The benefits of printing on metal
After a lot of trial and error and testing many different print mediums out, I’ve finally settled on metal printing as my preferred medium.
So, what is metal printing? Simply put, it involves a heat press to infuse ink into a specially treated, ChromaLuxe aluminium metal plate. The process results in an ultra modern, high definition finished print with a true to life look.
There are many benefits of metal printing over traditional formats. The following are some of my favourite reasons for metal printing:
Durability
The process of ‘dye-sublimation’ (ie/ infusing the ink into the metal) allows the colours to last for a very long time without losing vibrancy and becoming dull. In fact, if properly kept out of direct sunlight, metal prints will last for greater than 100 years and are currently regarded as the longest lasting photo medium available and image stability is 2-4 times longer than the image stability of traditional silver photo papers.
Additionally, metal prints are scratch, stain and chemical resistant and have the added benefit of being waterproof. This means that you can display your print in most places where traditional materials are not recommended such as humid locations (Eg/ bathrooms) and not worry about protecting them with glass
They can be cleaned simply with a microfibre cloth and simple (ammonia-free) glass cleaning solution
The metal print look
Metal printing allows for a frameless, ultramodern look. The prints allow clean edge to edge printing, and the infused colour gives a rich, vivid luminance which makes photos come to life. Additionally, frameless metal prints appear to float elegantly on your wall and allow photos to really pop.
Keep in mind that larger size prints (especially 40” or more) are designed to be viewed from a distance, as larger printing on any medium will introduce noise (or fuzziness), especially for nightscapes. However when viewing at a distance the image quality on metal prints are spectacular.
Environmentally better
The process of infusing ink onto the aluminium surface avoids the traditional processes of print that produce chemical wastes that often contain high levels of silver, caustic chemicals and bleaches, which may end up in our drain pipes and thus the environment.
Lightweight
Since the metal used is aluminium, prints remain lightweight even at larger print sizes. This means you can easily transport them, hang them on removable hanging strips instead of requiring nails and hooks, and easily remove your print for cleaning purposes. Care should be used on frameless metal prints not to apply too much pressure on the edges as this can cause bending of your print.
Customisable
Perhaps my favourite reason to print on metal is how flexible the whole process is. Traditional looks with white matts are easily replicated. Custom sizes are no problem – want a 43.4 inch width? Easily done as the final prints can be cut down to any size. If you would like a more unique look, why not go for a circle print instead of a square/rectangle? If you prefer a framed look over frameless, this can also be accomplished with a choice of European or Box Art frames. Both Matt and Gloss finishes are available for the perfect finishing touch.
Whilst I love the metal print look, I do understand that it may not be to everyone’s taste or budget, and so do also provide my prints on canvas and can provide my prints on other formats on request. If you don’t have any strong objections however, I certainly recommend you give the metal print format a go, you won’t be disappointed!
