Options for Printing Metal Prints - Forums

Topic starter

Sep 9, 2022

For the past 5 years, I have used metal (aluminum) prints exclusively for displaying my images. I have used many different companies over the years. My best results have been through Printique (formerly Adorama Pix) but they are a bit pricey ($65 for 12x18), although sometimes they run a discount. I just tried CanvasChamp a few times - the prints are half the price but 1/3 the quality, so they are out.

What is your favorite company for printing metal prints in 2022? Please only relate recent experience - capability/performance changes quickly in this market.

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John Hayes

Frequent contributor

Sep 9, 2022

Gary,
I've had very good luck with Bay Photo. I don't know how their prices compare, but the quality is superb.

John

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seconds_in_eternity

Sep 9, 2022

I have been using BayPhoto in the last 5 years and the result is still good. When getting a big print I always have a small test print done first though, to make sure the printed colors look as expected.

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Gary Imm

Topic starter

Sep 9, 2022

When getting a big print I always have a small test print done first though, to make sure the printed colors look as expected.

Yes, this has always been an issue. After I order the 1st print from a company, I will "backcalculate" the changes required and then submit the originals for the next prints with the proper offsetting adjustments (in brightness, contrast, saturation, and tint). Fortunately, most companies seem to be consistent in their approach, so that multiple images have the same adjustments.

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Luca Marinelli

Sep 9, 2022

Gary Imm:
When getting a big print I always have a small test print done first though, to make sure the printed colors look as expected.

Yes, this has always been an issue. After I order the 1st print from a company, I will "backcalculate" the changes required and then submit the originals for the next prints with the proper offsetting adjustments (in brightness, contrast, saturation, and tint). Fortunately, most companies seem to be consistent in their approach, so that multiple images have the same adjustments.

Gary,

Ask the photo lab to provide ICC profiles for the specific media that you can use for soft proofing. If your monitor is well calibrated and you use an ICC color workflow to prepare the files for submission to the photo lab, colors should be fairly close. I agree that for large pieces it's always a good idea to run an inexpensive test print but as for the "back calculation" that's what soft proofing is for.

In the past I have had large prints (up to 4 ft by 6 ft) on various media (canvas, book, metallic paper) made by WHCC and they have been consistently high quality. Their ICC profiles are very accurate and high quality. I have been printing my own work for many years on Epson and Canon medium-format printers (most recently on a Canon PRO-1000 17in printer) on a variety of papers, so I am a fairly demanding customer.

Luca

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Dale Penkala

Sep 9, 2022

John Hayes:
Gary,
I've had very good luck with Bay Photo. I don't know how their prices compare, but the quality is superb.

John

Thank you for this information! I’ve wanted to play around with these types of prints but wasn’t sure who does a good job. I’ve done some canvas prints with “Easy Canvas Prints” but they seem to come out on the dark side. I was just on Bay Photo’s site and created an account. I look forward to trying them out.

Dale

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