS.Exceptions;
 using DLCS.Models;
 using FakeItEasy;
+using IIIF.Presentation.V3.Annotation;
 using IIIF.Presentation.V3.Strings;
 using IIIF.Serialisation;
 using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@
 using Models.API.General;
 using Models.API.Manifest;
 using Models.Database.General;
+using Models.Infrastucture;
 using Repository;
 using Test.Helpers;
 using Test.Helpers.Helpers;
@@ -1235,21 +1237,42 @@ public async Task CreateManifest_BadRequest_WhenItemsAndPaintedResourceFilled()
         var manifest = new PresentationManifest
         {
             Parent = $"http://localhost/1/collections/{RootCollection.Id}",
+            Behavior = [
+                Behavior.IsPublic
+            ],
             Slug = slug,
-            Items = new List<Canvas>()
-            {
-                new ()
+            Items =
+            [
+                new Canvas
                 {
-                    Id = "https://iiif.example/manifest.json",
+                    Id = "https://iiif.example/manifestFromItems.json",
+                    Items =
+                    [
+                        new AnnotationPage
+                        {
+                            Id = "https://iiif.example/manifestFromItemsAnnotationPage.json",
+                            Items =
+                            [
+                                new PaintingAnnotation
+                                {
+                                    Id = "https://iiif.example/manifestFromItemsPaintingAnnotation.json",
+                                    Body = new Canvas
+                                    {
+                                        Id = "https://iiif.example/manifestFromItemsCanvasBody.json"
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            ]
+                        }
+                    ]
                 }
-            },
+            ],
             PaintedResources = new List<PaintedResource>()
             {
-                new PaintedResource()
+                new ()
                 {
                     CanvasPainting = new CanvasPainting()
                     {
-                        CanvasId = "https://iiif.example/manifest.json"
+                        CanvasId = "https://iiif.example/manifestFromPainted.json"
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -1262,9 +1285,12 @@ public async Task CreateManifest_BadRequest_WhenItemsAndPaintedResourceFilled()
         var response = await httpClient.AsCustomer().SendAsync(requestMessage);
 
         // Assert
-        response.StatusCode.Should().Be(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest);
-        var error = await response.ReadAsPresentationResponseAsync<Error>();
-        error!.Detail.Should().Be("The properties \"items\" and \"paintedResource\" cannot be used at the same time");
-        error.ErrorTypeUri.Should().Be("http://localhost/errors/ModifyCollectionType/ValidationFailed");
+        response.StatusCode.Should().Be(HttpStatusCode.Created);
+
+        var presentationManifest = await response.ReadAsPresentationResponseAsync<PresentationManifest>();
+        presentationManifest.PaintedResources.Count.Should().Be(1);
+        presentationManifest.PaintedResources.First().CanvasPainting.CanvasOriginalId.Should()
+            .Be("https://iiif.example/manifestFromItems.json");
+        presentationManifest.Items.Count.Should().Be(1);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/Integration/ModifyManifestUpdateTests.cs b/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/Integration/ModifyManifestUpdateTests.cs
index 9e6b321c..b14b59e7 100644
--- a/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/Integration/ModifyManifestUpdateTests.cs
+++ b/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/Integration/ModifyManifestUpdateTests.cs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 using API.Tests.Integration.Infrastructure;
 using Core.Response;
 using IIIF.Presentation.V3;
+using IIIF.Presentation.V3.Annotation;
 using IIIF.Presentation.V3.Strings;
 using IIIF.Serialisation;
 using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
@@ -440,35 +441,52 @@ private void SetCorrectEtag(HttpRequestMessage requestMessage, Manifest dbManife
     }
     
     [Fact]
-    public async Task PutFlatId_Update_BadRequest_WhenItemsAndPaintedResourceFilled()
+    public async Task PutFlatId_Update_IgnoresPaintedResources_WhenItemsAndPaintedResourceFilled()
     {
         // Arrange
         var createdDate = DateTime.UtcNow.AddDays(-1);
         var dbManifest = (await dbContext.Manifests.AddTestManifest(createdDate: createdDate)).Entity;
         await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync();
-        var parent = $"http://localhost/{Customer}/collections/{RootCollection.Id}";
         var slug = $"changed_{dbManifest.Hierarchy.Single().Slug}";
         var manifest = new PresentationManifest
         {
             Parent = $"http://localhost/1/collections/{RootCollection.Id}",
             Slug = slug,
-            Items = new List<Canvas>()
-            {
-                new ()
+            Items =
+            [
+                new Canvas
                 {
-                    Id = "https://iiif.example/manifest.json",
+                    Id = "https://iiif.example/manifestFromItems.json",
+                    Items =
+                    [
+                        new AnnotationPage
+                        {
+                            Id = "https://iiif.example/manifestFromItemsAnnotationPage.json",
+                            Items =
+                            [
+                                new PaintingAnnotation
+                                {
+                                    Id = "https://iiif.example/manifestFromItemsPaintingAnnotation.json",
+                                    Body = new Canvas
+                                    {
+                                        Id = "https://iiif.example/manifestFromItemsCanvasBody.json"
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            ]
+                        }
+                    ]
                 }
-            },
-            PaintedResources = new List<PaintedResource>()
-            {
-                new PaintedResource()
+            ],
+            PaintedResources =
+            [
+                new PaintedResource
                 {
-                    CanvasPainting = new CanvasPainting()
+                    CanvasPainting = new CanvasPainting
                     {
                         CanvasId = "https://iiif.example/manifest.json"
                     }
                 }
-            }
+            ]
         };
         
         var requestMessage =
@@ -480,9 +498,12 @@ public async Task PutFlatId_Update_BadRequest_WhenItemsAndPaintedResourceFilled(
         var response = await httpClient.AsCustomer().SendAsync(requestMessage);
         
         // Assert
-        response.StatusCode.Should().Be(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest);
-        var error = await response.ReadAsPresentationResponseAsync<Error>();
-        error!.Detail.Should().Be("The properties \"items\" and \"paintedResource\" cannot be used at the same time");
-        error.ErrorTypeUri.Should().Be("http://localhost/errors/ModifyCollectionType/ValidationFailed");
+        response.StatusCode.Should().Be(HttpStatusCode.OK);
+
+        var presentationManifest = await response.ReadAsPresentationResponseAsync<PresentationManifest>();
+        presentationManifest.PaintedResources.Count.Should().Be(1);
+        presentationManifest.PaintedResources.First().CanvasPainting.CanvasOriginalId.Should()
+            .Be("https://iiif.example/manifestFromItems.json");
+        presentationManifest.Items.Count.Should().Be(1);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/appsettings.Testing.json b/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/appsettings.Testing.json
index 40981dc3..7aa9ca8c 100644
--- a/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/appsettings.Testing.json
+++ b/src/IIIFPresentation/API.Tests/appsettings.Testing.json
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   "ResourceRoot": "https://localhost:7230",
   "PageSize": 20,
   "MaxPageSize": 100,
+  "IgnorePaintedResourcesWithItems": true,
   "AWS": {
     "S3": {
       "StorageBucket": "presentation-storage"
diff --git a/src/IIIFPresentation/API/Features/Manifest/ManifestService.cs b/src/IIIFPresentation/API/Features/Manifest/ManifestService.cs
index 957e4389..8b3d9d78 100644
--- a/src/IIIFPresentation/API/Features/Manifest/ManifestService.cs
+++ b/src/IIIFPresentation/API/Features/Manifest/ManifestService.cs
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@
 using API.Infrastructure.Helpers;
 using API.Infrastructure.IdGenerator;
 using API.Infrastructure.Validation;
+using API.Settings;
 using Core;
 using Core.Auth;
 using Core.Helpers;
-using DLCS;
 using DLCS.API;
 using DLCS.Exceptions;
 using IIIF.Serialisation;
@@ -19,11 +19,8 @@
 using Models.API.Manifest;
 using Models.Database.Collections;
 using Models.Database.General;
-using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;
 using Repository;
 using Repository.Helpers;
-using Batch = DLCS.Models.Batch;
-using CanvasPainting = Models.Database.CanvasPainting;
 using Collection = Models.Database.Collections.Collection;
 using DbManifest = Models.Database.Collections.Manifest;
 using PresUpdateResult = API.Infrastructure.Requests.ModifyEntityResult<Models.API.Manifest.PresentationManifest, Models.API.General.ModifyCollectionType>;
@@ -59,10 +56,13 @@ public class ManifestService(
     IIIFS3Service iiifS3,
     IETagManager eTagManager,
     CanvasPaintingResolver canvasPaintingResolver,
+    IOptions<ApiSettings> options,
     IPathGenerator pathGenerator,
     IDlcsApiClient dlcsApiClient,
     ILogger<ManifestService> logger)
 {
+    private readonly ApiSettings settings = options.Value;
+    
     /// <summary>
     /// Create or update full manifest, using details provided in request object
     /// </summary>
@@ -123,6 +123,13 @@ private async Task<PresUpdateResult> CreateInternal(WriteManifestRequest request
         var (parentErrors, parentCollection) = await TryGetParent(request, cancellationToken);
         if (parentErrors != null) return parentErrors;
 
+        // can't have both items and painted resources, so items takes precedence
+        if (settings.IgnorePaintedResourcesWithItems && !request.PresentationManifest.Items.IsNullOrEmpty() && 
+            !request.PresentationManifest.PaintedResources.IsNullOrEmpty())
+        {
+            request.PresentationManifest.PaintedResources = null;
+        }
+
         using (logger.BeginScope("Creating Manifest for Customer {CustomerId}", request.CustomerId))
         {
             var (error, dbManifest) =
diff --git a/src/IIIFPresentation/API/Features/Manifest/Validators/PresentationManifestValidator.cs b/src/IIIFPresentation/API/Features/Manifest/Validators/PresentationManifestValidator.cs
index 34b78717..f15c0659 100644
--- a/src/IIIFPresentation/API/Features/Manifest/Validators/PresentationManifestValidator.cs
+++ b/src/IIIFPresentation/API/Features/Manifest/Validators/PresentationManifestValidator.cs
@@ -1,21 +1,28 @@
 using API.Infrastructure.Validation;
+using API.Settings;
 using Core.Helpers;
+using DLCS;
 using FluentValidation;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
 using Models.API.Manifest;
 
 namespace API.Features.Manifest.Validators;
 
 public class PresentationManifestValidator : AbstractValidator<PresentationManifest>
 {
-    public PresentationManifestValidator()
+    public PresentationManifestValidator(IOptions<ApiSettings> options)
     {
+        var settings = options.Value;
+        
         RuleFor(f => f.Parent).NotEmpty().WithMessage("Requires a 'parent' to be set");
         RuleFor(f => f.Slug).NotEmpty().WithMessage("Requires a 'slug' to be set")
             .Must(slug => !SpecConstants.ProhibitedSlugs.Contains(slug!))
             .WithMessage("'slug' cannot be one of prohibited terms: '{PropertyValue}'");
-        RuleFor(f => f.Items).Empty()
-            .When(f => !f.PaintedResources.IsNullOrEmpty())
-            .WithMessage("The properties \"items\" and \"paintedResource\" cannot be used at the same time");
-        
+        if (!settings.IgnorePaintedResourcesWithItems)
+        {
+            RuleFor(f => f.Items).Empty()
+                .When(f => !f.PaintedResources.IsNullOrEmpty())
+                .WithMessage("The properties \"items\" and \"paintedResource\" cannot be used at the same time");
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/IIIFPresentation/API/Settings/ApiSettings.cs b/src/IIIFPresentation/API/Settings/ApiSettings.cs
index 322a690d..36637479 100644
--- a/src/IIIFPresentation/API/Settings/ApiSettings.cs
+++ b/src/IIIFPresentation/API/Settings/ApiSettings.cs
@@ -17,7 +17,12 @@ public class ApiSettings
     
     public string? PathBase { get; set; }
     
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Whether painted resources should be ignored when there are also items
+    /// </summary>
+    public bool IgnorePaintedResourcesWithItems { get; set; }
+    
     public required AWSSettings AWS { get; set; }
 
     public required DlcsSettings DLCS { get; set; }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}