What Types of Images Look Best on a Metal Print?
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You may have seen an amazing looking large metal print in an office or a friend’s home and were blown away by the quality.
Metal prints are a great way to display your photo art. But some types of images are better-suited for metal than others. So, what are the best images for metal prints?
Why Make a Metal Print?
The primary reason for making a large metal print of your own photography is that they look so cool. Seriously, I was psyched when I first saw my own images on canvas stretched out on a frame. Seeing one of my images on metal was even better.
It’s the flatness that does it. We’re used to physically seeing a photo or a painting either in a photo album or in a frame. Framed large photos are usually mated first before framing, but even if the photo fills the frame, a large percentage of what we see is not image content.
With a metal print, the entire viewing experience is 100% image. And unlike a poster print, a metal print won’t have any wrinkles and is extraordinarily sharp. The presentation of the image itself becomes an artform.
Many types of subjects will work with metal prints. Here is a short list of metal print tips of some subjects that could be made into a metal print.
Landscape Prints on Metal
photo by DenisTangneyJr via iStock
Your favorite landscape photo will likely look great as a metal print. You might also try out some sizes and aspect ratios beyond the standard enlargements.
Standard sizes tend to be the aspect ratio of the Full Frame or APS-C formats or the slightly cropped sizes that have been around since before 35mm became the most popular format in photography.
So, we may be used to printing in multiples of either 4x5 or 4x6 inches, such as 16x20 or 16x24. A landscape image in a wide format ratio will capture everyone’s attention when made as a metal print. Maybe a square image, too, for certain subjects. Provided that your printer of choice can make custom sizes, that is. Be sure to check.
Popular Metal Print Companies: Metal Mouth Prints, Bay Photo, and Artbeat Studios
Astrophotography
photo by Nick_Pandevonium via iStock
Few image subjects surpass astrophotography for sheer wow power. Something about a well crafted image of a landscape with night sky features in it simply draws in the viewer. If deep sky astrophotography is your thing, imagine your pic of the Helix Nebula on a large metal print.
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Vibrant Colors
photo by JavenLin via iStock
Strong, vibrant, brilliant colors stand out on metal prints. It can be almost any subject matter. Graffiti on a wall, a beach scene with puffy clouds, blue sky, and the sea, a sunflower, all sorts of styles will work when vibrant colors are printed on metal.
Macro Photography
photo by Treena Wood Unedited via iStock
The intense colors and contrasts involved in many macro subjects look outstanding as a large metal print. Another factor making them stand out is that the magnification ratio is increased with larger prints.
Family Portraits
photo by skynesher via iStock
Whether printing for yourself or for a client, a family portrait enlargement metal print will show off both your photographic talent and the family.
Tips for Printing on Metal
A few very important tips for printing on metal are to choose a high quality printer, send them high resolution files, and display the metal prints properly.
Metal Mount Prints in the Kansas City area is one of my favorite places to have metal prints made. Their high quality is matched by their excellent customer service. They accept custom print sizes and can print from high resolution JPEGs or from TIFFs.
I really enjoy their éZi mount system which allows you to swap out the metal images while leaving the frame attached to the wall. Truthfully, this mounting system is one of the most innovative products in the metal print industry to date.
Think about it - you can attach the mount to the wall and have the ability to swap out which print you display at any given time. There’s no more hunting around for more wall space for your prints - instead, you can invest in a few of the éZi mounts and easily change which prints are on the wall.
In addition to that, Metal Mouth Prints has very reasonable prices for all size options. It really is the best of both worlds!
If you have yet to make one of your favorite photos into a large metal print, upload one to their website and see their preview of your image as a metal print. You won’t be disappointed!