Whether you’re decorating your home or creating professional displays of your photography, printing a photo on metal is an exciting and reliable way to display your memories.
If you’ve ever wondered what a metal photo print is, keep reading! You’ll go from learning that aluminum prints exist to ordering your own as we explain what a metal print is, how a photo is printed on metal, and how you can order a photo on metal today.
A metal photo print is a specialty print in which images are infused onto sheets of aluminum. What results is a sharp, crisp, and vibrant images, of quality far superior to what inkjet printers are capable of.
Metal prints are known for their luxurious, sleek texture. They blend seamlessly into modern and industrial interiors. Printed to either stand or hang, metal prints do not require frames. The moment your metal print arrives, it is ready to be put on display.
A metal print’s aluminum base makes printing incredible and unique shapes easy. Printique offers premium quality metal prints in dozens of shapes and sizes.
Bring incredible panoramic photographs to life on a 36-inch panoramic metal print. Create a vibrant gallery of memories with hexagonal metal prints that fit like puzzle pieces when arranged together. Give new dimension and character to your photo on a circle-cut metal display.
Printing a photo on metal utilizes a process known as dye-sublimation. While inkjet printers reproduce an image by translating it into thousands of individual dots, dye-sublimation printers use heat to infuse an image onto an aluminum sheet.
Dye-sublimation consists of a two-part process.
First, your photo is printed on a transfer sheet using liquid gel. This image is then cooked onto an aluminum sheet. The combination of heat and pressure permanently bonds the crisp details of your image to the aluminum.
What you have left is a scratch-proof, water-proof, sun-proof metal photo print.
If you’re debating whether you should print your photo on metal, chances are the answer is yes! The metal printing process is fairly new and can be intimidating to first time printers. But Printique makes this premium quality style accessible to everyone, regardless of expertise!
If you are printing a colorful and vibrant photo, an aluminum print will flawlessly enhance its strongest qualities.
If you are printing a family photograph, the durability of a metal print will make this meaningful photograph last for generations to come.
No matter the photograph you’re bringing to life, a metal print will do justice to the memory and experience behind it.
Metal photo prints are among the most durable, long lasting print styles. One reason for this is that photos on metal are water resistant. While materials such as canvas or archival Hahnemuhle fine art paper can become damaged over time in humid conditions, a photo on metal is water resistant. This is thanks to both its heat-based printing process and the qualities of its aluminum base.
The water-resistant quality of a photo printed on metal makes it the perfect printing style for bathroom décor. Add color and character to your bathroom walls with no fear of damage. Using photos on metal to decorate your bathroom is an aesthetic and worthwhile investment.
Metal prints are even durable enough to use as outdoor décor. If you’re decorating a patio, pool area, or outdoor bar area, metal prints are the best investment you can make.
A metal print’s outdoor durability is in part due to aluminum’s resistance to sun damage. If you hang a material such as canvas directly in the sun, the effect of UV concentration can cause the image to fade over time. With a photo on metal, your image will maintain its vibrant and HD-quality no matter the conditions.
A metal print’s durability against the elements makes it a print that will last for generations.
Metal prints are becoming more popular every day, and we’re not surprised as to why. If you’re on the look out, you’re sure to come across more photos on metal than you anticipated. Metal prints are popular décor choices for restaurants, stores, and luxury apartment buildings. Their durability makes them a reliable choice for public venues.
If you want to view the quality of a photo on metal in person, visit our store front in Brooklyn. We have gorgeous, large metal prints on display in our lobby. You can hold a metal print in your hands and experience the HD quality of a photo on metal up close.
At our Brooklyn store front, you can also observe the differences between a photo on metal and a photo on canvas. Beyond the difference in photo appearance, you can feel the difference in texture, weight, and shape.
When you print a photo on metal, Printique takes care of the complicated stuff.
To print a photo on metal of your own, go to Printique.com. Select “metal prints” from our various specialty printing styles. Then, choose the shape and size you want your metal print to be.
Once you’ve selected the size and shape of your photo on metal, click “create your prints.” Then, upload the photo you would like to print.
On the following page, you will select whether you want your photo to be printed in color or black and white.
Then, choose the mount you would like your metal print to come with. You have the option of attaching a magnet to your metal print, fixing an easel to your metal print, displaying your metal print within an acrylic pedestal, or receiving your metal print with no fixture at all.
Finally, you will choose the finish you would like for your metal print. A glossy white finish on your metal print will create a bright, saturated final image. The white satin option will give your photo on metal even-toned, lifelike colors with a soft, glare-free finish. Select the glossy silver finish and your metal print will arrive with silvery metal highlights shining through its glossy finish, giving your image a luminescent beauty. Achieve a softer metallic finish with our silver satin option, which will give your metal print softer tones and soft, silver highlights that create a dreamy luminescent aesthetic.
If you’re looking for a unique and head-turning way to display your photos or artwork, metal printing is one of the best options available. Metal prints are a relatively new printing method, and it offers plenty of advantages over traditional printing.
This method allows you to display your metal photos or art with incredible clarity, contrast, and color. Plus, this printing style eliminates one of the more costly aspects of displaying pictures or art, which is framing. Metal prints are ready for display as soon as they’re off the press, with no additional hardware or frame necessary.
Today, we’re going to cover everything you’ll need to know about this innovative new style, so you can learn how to print on metal.
Metal photos can be created in two different ways. The original method involves printing directly onto a metal panel, and the latest, and most popular way, involves dye sublimation.
For traditional metal photo prints, AGFA printers are used to print directly onto the metal panel. These large format printers are most commonly used for printing large format media, such as billboards and large banners.
This printing method isn’t quite as vivid or durable as the sublimation method that we’ll discuss in greater detail below.
For sublimated prints, a large format inkjet printer that’s capable of Giclee printing is used. These printers are designed to produce incredibly vivid museum-quality prints quickly and affordably.
For metal printing, special sublimation inks are used, and the artwork is printed onto paper that will later be used to transfer the artwork from the paper to the metal substrate.
For metal printing, the printer isn’t printing to metal; instead, sublimation paper is used to transfer the printed artwork onto its metal canvas for display.
Sublimation paper is a highly specialized material used exclusively for sublimation designs onto materials that are difficult or impossible to print on otherwise, such as metal or ceramic.
Sublimation paper is available in various weights and ink capacities, and depending on your environment and the type of printing, you’ll find that certain papers work better than others.
As a rule of thumb, a heavyweight paper in the 110gsm range with a high ink capacity is well suited to various styles of photography and artwork, and this paper lends itself well to most printing applications.
Once the proper paper is selected, a technician loads it into the printer, where sublimation inks are used to print the artwork and prepare it for transfer to the metal canvas.
The metal that will become your art print is a treated aluminum sheet available in every popular print size. You’ll also find bulk sheets that can be cut to custom sizes for printing on metal.
The metal is typically available in two thicknesses, either .30 inches or .45 inches thick. A variety of finishes and coatings are available that can help you achieve a different look with your final print. We’ll discuss those aspects of how to print on metal in a moment.
The heat press is the largest and most interesting part of the metal printing process. Industrial presses have a vast working surface of around 96×60 inches with additional space on each side of the press to fit its inner workings.
A heat press features a table or deck which holds your metal substrate and sublimation paper and a heat place, which is heated to a high temperature and pressed against the sublimation paper so the transfer process can begin.
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Metal prints are available in two different finishes. Depending on your personal preference and the look you’re shooting for, you’ll find that one or the other is better suited for you.
Prints are available with a white finish or a clear finish, and they dramatically alter the look of your finished print. Regardless of the style you choose, the finish serves the same purpose as paper. This finish layer is what absorbs the ink and displays the artwork.
The white finish is most popular, and it offers a traditional look that’s reminiscent of a regular print, albeit with enhanced contrast and vibrant colors. The white finish is preferable if you’d like your final product to appear exactly as it does on the sublimation paper.
The clear finish provides an incredibly unique look that you can’t achieve with any other printing style. With this finish, the brushed aluminum’s look shows through, and it becomes the white point in the image. Since the aluminum’s silver color is the lightest point in your image, the final product will appear darker, and the contrast won’t be as strong.
What the image may lack in contrast, it makes up for by providing a glimmer and sheen that only metal can achieve. It’s a unique look that catches the eye and makes a great conversation piece.
Beyond the metal substrate’s finish, a final coating is applied over the finished print to provide a durable protective layer to the artwork beneath it. The coating is available in glossy, satin, and matte finishes, and each lends a distinct look to the final piece.
A glossy finish is the most popular choice, and it lends an incredibly polished look to the finished product. You’ll have to deal with some glare with a glossy finish, but a glossy finish also provides the most vibrant and lifelike color.
A matte finish is the opposite, and it doesn’t have any sheen to it at all. Colors are more muted and subdued, and there’s no glare to worry about. A satin finish is a best-of-both-worlds alternative, offering some of the brightness and vibrance of a gloss finish without as much glare. Satin finishes tend to look a little closer to matte than they do to gloss.
When it’s time to print, the metal substrate is placed on a sliding table that extends from the heat press. Next, a technician aligns the sublimation paper onto the metal substrate and tapes it in place to secure the print to the substrate. This step is critical, as any movement during the printing process will ruin the final product.
Finally, the prints are covered to eliminate any ink transferring to the heat plate during the transfer process, and the entire assembly is moved into a position to begin the transfer.
Inside the machine, pneumatic jacks lift the printing table to the heat plate, and the heat plate is preheated. Depending on ambient conditions, materials, and the heat press you’re using, the heat plate is typically in the realm of 390-410°F.
The transfer process itself is as much an art as a science, and it’s virtually impossible to produce a perfect quality print without an experienced technician at the helm. If the heat plate isn’t perfectly flat against the image, lines and color gradients will be seen throughout the finished print.
A single speck of dust is also enough to ruin an otherwise perfect print. Occasionally, even if everything else is perfect, you can still end up with a damaged image.
Another problematic aspect of metal printing is transfer rates. Different colors transfer at different speeds, with red and black transferring first and other colors transferring at a slower pace. Metal prints tend to be a bit on the warmer side, and the transfer rate is why.
Striking the right balance can be difficult, as colors like red and black, which transfer more quickly, can end up “burning” and turning brown if heat is applied for too long. The trick is to end the process when all the colors are fully transferred, but before the colors can start burning.
The process that occurs within the press is known as heat transfer sublimation. Sublimation occurs when a matter is transformed from a solid to a gas. As the sublimation paper is heated, the ink on the paper begins to turn to gas. The gas reforms as a solid on the surface of the metal, which is known as a deposition.
The final product you receive when printing on metal is quite unique and offers some visual properties you can’t achieve with other print methods.
One noticeable difference is that metal prints are usually warmer than with other print methods. Even images with heavy blues that would typically appear ‘cold’ tend to display beautifully. You’ll also notice that what’s different is the sublimation process imparts a textured look in areas of your photo or artwork that are especially smooth.
You can expect aspects such as a clear blue sky or a still lake to appear textured when using this medium, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your taste.
When it comes to the quality of a metal print, there are two factors: the quality of the metal substrate and the print technician’s experience.
Metal substrates can differ substantially, and many providers are offering the raw materials necessary for metal printing. Some are paper-thin, while others are thicker and more robust.
Cheaper substrates usually have inferior base coatings that translate to lower quality printing than more expensive options with specialized coatings. Chromalux is the brand of choice for discerning enthusiasts and professional print shops.
The next piece of the puzzle is in the hands of the print tech. An experienced and talented print technician will accurately manage colors and print processes to provide you with a perfect print that’s true to the original image.
Beyond the beauty of metal prints, there are a few other benefits that are often overlooked.
For one, metal prints are ready for display as soon as they come off the press. There’s no need to matte or frame the image. Simply add mounting hardware to the print, and display it as you wish. Quality mounting hardware will only add about $5 to the total cost of the print.
Archivability and durability are excellent with these prints as well. Compared to other print methods, your metal prints will be as rich and vibrant as the day you received them for decades to come. These prints are also waterproof, and they can be cleaned with a damp cloth in seconds.
You’ll find no shortage of retailers offering metal print services. However, you’ll want to be wary of providers who provide metal prints at low prices to the detriment of quality materials and talented print technicians.
Instead, opt for an experienced local print shop that offers the quality materials and expertise needed to produce beautiful and eye-catching metal prints that will last a lifetime.
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