These Acrylic Photo Prints Will Elevate the WOW Factor of Your Photos
- What Are Acrylic Photo Prints?
- Styles of HD Acrylic Photo Prints
- Displaying Your Acrylic Photo Prints
- Other WOW Factor Print Options
- Recommended Photography Gear
Acrylic photo prints give any photographic artwork a WOW factor that is hard to beat and simply can’t be ignored. I’ve been using Artbeat Studios whenever I want to print on acrylic because of their extremely high quality in everything they do.
What does Artbeat Studios do to make their acrylic photo prints look so amazing? What types of acrylic photo prints do they offer, and are the options for creating and displaying an image on acrylic?
Keep on reading as I discuss these questions and more!
Table of Contents:
What Are Acrylic Photo Prints?
Acrylic is a synthetic polymer, a fancy way to say plastic. Not all plastics are equal to the task of being used as a photographic display medium, though. Obviously, for use as a photograph, this plastic or polymer needs to have qualities that enable that type of application.
The most common synthetic used for photo-grade clear acrylic is Poly(methyl 2-methyl propanoate) or PMMA. This optical-grade plastic is similar to silica-derived glass in many ways, including the clarity of light transmission.
In fact, this material is technically a type of glass, a non-crystalline vitreous substance, which is why you will sometimes see it referred to as acrylic glass to separate it from lesser grades of plastics.
First discovered (or invented, adapted) in the mid-1800s, this material saw use as an optical grade glass alternative in military applications on a large scale in WWII, being used to make lenses for periscopes and sights and being extruded into large, single-piece, curved airplane bubble canopies.
Commercial applications came rapidly in the Post War Period resulting in the many and varied common products seen today. One commercial application that benefits photographers is casting into clear sheets that can hold an image.
To create a print on acrylic that can accurately be labeled as an HD acrylic photo print, there are a few other factors to consider.
Styles of HD Acrylic Photo Prints
In making acrylic photo prints, a printer can print directly onto an extruded or cast acrylic sheet, or they can use a sandwich of photographic paper and a cast acrylic sheet. Guess which one looks best? The one made with high-quality photo printing paper as part of a sandwich.
Acrylic photo prints made by Artbeat Studios use the optically superior method of making acrylic sheets, the casting method, instead of an extruded sheet. A cast sheet is stronger and is more optically pure than an extruded sheet.
Artbeat Studios uses a face mounting system for their HD Acrylic Photo Prints. First, the image is printed with Epson inks onto high-resolution photo paper called Moab Slickrock Metallic photo paper.
Next, a high-quality optically clear adhesive glues the metallic paper onto the backside of the acrylic sheet. The paper, the glue, and the acrylic are all UV resistant and thus will not yellow with age and exposure to light.
Have a look at a short video from the Artbeat Studios YouTube channel highlighting the beauty of acrylic photo prints:
HD Acrylic Photo PrintsHD Acrylic Photo Prints from Artbeat Studios have archival-rated longevity and are very tough and durable. The end result is that WOW factor, with deep, rich tones and pure highlights, everything with superb and long-lasting color.
Additional options for making a print on acrylic from Artbeat Studios are the acrylic thicknesses and the backing materials, a total of 4 styles. HD Acrylic LITE, HD Acrylic, HD Acrylic Slims, and HD Acrylic 360.
Displaying Your Acrylic Photo Prints
Part of the WOW factor of acrylic photo prints is that they need no frames or matting. You can display them as complete works of art without any other material encompassing the print.
Metal posts are one option, or you can choose the rear-mounted and thus hidden ¾” thick aluminum wall mount. The wall mount gives your acrylic photo prints the illusion of floating right next to the wall, increasing the WOW factor. The polished edges complete the finishing.
If you choose, there are a couple of frames that are suitable for displaying acrylic photo prints. Both are very low profile and come in either white or black, a box frame, or a floating frame.
Other WOW Factor Print Options
Some other options for your acrylic photo prints are the anti-glare acrylic which reduces reflections, and the many sizes you can order. Sizes range from a small 4X6” print all the way up to 48X96”, which is a stunning 4 by 8 feet!
Try out Artbeat Studios for creating your own acrylic photo prints and see the WOW factor applied to your images. I’m sure you’ll be as impressed as I was when I first saw my photo art as a large print on acrylic.
