Printing on Metal: I have had a couple bird picture printed on metal that all I can say is wow, they looked great. So I had them print a couple of fall color picture of a creek with...

rick_n_wv Loc: Charleston WV

I have had a couple bird picture printed on metal that all I can say is wow, they looked great. So I had them print a couple of fall color picture of a creek with 3-5ft waterfalls. They turn out good but I am going to print them on paper tomorrow. I think the paper will look better. There seems to be a lack of depth and the separation of objects is just not there. Since I have not had much done on metal I was wondering if it lacks the ability for detail that paper has.

hj Loc: Florida

Haven't done metal but we are blown away with some we had printed on glass.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

rick_n_wv wrote:

I have had a couple bird picture printed on metal that all I can say is wow, they looked great. So I had them print a couple of fall color picture of a creek with 3-5ft waterfalls. They turn out good but I am going to print them on paper tomorrow. I think the paper will look better. There seems to be a lack of depth and the separation of objects is just not there. Since I have not had much done on metal I was wondering if it lacks the ability for detail that paper has.

Where did you get the prints done? I've done metal prints from Bay Photo Lab and Mpix, and did not notice any lack of depth. OBTW, for me, the Bay Photo prints have a nicer finish and mounting than Mpix.

rick_n_wv Loc: Charleston WV

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

Where did you get the prints done? I've done metal prints from Bay Photo Lab and Mpix, and did not notice any lack of depth. OBTW, for me, the Bay Photo prints have a nicer finish and mounting than Mpix.

I get them done locally. They have done a good job on previous thing but not so much on these. Fall colors could be difficult with the tree and leaves. The birds I had done were fantastic so I was thinking it may be because the fine detail.

rick_n_wv Loc: Charleston WV

hj wrote:

Haven't done metal but we are blown away with some we had printed on glass.

No body around here does glass and to much of a chicken to send it out. The condition of the packages we receive is not very good. Had some with foot prints on them and whole sides bashed in.

LolaPL Loc: Richardson, Texas

My best metal prints are photos of reflections and city lights at night.

tcthome Loc: NJ

LolaPL wrote:

My best metal prints are photos of reflections and city lights at night.

I would think any thing with vibrant , rich &, saturated colors & a high contrast between subject & back round would look good on metal. The neon look of the city lights would be one for sure.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

rick_n_wv wrote:

I have had a couple bird picture printed on metal that all I can say is wow, they looked great. So I had them print a couple of fall color picture of a creek with 3-5ft waterfalls. They turn out good but I am going to print them on paper tomorrow. I think the paper will look better. There seems to be a lack of depth and the separation of objects is just not there. Since I have not had much done on metal I was wondering if it lacks the ability for detail that paper has.

I printed on metal for a company I worked at over the past 7 years.

You say you have them done locally. Do you know what printing technology they use? I ask because if they can only do up to like 16x20, the printer they use will be limited in “depth” And detail versus say an Epson dye sub printer that has like 11 inks.
You may want to send the same file to say Bay Photo to compare results.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

coolhanduke wrote:

I printed on metal for a company I worked at over the past 7 years.

You say you have them done locally. Do you know what printing technology they use? I ask because if they can only do up to like 16x20, the printer they use will be limited in “depth” And detail versus say an Epson dye sub printer that has like 11 inks.

Detail comes from the printer technology and not so much the sub straight.

You may want to send the same file to say Bay Photo to compare results.

Aims

May I ask which company you worked with for the photos on glass? Are you referring to acrylic?

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

Where did you get the prints done? I've done metal prints from Bay Photo Lab and Mpix, and did not notice any lack of depth. OBTW, for me, the Bay Photo prints have a nicer finish and mounting than Mpix.

I'll second this. I have done about 5 on metal and no depth issues. One may have an issue if you print matte when it should be say high gloss. Same as paper.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

Aims wrote:

May I ask which company you worked with for the photos on glass? Are you referring to acrylic?

Aims,
If you are asking me, the Company I worked for was Diversified Imaging out of Gardena, CA. Not a large operation but we had a lot of local Southern CA. pro photographers as well as Photo Labs.
We only did Metal prints, no glass. I believe the technology for glass requires a machine that prints directly onto the glass, no transfer like metal.

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

rick_n_wv wrote:

I have had a couple bird picture printed on metal that all I can say is wow, they looked great. So I had them print a couple of fall color picture of a creek with 3-5ft waterfalls. They turn out good but I am going to print them on paper tomorrow. I think the paper will look better. There seems to be a lack of depth and the separation of objects is just not there. Since I have not had much done on metal I was wondering if it lacks the ability for detail that paper has.

I have found just the opposite to be true. At my last show, I did a combination of prints in matted frames, canvas, glass, and metal prints. The metal prints had more depth, separation than any of the prints, canvas, or even glass. It surprised me. And, the metal prints sold out first, then the glass, I had many canvas and matted prints left over.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

rick_n_wv wrote:

I have had a couple bird picture printed on metal that all I can say is wow, they looked great. So I had them print a couple of fall color picture of a creek with 3-5ft waterfalls. They turn out good but I am going to print them on paper tomorrow. I think the paper will look better. There seems to be a lack of depth and the separation of objects is just not there. Since I have not had much done on metal I was wondering if it lacks the ability for detail that paper has.

Metal prints I've seen in offices are FANTASTIC. I have not had any made yet, but have been doing some research and see that at least one place prints on paper which is then laminated on metal. Glass also looked good.

rick_n_wv Loc: Charleston WV

So just printed it out on paper. Not a world of difference but a noticeable difference. Not as vibrant, lower contrast and detail. Checked some other prints they have done and they are good. Going to call them Monday. Thank you for the replies.