Print formats: Curious. I need to have some images printed for a collection of my work. I have a variety of images from landscapes, wildlife, equestrian and flowers. All are shot from...

Mjump54

Curious. I need to have some images printed for a collection of my work. I have a variety of images from landscapes, wildlife, equestrian and flowers.
All are shot from a Canon 80D and am primarily looking at 16 x 20 prints
My question is do you have a “preferred” format for prints on canvas, metal, acrylic, matte based upon image type? I.E. Landscapes on Canvas.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Mjump54 wrote:

Curious. I need to have some images printed for a collection of my work. I have a variety of images from landscapes, wildlife, equestrian and flowers.
All are shot from a Canon 80D and am primarily looking at 16 x 20 prints
My question is do you have a “preferred” format for prints on canvas, metal, acrylic, matte based upon image type? I.E. Landscapes on Canvas.

Keep in mind that a 16x20 print will require you to crop off 4" of the long side of your prints. Your camera has a 3:2 aspect ration that produces 16x24 images with no cropping

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I never ever use canvas prints. Just don't like the look.

I've always been a sucker for matte or glossy finishes, and that's what I mostly get when I send out for an enlargement. It's getting easier to find frames in 16x24, which used to be very difficult. Since I normally mat and frame my own images, I can print 8.5 x 12, 16x24, etc. and easily fit the image into a frame with a different aspect ratio. I recently had a metal print done and I think it's likely a good choice for particular subjects. It's all a matter of personal taste and what looks good to your eye.

Andy

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I don't.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Mjump54 wrote:

Curious. I need to have some images printed for a collection of my work. I have a variety of images from landscapes, wildlife, equestrian and flowers.
All are shot from a Canon 80D and am primarily looking at 16 x 20 prints
My question is do you have a “preferred” format for prints on canvas, metal, acrylic, matte based upon image type? I.E. Landscapes on Canvas.

Yes, I shoot in a 3:2 aspect ratio. Prints from this are 8X12, 12X16, 16X24 and 20X30.
If your shooting in 3:2 (which is what most camera's are set for) you will be cropping off both ends of your photo's in printing to 16X20. If that is the size you want to shoot you need to set your camera to a 5:4 aspect ratio, in this ratio, what you see in the viewfinder is exactly what you will be printing.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

Flickwet Loc: NEOhio

I print 5x7 format usually, on 13x19 or 8.5x11 paper, cropping in LR, I always find that I can crop further than when I was actually taking the photo. Sometimes I’ll stay at 3x2 if it’s a wide angle shot or necessity demands it

Mjump54

Maybe I need to retitle the post. I understand print sizes. Am looking for consensus on print mediums - photo paper, canvas,acrylic, metal - by content type. Like do you print your wildlife photos in glossy to get the most impact or landscapes on canvas, etc...

tcthome Loc: NJ

Mjump54 wrote:

Maybe I need to retitle the post. I understand print sizes. Am looking for consensus on print mediums - photo paper, canvas,acrylic, metal - by content type. Like do you print your wildlife photos in glossy to get the most impact or landscapes on canvas, etc...

Not really , I understood your question. The thread just took a different direction. Check out Red River Paper. I believe they have some articles on this. I am pretty sure I have a link at home for a video seminar coming up on this. If I find it , will post hereto this thread. Also check the printing forums here at the hog.
I just checked my email. Red River Paper sent me an email with a link to an article about papers. Try them &, if can’t find the article , pm me your email & I will forward it to you. I only print on semi gloss & luster up to now or I would give yo more input. I’m thinking of ordering some metallic papers from Red River to try. Anyway , good luck.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Mjump54 wrote:

Maybe I need to retitle the post. I understand print sizes. Am looking for consensus on print mediums - photo paper, canvas,acrylic, metal - by content type. Like do you print your wildlife photos in glossy to get the most impact or landscapes on canvas, etc...

I look at each photo individually to determine what will work best for that photo. There’s no one size fits all. I think about how that one image is best represented.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Mjump54 wrote:

Maybe I need to retitle the post. I understand print sizes. Am looking for consensus on print mediums - photo paper, canvas,acrylic, metal - by content type. Like do you print your wildlife photos in glossy to get the most impact or landscapes on canvas, etc...

It depends, I print on canvas, acrylic, glass, metal, and paper. I like them all. I tend to do landscapes on canvas and use glass for wildlife, but again, it depends.
Canvas for me is the cheapest cause you don't need a frame or mats, I like at least 1 inch wrap over on the edges. Next in price comes metal, glass, acrylic.

Mjump54

billnikon wrote:

It depends, I print on canvas, acrylic, glass, metal, and paper. I like them all. I tend to do landscapes on canvas and use glass for wildlife, but again, it depends.
Canvas for me is the cheapest cause you don't need a frame or mats, I like at least 1 inch wrap over on the edges. Next in price comes metal, glass, acrylic.

Thank you

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I'm with Superfly in that how I print depends on the image. Back when I did mostly horses, I used glossy paper almost exclusively. I rarely use matte, but luster paper is nice for landscapes. For the marketplace, I was printing mostly canvas, but I've switched to aluminum. The problem with aluminum is the expense, and although most buyers love it, its increased cost does put them back. As to size, I normally print full frame. If the print is to be framed, I try to mat it to a size that's readily available. Luckily, a 13x19 mats prfectly to an 18x24, which is a standard frame size.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

Mjump54 wrote:

Maybe I need to retitle the post. I understand print sizes. Am looking for consensus on print mediums - photo paper, canvas,acrylic, metal - by content type. Like do you print your wildlife photos in glossy to get the most impact or landscapes on canvas, etc...

I recently did a 30 X 45 landscape print on canvas and was extremely pleased. You may want to try that with a smaller landscape print first.

Gourmand Loc: Dallas

As you can see from the responses, the medium ("substrate") you print on is simply one more in the series of decisions you must make when working in the world of fine art photography. The choice is usually driven by the subject matter. If you are uncertain, first print small on three or four different substrates. After a while the decision will become much easier, but don't hesitate to try something totally different or illogical once in a while.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Mjump54 wrote:

Curious. I need to have some images printed for a collection of my work. I have a variety of images from landscapes, wildlife, equestrian and flowers.
All are shot from a Canon 80D and am primarily looking at 16 x 20 prints
My question is do you have a “preferred” format for prints on canvas, metal, acrylic, matte based upon image type? I.E. Landscapes on Canvas.

Did you mean a 16 x 20 print or a 16 x 20 mat and frame? For a 16 x 20 frame get a 10 x 15 print. The surface you print on should be determined by the image. If it is a soft image printing on canvas might be a good choice as canvas does not normally result in tack sharp images. If you want a tack sharp image use metal or acrylic or a gloss print. It all depends on the "look" you want.