Metal prints are arguably the most popular substrate that photographers print on these days. They are certainly the most common prints exhibited for sale at local art festivals along with canvas gallery wraps. Reasons why metal prints have surged in popularity in recent years is in part due to having a shiny, saturated look to them and they're more affordable than acrylic face mounts and externally framed prints. Metal prints are also one of the more durable print substrates so these are ideal for high foot traffic venues such as hospitals, offices and art festivals in addition to areas with humidity or moisture such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Not all metal prints are created equally however. When people refer to metal prints they're usually referring to direct printing on metal, dye sublimation or silver halide prints that are dry mounted on metal backing. My favorite type of metal prints are ChromaLuxe Dye Sublimation metal prints. These are essentially thin sheets of aluminum that have had dye inks heat pressed directly onto the metal. There are some drawbacks to dye sub metal prints particularly when it comes to sharpness and color accuracy however. Another thing to consider is that since ChromaLuxe prints are printed on thin sheets of aluminum, these prints can look awfully cheap when compared to pricier alternatives such as acrylic face mount prints. Keep reading for my solution for making ChromaLuxe metal prints that look worthy of spending your hard earned money on.
After having visited numerous galleries and art festivals over the past few years, I've come to the conclusion that I never want to offer a float mount metal print which is the most common type of presentation. Aluminum is simply too thin and cheap looking when floating off the wall without any sort of backing frame. That's why I've chosen to offer ChromaLuxe Edge Mount framed metal prints. These frames are really substantial and add a level of sophistication that regular metal prints lack.
Print Features
- Glossy finish results in vibrant, saturated colors
- Extremely durable which is ideal for public display in hospitals, hotels and offices
- Frame arrives ready to hang
- Luxury framing presentation which leaves an impression unlike regular dye sub metal prints