Photos printed on paper, canvas, and acrylic have been the go-to option for ages. In recent years, however, metal prints<\/a> have grown in popularity and have almost completely overtaken traditional prints due to their contemporary aesthetic,<\/strong> vibrant colors, and superior durability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you prepare to add stunning photos to your space, you probably have questions about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you decide which type of print is right for your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metal prints are printed on aluminum with a white base coat that enhances the vibrancy of any color printed on the metal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Shiny Prints<\/a>, we only work with ChromaLuxe<\/a> specially-coated aluminum panels. The resulting prints are vibrant, high-resolution, durable, and long-lasting. You don\u2019t need glass to display <\/strong>these prints, since they go well with wall mounts or traditional frames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ChromaLuxe prints transform your photos from art to fine art <\/strong>and ignite the imagination of all who look at them. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe best business decision I ever made was to offer metal prints to my galleries and collectors \u2026 \u201d – <\/em>G. Brad Lewis, Photographer<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Traditional prints, on the other hand, are printed on photographic paper, canvas, or acrylic. Photographic paper is coated with a light-sensitive chemical<\/strong> called silver halide which allows images to be printed on it with detail and color accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photos printed on acrylic are sleek and modern in appearance, with a subtle 3D effect similar to metal prints but less vibrant. Acrylic is the cheaper option and also less durable since images are printed on its surface, not into the material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canvas prints make your images look like paintings<\/strong> due to the material\u2019s obviously textured look and lack of reflectivity. They\u2019re perfect for artwork meant to have a \u201chomely\u201d or \u201cwarm\u201d vibe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metal photo printing involves a dye sublimation process that requires heat and pressure to transfer printed images onto the metal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, an inkjet printer prints the image onto transfer paper using special solid inks. Next, the image gets heat-transferred onto a prepared aluminum surface. The ink transforms into gas before bonding with the metal, creating a clear and durable image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Traditional photo prints are created by either face mount<\/strong> or direct printing.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Face mounting involves applying a clear adhesive to the surface of the print, then adhering it to an acrylic base (plexiglass). A backing material, such as Dibond, is then attached to the back of the print to make it sturdy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In direct printing, a photo is directly printed onto the surface of a material such as paper without using a transfer or other intermediate steps. The end result is an image with a superb matte finish and vibrant colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since dye sublimation involves infusing ink into a material,<\/strong> it results in a hardy product that can\u2019t be superficially damaged. Other printing processes print images onto the surface<\/strong> of the material, making the artwork less durable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to the dye sublimation process, metal picture prints have exceptionally vibrant colors.<\/strong> The ink is infused into the metal, resulting in vivid, accurate colors. As well, aluminum creates a 3D effect on any kind of image. This makes each part of the photo stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c \u2026 I’m always pleased. Their color profiling and customer service really just doesn’t get any better \u2026 \u201d – <\/em>Jack Bates Photography<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n In addition, light reflected from the metal surface<\/strong> makes colors appear brighter and more vibrant. Prints made on ChromaLuxe metal panels are especially fantastic for magnifying the beauty<\/strong> of your images in a way that other mediums just can\u2019t match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The more details there are in a photo, the more spectacular it looks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dye sublimation creates a crisp image with excellent contrast<\/strong>, making all the details pop. The high resolution and color accuracy of the printing process also brings out even the smallest of details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metal photo prints are steadily gaining traction over other types of prints because of their impressive durability. It takes up to 60 years<\/strong><\/a> for the first noticeable fading and color changes in ChromaLuxe metal prints to occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The long life of metal prints comes from them being:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the flipside, metal prints are much more costly<\/strong> than traditional printing. Aluminum is considerably more expensive than canvas or paper, and it takes more work to prepare an aluminum sheet for printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Printing on metal also requires special dye sublimation printers which are expensive. This further drives up the cost of metal photo prints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metal prints do best when kept indoors and in the shade. They tend to fade quicker with regular exposure to direct sunlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, our lab at Shiny Prints will soon be releasing an outdoor metal print with a 10-year outdoor rating,<\/strong> and 300 years indoors.<\/strong> We\u2019ll be one of three labs with a 10-year rating, as opposed to the competition\u2019s typical five-year lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metal photo prints result in extremely high-resolution photos<\/strong> with bright colors and clear contrast. It\u2019s important to note that if your image is of average or low quality, a metal print will highlight its imperfections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expert Tip:<\/strong> Converting a low-resolution image into grayscale (black-and-white) can get you some decent results for metal printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The charm of paper and canvas photo prints comes from their traditional appearance, which works well with less contemporary decor. It also evokes a sense of nostalgia,<\/strong> pointing back to the days when printed photographs were the way to preserve memories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, regular photo prints come at a lower cost<\/strong> than metal prints. They\u2019re cheaper to produce and are more widely available, making them excellent for people on a budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canvas and paper prints work well with soft and bold prints due to the non-reflectiveness<\/strong> of the material. Even if your photo isn’t extremely high-resolution, it will still look great printed on these mediums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike metal prints, traditional photo prints have lower color saturation<\/strong> meaning that they don’t allow you to achieve vibrant colors and intricate details in your images. As such, they give you less visually striking results compared to metal photo art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As far as durability goes, traditional prints get a lower score. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They\u2019re highly prone to yellowing and fading<\/strong> over time since their surface materials are less hardy. Canvas and paper prints require intense maintenance to protect them from deterioration from the elements such as rain and direct sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Acrylic prints last a bit longer but they still trail far behind metal photo prints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s look at some of the differences between metal prints and two other popular printing mediums in the table below:<\/p>\n\n\nMetal Photo Prints and Traditional Prints: A Quick Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"comparison](\"https:\/\/shinyprints.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shinyprints-acrylic-print-featured-on-top-produces.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMaterials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Printing Process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"framed](\"https:\/\/shinyprints.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shinyprints-printing-process.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPros and Cons of Metal Photo Prints<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"metal](\"https:\/\/shinyprints.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shinyprints-metal-photo-print-mounting-system.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"metal](\"https:\/\/shinyprints.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shinyprints-metal-print-showing.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"chromaluxe](\"https:\/\/shinyprints.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shinyprints-photo-snippet-metal-photo-prints-vs-traditional.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pros and Cons of Traditional Prints<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"collection](\"https:\/\/shinyprints.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shinyprints-collection-of-framed-photos-on-wall.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"metal](\"https:\/\/shinyprints.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shinyprints-metal-photo-print-of-swimming-ray.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"share](\"https:\/\/shinyprints.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shinyprints-facebook-promo-metal-photo-prints-vs-traditional.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"