7 Benefits of Metal Prints: What You Need To Know

What Are Metal Prints? Materials, Process, Finishes, and Prices

 

What Is a Metal Print?

A metal print is a high-quality replica of an image or design on a sleek metal sheet. These prints are similar to canvas prints. Many options are available for metal prints depending on the material, the tools, and the final process look. However, you can print almost anything you want onto metal as long as you follow the correct process.

Metal art typically requires a thinner metal, such as an aluminum sheet. Metal prints are much more than simple images; they are entire photo prints, as well as, unique designs. Often considered wall art, they can decorate any space, kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom. 

1. Definition of Metal Prints
   • Metal prints are high-definition photographic prints created by infusing dye into aluminum sheets using dye sublimation technology, producing vibrant and durable images.
   • Commonly used materials include standard aluminum, brushed aluminum (grayscale and artistic), and Dibond aluminum (a composite material with a plastic core).
2. Printing Technologies for Metal Prints
   • Dye Sublimation (Most Common): Offers outstanding resolution, color vibrancy, and long-lasting durability. The ink chemically bonds with the aluminum for scratch resistance and UV protection.
   • Inkjet Printing: Used for small-scale printing, like logos or text, but unsuitable for photos due to lower resolution.
   • Screen Printing: Best for simple designs and larger text but lacks the precision required for photo-quality images.
3. Metal Print Finishes
   • Matte: Non-reflective; ideal for portraits or low-glare environments but slightly mutes colors.
   • Semi-Gloss: Balanced shine and vibrance; good for landscapes and versatile spaces.
   • Glossy: Maximum color vibrancy and clarity; best for controlled lighting conditions.
   • Metallic: Removes the white layer to highlight the metal’s texture, creating a futuristic or artistic look.
4. Advantages of Metal Prints
   • Durability: Waterproof, rustproof, scratch-resistant, and heat-resistant.
   • Longevity: Fade-resistant for up to 60–100 years in indoor settings.
   • Lightweight: Easy to hang and transport.
   • Cleaning and Maintenance: Simple to clean with a non-abrasive cloth and streak-free cleaner.
   • Visual Appeal: Vibrant colors and a 3D-like effect for stunning visuals.
5. Disadvantages of Metal Prints
   • Cost: Higher price range ($25–$2,500) compared to traditional prints.
   • Suitability: Not ideal for low-resolution images or soft/blurry visuals.
   • Sunlight Exposure: Long-term exposure to direct sunlight may cause fading.
6. Price and Sizing
   • Prices range based on size, materials, and customizations, starting at $25 for small prints (8″x8″) and exceeding $2,500 for large prints (96″x54″).
   • Popular companies like Pictorem offer customizable sizing, high-quality prints, and discounts.
7. Best Applications of Metal Prints
   • Ideal for vibrant landscapes, black-and-white photography, and modern décor.
   • Popular for outdoor and high-humidity environments due to weather resistance.
8. Alternatives to Metal Prints
   • Canvas Prints: Offer a textured, traditional look but lack the durability and vibrancy of metal prints.
   • Acrylic Prints: Provide similar vibrancy and modern appeal but are less scratch-resistant than metal prints.

Conclusion

Metal prints offer unmatched durability, vibrant colors, and versatile finishes, making them ideal for long-lasting art in both indoor and outdoor settings. While more expensive than traditional prints, their resistance to scratches, water, and fading ensures they stand the test of time. High-resolution images and bold visuals shine brightest on metal, while alternatives like canvas or acrylic can suit other aesthetic preferences or budgets.

7 Benefits of Metal Prints

1. Durability: 
   • Metal prints are exceptionally durable, resisting curling, fading, and cracking over time.
   • They are scratch-resistant and can survive drops better than glass or paper-based prints.
   • Entities/Attributes: Metal prints, scratch-resistant, durability.
2. Aesthetic Appeal: 
   • Metal prints feature high-definition, vibrant colors with a sleek, modern look.
   • They can suit various settings, such as kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, or galleries, adding a sophisticated touch.
   • Entities/Attributes: High-definition, vibrant colors, modern aesthetics.
3. Lightweight and Easy to Mount: 
   • Made primarily from lightweight aluminum, metal prints are easier to hang and less likely to damage walls compared to heavier materials like glass.
   • Entities/Attributes: Aluminum, lightweight, mounting options.
4. Customizable Options: 
   • Metal prints offer flexibility in mounting (e.g., floating wall mounts, magnetic brackets) and framing styles, including frameless displays.
   • They can be tailored to fit modern or vintage aesthetics.
   • Entities/Attributes: Customizable, mounting options, framing styles.
5. Ease of Cleaning: 
   • The protective coating on metal prints allows for easy cleaning with a microfiber or damp cloth.
   • They resist water and humidity, making them ideal for kitchens and bathrooms.
   • Entities/Attributes: Easy to clean, protective coating, water-resistant.
6. Eco-Friendly Production: 
   • The dye sublimation process eliminates the chemical waste associated with traditional photo printing, making metal prints an environmentally conscious choice.
   • Entities/Attributes: Dye sublimation, eco-friendly, minimal waste.
7. Longevity: 
   • Metal prints can last over 100 years if properly cared for, with minimal fading when kept out of direct sunlight.
   • Outdoor exposure also ensures vibrant colors for around two years.
   • Entities/Attributes: Longevity, vibrant colors, sunlight resistance.

Conclusion: Metal prints combine durability, stunning aesthetics, and easy maintenance, making them a superior choice for both personal and professional spaces. Their long-lasting nature, vibrant colors, and eco-friendly production process make them a worthwhile investment. Whether as a decorative piece or a gift, metal prints offer unmatched versatility and value.

Metal prints are not the most popular type of printing but not any less memorable. Metal prints are excellent artworks for their many beneficial properties, such as durability, customizability, and overall stunning appearance. 

Superior to other prints, metal printmaking may have a longer, more complicated process, but worth it in the end. Keep reading to find out why metal prints are so beneficial to invest in.

 

How Are Metal Prints Made?

Metal prints follow the normal printing process as if you were printing a simple word document through an inkjet printer. A more traditional form of printing would be screen printing, which is when ink pushes through a stencil mesh screen to imprint designs. Metal prints do not take well to this method.

The process of making a metal print is through dye sublimation. It starts with the desired image printed onto a specific type of transfer paper. Dye sublimation is better than the traditional metal photo printing process directly onto the metal surface because it goes into a hard coating of chroma luxe that better protects the image through a permanent infusion.

A giclee printer uses special ink on the transfer paper to provide the highest resolution so it best bonds to the metal plate. After printing the image, you tape it onto the blank metal photo panel to stick in a heat press.

In the heat press, the dye turns gaseous, helping in the absorption process. It will then cool and finish absorbing all the dyes to create a finished piece.

Benefits of Metal Prints

With all the options available, it can be challenging, at first, to see why metal prints are the most advantageous to have. However, all doubt fades away when all the benefits keep adding up way beyond that of a paper or canvas print.

1. Durability

Metal prints are more durable than all their competition. While glass is also waterproof like metal, paper is not. Metal prints will last for many years as long as they are not in direct sunlight and are well taken care of. 

Metal prints better protect and display images because they will not curl over time like paper, nor will they fade or get cloudy like glass. Metal prints will last better than their competition because they are scratch-resistant and made of a heartier material. 

Glass shatters and cracks if dropped badly, but metal prints will be fine. Metal prints will be art that can be passed through the family or last a lifetime if properly taken care of.

2. Scratch Resistant

It may seem far-fetched that metal prints are scratch resistant. However, because of the durable material and high-quality metal, these prints are made to withstand the issues of everyday life. Some products say they are scratch-resistant, and then personal experience says otherwise. 

Metal prints consist of aluminum or some other type of metal sheet, and via the dye sublimation process protected against everyday issues. It takes something pretty powerful to scratch the heated and pressed print. 

3. Aesthetic Appeal

Metal prints possess an undeniable aesthetic appeal. These high-definition art pieces can fit the vibe of any home and adapt to any personal preference. They are images of your choosing on a material that brings out the best colors.  

Metal prints can display without framing, but they can provide a modern, clean aesthetic based on the images printed and the mounting options. The vibrant colors in an image depend on the settings the person printing chooses, and there are plenty of other design choices that can adapt to the person receiving the print.

4. Lightweight

Metal prints are very lightweight, making the wall mount process much easier than with a heavier material such as glass. It seems like a metal artwork would be heavy and difficult to lift, but the main ingredient in the metal is aluminum, a light, soft metal.

Metal prints will not damage walls or fall because they are too heavy. As long as you get the proper mounting pieces, they will stay or move whenever you wish them to. Metal prints are not as weighty as most other pieces made of metal, so they can be hung and framed to fit your desired aesthetic.

5. Customizable

Metal prints are customizable to best fit the person ordering them. Metal prints hang any way you want, as there are plenty of ways to mount them, such as using floating wall mounts, metal kickstands, magnetic brackets, or acrylic display stands. 

There are many different framing options as well. Some styles lean toward a modern look, but there are also more vintage and timeless options. Metal prints do not have to be framed at all, and the lack of glass in the frame prevents glares and streaky marks.

6. Easy to Clean

Metal prints make keeping artwork clean, easy, and painless. As the dye is underneath a surface coating, the metal print can wipe clean whenever it needs a good cleaning. Typically it is best to use a soft dry microfiber cloth when cleaning, but if you need to, you can always use a wet cloth for tougher stains. 

Other prints, such as paper, glass, and canvas, are not as easy to clean and are not supposed to get wet. Metal prints have no such issue, and their ability to last in humid environments is why they are so great for the kitchen or bathroom. Metal prints can be cleaned quickly and efficiently as part of a routine.

7. Eco-friendly

Metal prints are better for the environment than others, and the dye sublimation process is the best, too. The chemical waste produced when printing traditionally becomes eliminated when you print on metal using the dye sublimation process. 

The traditional process, unfortunately, produces chemical wastes that contain silver, caustic chemicals, and bleaches. These products often go into drains that filter into the environment, so this other method is much more environmentally friendly.