Cleaning and Caring for Your Shiny Prints Created: Jun 10, 2024 Written by Matt Dee

Our Metal Prints are the most resilient prints in the world and can be hung outdoors due to their rust resistant properties, in high moisture environments such as bathrooms, spas, and kitchens. While many labs like to claim the Chromaluxe HD Metal prints are scratch resistant we do not label them as such as they can scratch when not properly handled. Just a small amount of upkeep is required for keeping your prints looking their best for many years.

Cleaning

Most of the time, the only thing you will need to clean your Shiny Prints is a basic microfiber cloth that can be purchased at your local grocery or hardware store. A simple wipe will remove most dust and fingerprints. Do not use anything that is abrasive such as paper towels to clean your prints as they can cause tiny scratches. For more stubborn stains, a little bit of denatured alcohol which can be purchased at most hardware stores, acetone or goo gone applied to a microfiber cloth will do the job. Over time, prints can collect dust so it is a good idea to wipe down your prints about once a month to keep them looking their absolute best. If you're an artist that frequently does shows or exhibitions, we recommend purchasing a larger, better quality microfiber cloth and carry a bottle of denatured alcohol at all times.

Signing

Customers who like to sign their prints find that a sharpie or a liquid paint pen works best. We recommend the Liquitex brand of paint pens. Signatures can be removed using acetone or denatured alcohol with just a little bit of elbow grease. We recommend a small signature either in the bottom left or right side where the ink can have some contrast or where the ink will not cover a crucial element of the print. Our signature back-stamp is a great option for those who want to brand their prints without writing anything on the front surface. Backstamps offer a more prestigious look which can be used to offer limited editions and information about the artist just as phone number, email and website address.

Transporting and shipping

It is very important that Metal Prints are properly protected during transport to reduce the possibility of damage. We recommend to wrap each print individually in plastic and then securing to an oversized piece of cardboard or wood. This will protect the corners and edges from getting dinged and chipped. When transporting multiple prints at once, do not stack the prints too high and always stack them either face to face or back to back as the backing of the prints can do damage to the front. When picking up more than 5 prints, make sure you bring extra blankets or towels to help secure them in place and to prevent them from moving around.

Shipping of Metal Prints should only be done by a professional or a company that has experience shipping fine art prints. Metal prints require much more protection than canvas or paper prints. Sizes larger than 20" x 30" should be wood crated. Prints larger than 40x60 will need to be freight shipped. Shipping to a residential address will cost a little bit more than to a commercial address. Be sure to take pictures of the package interior and exterior and make note of all packaging materials that were used before its picked up in case you need to file a damage claim with your courier.

Damage Prevention and Repair

Like any other piece of fine art, metal prints are prone to get damaged if they are transported often or mishandled by a gallery or exhibition employee.  When transporting these prints from one location to the next, it is wise to have a plan in place to reduce the likelihood of the prints getting damaged.  When transporting, its important to protect the edges.  You can do this by bagging each print, sealing it with tape and taping it down to an oversized piece of cardboard.  Alternatively, you can buy cheap pipe insulation from Home Depot and use it to cover the edges and corners.  You can buy the insulation here https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-Semi-Slit-3-4-in-ID-x-1-2-in-Wall-x-6-ft-Long-Polyethylene-Foam-Pipe-Insulation-210-Lin-ft-Carton-ORP07812/204760801