Metal prints

[shadowfox]

I'm considering my options for building a portfolio.
One of the consideration is metal prints because I have always liked how B&W images look printed on metal sheets.

So I have one made and it arrived this week:

I'm pretty impressed with the print quality.
First, I can see the parts that I dodged (digitally) and at 20x30 inches, it retains the sharpness, and not only at proper viewing distance.
Secondly, the surface is not shiny (I chose the lustre finish), but it has a certain luminosity that is hard to describe, let alone show online.

Another angle to illustrate the details:

What do you guys/gals think?

 

[Katie]

Yours looks nice. Where did you order from? I just got one in that I'm donating for a charity event in a few weeks, and I am not that impressed. I don't know if I uploaded the wrong file size or DPI, but the print doesn't look that great. Tones are fine - but it's not crisp like I thought it would be.

 

[stitchohana]

very nice print out ~

 

[daveleo]

This is interesting. I have seen only one metal print (on aluminum, I believe), and that was this last August. I did not like the look of it.
The surface texture ( or lack of a texture?) effected the picture differently depending on the angle you viewed it at. Maybe it was reflectivity? Maybe a surface effect? In any case, it changed the character of the picture as you moved.

This is only my opinion. That very picture won the judges prize at the exhibit.

 

[shadowfox]

Yours looks nice. Where did you order from? I just got one in that I'm donating for a charity event in a few weeks, and I am not that impressed. I don't know if I uploaded the wrong file size or DPI, but the print doesn't look that great. Tones are fine - but it's not crisp like I thought it would be.

Katie, this one is from Blackriver Imaging.
I'm going to try a couple vendors.

very nice print out ~

Thank you.

This is interesting. I have seen only one metal print (on aluminum, I believe), and that was this last August. I did not like the look of it.
The surface texture ( or lack of a texture?) effected the picture differently depending on the angle you viewed it at. Maybe it was reflectivity? Maybe a surface effect? In any case, it changed the character of the picture as you moved.

This is only my opinion. That very picture won the judges prize at the exhibit.

Dave, I think the surface has a lot to do with it. I dislike anything glossy, so I chose the lustre finish that promised not to reflect light excessively. My photos are not the "sparkly-type" anyways.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

This looks like a good idea, to me. I'll have to look into it further.

 

[robert blu]

For what I can see on my monitor it's a good photo and the prints seems good as well. Interesting, it's something to think about, not sure about the cost of it in Europe. Research to be done!
robert

 

[segedi]

I want to try this...

 

[Murchu]

That looks really beautiful, from the shot you've posted up. Is the metal very thick, or is there any issue of it getting dings or knocks ? Had not really seen this type of thing before

 

[shadowfox]

This looks like a good idea, to me. I'll have to look into it further.

A couple of vendors offer this service, feel free to share your findings in this thread.

For what I can see on my monitor it's a good photo and the prints seems good as well. Interesting, it's something to think about, not sure about the cost of it in Europe. Research to be done!
robert

Robert, thank you kindly. The cost for this one is 100USD with shipping.

That looks really beautiful, from the shot you've posted up. Is the metal very thick, or is there any issue of it getting dings or knocks ? Had not really seen this type of thing before

Damien, the metal is not thin, and it's also quite stiff.
It'll take some effort to bend it or ding it.
They also round the corners so there is no danger in cutting a gash on your fingers.

I can see it decorating contemporary offices / lofts / or café.

 

[healyzh]

Katie, this one is from Blackriver Imaging.
I'm going to try a couple vendors.

Interesting looking lab, what I really like is that they'll do custom sizes. I've been considering doing a test print or two from a local lab, but need a different size than they offer for the project that they'd be for. I wonder just how custom the sizes can be, as I'd like either half plate, or quarter plate sized images.

 

[drew.saunders]

B&H did a video review of a new Moab Slickrock metallic paper that you can use in your normal inkjet printer: http://youtu.be/Mjl8QmicJkg

 

[SausalitoDog]

I've made a few prints on a few different "metal" inkjet papers (all lustre) and was very disappointed with all of them. I was hoping for really deep colors and sharpness...FAIL. Epson ultra premium glossy beats the heck out of any metal I've tried so far...

 

[tsiklonaut]

If you ask me I reckon all of 'em dotty and sterile digital prints look rather mediocre no matter what base compared to proper skillfully done analog enlargements on similar base Maybe I say this coz I'm an analog nutter and apreciate skillful handwork over digital manipulations any day of the week.

I've used MACO Expo Ag Silver with analog silver emulsion you can expose and enlarge under the proper analog enlarger. Not sure if it's still produced or available, since it was quite costly at the time already. Compared them with similar so-called-metallic digital prints at the time and it was hands down superior from the small nuances all the way to the large scale looks. I also often chemically Azure toned to them making them look more "deep" or 3D-like. Still have 3 packages left of that rare paper for the better days.

The problem with the metal enlargements, especially chemically toned is you need to see them with your own eyes. Even if you change your viewing angle a little the picture will change. So unlike most of other prints no photo or scan can represent their looks that you see with your own eyes on metallic print.

 

[shadowfox]

If you ask me I reckon all of 'em dotty and sterile digital prints look rather mediocre no matter what base compared to proper skillfully done analog enlargements on similar base Maybe I say this coz I'm an analog nutter and apreciate skillful handwork over digital manipulations any day of the week.

Don't forget, I print in the darkroom also. So I know where you're coming from.

But I would be depriving myself a lot of good things if I limit myself in the digital realms. The technology is out there, so I'd like to explore it, and in this particular case, I am quite happy with the result. This metal print is neither "dotty" nor does it looks "sterile" ... not in my eyes anyway

Btw, I know this is hard to believe, but the print does *not* look different when you move to a different viewing angle.

For those who is considering to try this, I recommend to stay away from glossy surfaces (if the vendor offered a choice in this regard).

 

[daveleo]

My guess is that this process, for making detailed prints (not simply etching sketches on metal trophy plates and diplomas etc,) is evolving and varies between practitioners. So viewer experiences are going to conflict about one aspect or another.
I can tell you that the one sample I reported above had the rest of us shakng our heads about it. But again, it won top prize.

 

[tsiklonaut]

This metal print is neither "dotty" nor does it looks "sterile" ... not in my eyes anyway

No worries mate, was just teasing

 

[shadowfox]

Another one just came through the mail:

I took advantage of the sale that Black River had going on to order another 20x30 inches metal print.

A closeup:

 

[rolfe]

First, I don't think you can really convey what the metal finish prints look like through a screen display.

My experience is that they work well for certain subject matter, such as portraits, and not so well for other subjects -- such as general urban landscapes, etc. They add a certan three dimensionality, but it is very dependent on the individual image.

 

[shadowfox]

First, I don't think you can really convey what the metal finish prints look like through a screen display.

Of course, and I am not trying to do that.
I'm just sharing the image of it. Take from it what you will.

You seem to know a lot about metal prints and what it's suitable for, do you have any? Share it here too.