I get many questions from photographers about printing their photos on metal, especially for the various group exhibits I’m involved with in San Diego. So I’m going to try and answer the most common questions in this post.
There are actually several different media referred to as a metal print. The most popular, and what I will focus on in this blog post, is dye-sublimation on aluminum. In this process, your image is first printed on a transfer paper. The paper is then put on top of a sheet of coated aluminum and stuck in a heat press at about 400F. The inks then become infused into the coating. Most labs then put a frame or gatorboard on the back of the metal with hanging hardware so that the print stands out from the wall (float mount) resulting in a finished piece that requires no framing.
However labs might offer other media that are also called “metal” prints. These could be
If you read through the descriptions on the lab you use, you can usually figure out which process they are using.
These approaches all have their own pros and cons and it’s beyond the scope of this post to compare them. I would note however that direct UV printing is generally considered an economy product.
There are a few different manufacturers of the aluminum panels used in metal printing. For the best quality, you’ll want to find a lab that uses ChromaLuxe panels.
For dye-sub prints, most labs will give you several options in terms of the finish. First is the base coating on the aluminum sheet. This can be either white or clear (sometimes called sheer). Generally I recommend you get the white finish. The clear finish allows the bare metal to show through where the image is white. It’s a very cool effect but it doesn’t work for all photos. Unless you’ve seen the clear finish in person before and know that you absolutely want it, I would avoid it.
The second option on finish is the gloss level. You can usually choose between high gloss, mid-gloss or satin, and matte. This is a personal preference. High gloss images are extremely vibrant and look almost wet, but may have problems with reflections. The matte finish will handle reflections much better but lose (in my opinion) some of the punch.
Most labs will give you a choice between sharp rectangular corners and rounded corners. Choose rounded corners for safety.
Labs will often give you a variety of hanging options. These could be
Method 1 or 2 are the most convenient and you can hang your metal print with a simple nail or hook placed into drywall. Metal prints are very light and this will be sufficient until you get to larger sizes. However, for a permanent installation or larger prints, the French cleat is the most secure (very important if you live in earthquake country).
Read through the lab’s FAQ on file preparation and submit in the format they recommend. Usually that means either a jpeg or tiff file in sRGB or adobeRGB color space. For resolution, anything over 150ppi should look fine.
You should perform output sharpening on your files. Usually I just use the export option from lightroom and choose “standard” and either glossy or matte depending on the surface.
The main gotcha with metal printing (and using a lab in general) is that the prints may come out too dark. If you don’t have a calibrated monitor and proper viewing environment, I’d recommend printing a few test images on paper and send these to a lab (it doesn’t have to be the same one) with no autocorrection. Check your prints for brightness and colors and adjust your file appropriately.
Some labs will offer metal proof prints at a nominal cost. I’d recommend this especially if you are doing a large metal print for the first time with a lab.
Here is a longer article that covers the steps I go through preparing an image for printing.
For those living in San Diego, as far as I know there are no local labs that do dye-sublimation. The closest labs would be
Outside of these, you can try the following labs:
These are labs that photographers often recommend but I have personally only used a few of them. I have no affiliation with any of these labs.
Many labs have a substantial first time ordering discount and/or a discount for those who resell their prints. There are also various discount labs that do metal printing. I don’t know all of them but the only one I would try would be Costco due to the ease of return policy. Costco outsources their metal printing to Fujifilm but unfortunately they do not use ChromaLuxe blanks.
Many labs publish this information on their website (search for “production time”) but if you can’t find it, contact their support and ask directly. Some, like Bayphoto, are extremely fast and will ship a metal print within 2-3 days. Others may take as long as 2 weeks.
ChromaLuxe panels may have small defects in the surface of the material in the form of bumps or pimples in the surface. These are basically caused by specs of dirt that get trapped during the coating process. Unfortunately ChromaLuxe considers this an acceptable flaw and print labs basically accept this as they have no other choice. However the labs will try to place the defects in a busy part of the image so they are less noticeable. If you see such a defect in an important part of your print, I would complain to customer service and ask for a remake.
I’ve also had small black flecks show up in my metal prints (see image). I believe this was due to contamination during the heat transfer process. Again if you see this, ask for a remake.
Prices will obviously vary depending on the lab, finishing options, crating, shipping, and tax. But for a 24x36" from a lab that caters to professionals (i.e. those that resell their prints) and quality conscious consumers, I would expect to pay between $200 and $300.
If you are trying to figure out pricing for a variety of print sizes, I use $0.30 per square inch as a rough estimate.
In my opinion, metal has some strong advantages that have greatly contributed to it’s popularity. If any of the following are important to you, consider a metal print:
Here are the drawbacks of printing on metal:
I use a DecoColor paint marker with an extra fine tip. Make sure to allow enough time for the paint to dry before touching the surface. I switch between silver and black markers depending on the image.
You should also practice your signature beforehand. And yes my hand writing sucks.
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Step aside Canvas & Acrylic, There’s a new sheriff in town. Metal prints are rising in popularity because of their durable form and tactile texture. We’ve prepared this crash course on all things metal prints and why they could be the best option to consider when selling, designing and purchasing wall art. Perhaps after this guide, you’ll take the next step and purchase your own print on metal.
If you’re looking to buy prints of your own artwork, be sure to also check out our blog post on 10 Reasons To Buy Metal Prints Of Your Own Artworks
Image via. joesdaily
Metal prints or Metal artwork is a type of decorative art, usually printed on aluminium or steel sheets that contain design expressions created by artists. They are one of the many mediums chosen for decorative photo printing.
For the most part, metal prints are high definition photos layered onto a sleek panel. Due to their manufacturing nature, any image with your most cherished photographs or graphics can be printed on metal. The design possibilities are endless. From black and white to the most abstract Jackson Pollock style photos, printing on metal is just as versatile as any other medium.
Metal prints can be created for a wide variety of room designs. From home offices, living rooms, bedrooms, to office spaces. You can acquire your own collection to spruce up any space with your cherished memories.
Metal prints contain a sharp and sophisticated image quality that preserves distinct details and vibrant colors in art. It’s like having museum quality prints in your desired space. They are also long lasting, scratch resistant, and can weather any harsh climatic conditions. Due to their durable nature, you can rest assured that your artworks will retain their excellent quality for years to come.
Metal prints also have a modern look that can blend seamlessly into interior decors. In most cases they are easy to clean, you simply brush off any dust with a microfiber towel or soft wipe and it’s as good as new. Metal poster marketplaces like Displate also make the mounting process simple. You can have your Displates up on the wall in 20 seconds with no power tools, no damages, no frustrations. One of the only drawbacks with Metal plates like all art is the importance of taking reflection and room lighting into consideration when choosing a mounting spot.
Image via. weheart
Canvas is a strong cloth made from hemp, flax, or yarn. While it has many uses, one of the most popular is to paint or print art on canvas. There’s no doubt that Canvas is cool, but it attracts dust over time which can ruin the artwork’s paint or ink. Another drawback of canvas is, the artwork loses vibrancy in low light rooms. Making lighting glare considerations mandatory when selecting a place to hang a canvas print in a room. Metal prints have the added luxury of achieving a glossy or matte finish for a more vibrant picture.
Acrylic is a great choice too, and it’s more durable than canvas, however when compared to metal , it falls short in the durability department. Metal can withstand rain, direct sunlight, wind, steam and is more scratch resistant than Acrylic.
Metal prints are growing in popularity as a choice for home decor. When deciding to create a metal print, It’s important to consider the quality of the image selected to print. Metal posters require high resolution images. Using a quality photo will ensure that you can create a clear, crisp and professional print. Unlike art placed in glass frames, metal prints are permanent. Therefore it’s important to get the best quality on a first print to avoid wasting materials on different iterations.
Some metal prints can be heavier than traditional artworks because of the durable materials used in production. Be sure to purchase prints with effective installation methods, such as magnet mounted prints. This can make moving the prints easier and preserve the quality of walls by avoiding the unnecessary drilling used by traditional pin up wall art.
Image via. joesdaily
Metal prints are more durable than canvas and other print mediums. Under normal conditions they can be expected to last for decades. For prints with a Matte and Glossy finish, this might vary.
There are different types of prints on the market. And their mounting instructions differ based on print size and other factors like weight etc. For additional tips on how to hang posters without nails check out this blog post. Prints by Innovative startups like Displate are designed to inflict little to no damage onto your walls. Medium sized magnet mounted Metal plates by Displate are mounted in 5 easy steps.
01. Clean the wall with a cleaning wipe and let it dry out completely.
02. Peel the back paper off and stick the leaf on the wall. Press around to remove air bubbles.
03. Peel the foil off the back of the magnet.
04. Stick the magnet in the middle of the protective leaf and press hard.
05. Hang your metal Displate and Display Yourself!
Not all metal print manufacturers like Displate will come up with a unique magnet mounting strategy. Traditional prints will require simply hanging them on a wall. When hung, some prints can be heavier than others. It’s important to consider the strength of your chosen wall and be aware of possible damage to wall surfaces. However, for more lightweight metal sheet designs, this would not be a major concern. The devil is in the details. Be sure to receive clear cut mounting instructions from sellers. Extra Large magnet mounted Metal plates by Displate are mounted in 6 easy steps.
01. Use the template – attach it to the wall using the scotchtape that we provide.
02. Clean the wall with cleaning wipe and let it dry out completely.
03. Peel the back paper off all the leaves, stick them onto the wall and press around to remove air bubbles.
04. Peel the foil off each magnet and stick it in the middle of its protective leaf. Press hard.
05. Mark the upper left corner, to know where the edge of the first Displate should go. Then remove the template from the wall.
06. Hang your Displate and Display Yourself!
Collectors consider art to be an investment, while others simply purchase it for decor. In any case, it’s perfect to have art printed on Metal. The added durability and vibrancy makes it artwork that can last for generations. If you’re considering purchasing a piece of art. Be sure to consider Metal Prints.