TonyF Loc: Bradenton, FL

[quote=hdfilmnoir]Is printing to metal a good choice for wildlife?

Really like your photo, but can't figure out--were you above the pelican and the shadow is on water?

DRM Loc: NC

Wire is attached via an inset metal frame attached to the back of the aluminum sheet. Same is true if one opts for a French cleat hanging system; that method prevents the print shifting from vibrations or accidental bumps. BRI and Bay charge the same for inset frame with wire or French cleat. Prints larger than 30x45 are not available (from those labs) with the float block mount.

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

I think that the photo you show would be spectacular on metal. Great detail and color scheme would make it perfect. I have one 22x28 of a night arboretum area done in metal and the color and detail is fantastic. I think yours would be too. As for canvas prints, they have their place and can be beautiful with plenty of detail. All in the eye of the beholder.

brentrh Loc: Deltona, FL

I have several photographs printed on metal with floating back. One hole for hanging most prints which extend from wall very pleased with the look

tshift Loc: Overland Park, KS.

I think anything printed on metal is awesome. From all I have seen I was amazed. Thanks BE SAFE!!

Tom

george19

Agree. It’s very much photo-specific, but that pelican shot would likely be great.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Sharply detailed subjects do well on glossy metal. The lesser the detail, the better it looks more diffused - with matte canvas being the most diffused. For your image, I would recommend a less glossy metal or a glossy canvas. I do like floating mounts.
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nikonbrain Loc: Crystal River Florida

I print here in Crystal river Florida for local artists and the canvas is the choice for 95% of my customers . The metal prints I have seen from artist using those surfaces are done cheaply . By that I mean just a thin easily bent at the corners piece of aluminum and typically done by DYE Sublimation a process using DYE based ink . . We all know here that over Time dye based inks fade. Google it you will see .Done right Dye sub art is backed with a core and a backing called DIBOND® a sturdy aluminum sandwich . My Choice would be a product by www.bumblejax.com called face mounted acrylic done with metallic papers face mounted to a Lexan panel made on a pigmented ink jet printer . Here is a link to the process . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWowpe84rXw some printers like myself print also on a silk like material that is polyester based with a a cotton backing a very tight weave that has a very smooth surface accentuating the detail. Look for this option under fabrics in the printers option . Good luck with your choice I hope this helped some .

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Exactly. How I choose the print media for an image is never decided by whether it’s wildlife, landscape, street, etc. It’s based on the image itself. That image looks like metal would be a good option.

MJPerini

It may help you decide if you think about what you want most in a print.
There is no wrong answer because it is a matter of preference.
Metal prints are dead flat and often have a shiny reflective surface under the ink. This can make it look almost like a back-lit transparency. This increases detail and contrast.
Canvass prints buy design have a textured surface which scatters light and lowers contrast and detail.
Traditional paper runs the gamut from textured to silk to smooth and from Matte to glossy. There are even 'metallic' papers that mimic the metal print look
You will find photographers who love each kind.
Other considerations include the collective look of your photographs when displayed together-- different types rarely work well together.
I have seen my photographs on nearly every type, and while Metal prints do really Pop and show detail well, personally I always come back to pigment prints on a wide gamut paper like the now gone Ilford Gold Fiber silk Baryta paper. (there are others available) It best mimicked the classic double weight F surface dried on screens (rather than ferrotyped)
I do my own printing on an Epson 5000 run by the ColorByte Image print RIP (which replaces Epson's driver)
My best advice is to choose for yourself by having Bay Photo make one of each in a smaller size. Then you will know.
I have a friend who shoots ocean waves and has them printed and mounted behind 1/4" Acryllic in very large size. He does very well with them and they are beautiful.
Because of the graphic nature and great detail of your picture, it will look great on anything that enhances that detail.
Personally I prefer Fine paper, but will freely admit Metal or Acryllic are attention grabbers.

jimvanells Loc: Augusta, GA

We have 3 large metal prints and they are all glossy. Costco did some smaller ones years ago but we used Bay Photo for the 40 by 60. The detail in the print really comes out in the high gloss finish.

Patsworld Loc: Idaho

I printed a pelican on metal. It is so beautiful. The only down side is that it’s very reflective so you wouldn’t want to hang it by a window or light source.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, a serious consideration !

MJPerini

In my previous answer I only mentioned Gamut obliquely, and @Nikonbrain above mentioned that Metal is often done on Dye Sublimation printers and could have permanence issues. Modern Dyes ARE better than older ones for fade resistance but Pigment inks are the best in that regard.
He is also correct about the relatively thin aluminum that is used, which might require some extra care.
Unmentioned is that most large print houses either do not use pigment inks or can do so if you specify it.
On your particular picture it looks like it does not need a particularly wide color Gamut, and might benefit from the pop of a glossy metallic print. But that may not be true of your next image. Consistency may or may not be important to you, so this is just FYI
If you are serious about quality have some test prints made, and you will know for sure.
The last issue is file submission, if they require JPEGs, or you choose to supply Jpegs you are going to get 8 bit color and the sRGB color space. Some processes are limited to that anyway, and many images fall completely within the sRGB color space so it is ok. But the best Pigment based ink jet printers (usually with 10 or 11 Inks) can easily exceed the sRGB Gamut, but you will need to supply a 16 bit TIFF to take advantage of that.(If your printer accepts TIFFs of unlimited size)
Good Luck, try it out with test prints

delder Loc: Maryland

This sounds like a reasonable artistic interpretation of the Metal & Canvas media.