metal prints: Have the request to have some metal prints made. Used Costco for previous ones but that choice will no longer be available. Have researched some options but was wondering...

ghbowser Loc: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

Have the request to have some metal prints made. Used Costco for previous ones but that choice will no longer be available. Have researched some options but was wondering what is the provider of choice among the hoggers. Looking for the best option balancing quality and price.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

I use metallic paper, never did "metal"

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

ghbowser wrote:

Have the request to have some metal prints made. Used Costco for previous ones but that choice will no longer be available. Have researched some options but was wondering what is the provider of choice among the hoggers. Looking for the best option balancing quality and price.

Bay Photo hands down, IMHO.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

ghbowser wrote:

Have the request to have some metal prints made. Used Costco for previous ones but that choice will no longer be available. Have researched some options but was wondering what is the provider of choice among the hoggers. Looking for the best option balancing quality and price.

If you mean metallic paper, I would recommend ___________. I have been getting metal paper prints from them and am well pleased with the results. They only print these on foam-core or a couple of other surfaces but not as just straight prints. They do offer straight prints in Fine Art Prints but no metal and the cost is double what the foam-core prints sell for. They will do an 8x12 metal surface print for 5.99 which I find a very good price. That comes pre-mounted on foam-core or styrene. You can also have it mounted on bamboo or other surfaces. As for metal-metal prints, I have used ____________. An 11x14 runs 36.15 and a 16x20 55.08. This is about 2/3rds the price I see in most places. I will send you a PM as this site rejected my suggestions stating it looked like spam!

Ltgk20 Loc: Salisbury, NC

Vivid Metals (vividmetalprints.com/) hosted my photo club a couple of months ago at their print plant. They print exclusively on aluminum and have been doing it a very long time (as die sublimation printing on aluminum goes). They have a nice shop and do beautiful work. After our visit I worked with them to have one of my images printed. It was an image with some area which I wanted to be very dark, but not black. They took the time to help get the shadow level correct to achieve exactly what I wanted with one proof and then the final print. I would definitely recommend giving them a shot.

ghbowser Loc: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

Thanks for the responses. Will sort through the options

DRM Loc: NC

ghbowser wrote:

Thanks for the responses. Will sort through the options

A photography-only gallery of which I have been a member since opening 11 years ago sells hundreds of metal prints each year. We have used a number of print labs over the years and have consistently come back to two: Black River Imaging (a Bay Photo company) and White House Custom Color.

Why Black River and not Bay? Bay charges shipping which on our most commonly sold sizes (20x30, 24x36, 30x45, and 40x60) can significantly increase total cost. Black River does not charge for shipping. Same size/same image metal prints from Black River and Bay are indistinguishable one from the other, so why pay shipping charges?

White House also ships free for orders over a total order threshold so low as to be non-existent when ordering metal prints.

rv8striker Loc: St. Louis, MO area

ghbowser wrote:

Have the request to have some metal prints made. Used Costco for previous ones but that choice will no longer be available. Have researched some options but was wondering what is the provider of choice among the hoggers. Looking for the best option balancing quality and price.

Diversified Labs. I use them for all my printing needs. Beautiful work, usually have the print the next day at a fair price. Highly recommend.
https://divlab.com/
https://divlab.com/product/metal-prints/

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

Well, you have seen some suggestions - having printed a few dozen metal prints I have found Aluminyze to have the best quality. That said, my understanding is that all the labs acquire the raw stock (that is, aluminum sheeting with the dye sub ink receiving substrate applied to the surface) from a short list of providers, so many labs may well have similar quality output. I can say Aluminyze has always had excellent customer service.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

alberio wrote:

Bay Photo hands down, IMHO.

I agree. I have done about 10 so far and very pleased!!!

OKsprat Loc: Oklahoma

I’m happy to recommend Mpix. Quick turnaround, high quality, solid service after the sale.

fotostory

Costco has made a deal with Shutterfly. It is an option as the Costco accounts will be gone later this month.

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

DRM wrote:

A photography-only gallery of which I have been a ... (show quote)

Thanks for that info, I had never heard of Black River. I do like Bay Photo, but if I can save shipping on the larger ones, I'd give them a try.

tiphareth51 Loc: Somewhere near North Pole, Alaska

ghbowser wrote:

Have the request to have some metal prints made. Used Costco for previous ones but that choice will no longer be available. Have researched some options but was wondering what is the provider of choice among the hoggers. Looking for the best option balancing quality and price.

I have purchased from both Bay Photo and Aluminize. My preference is Bay Photo as it is closest to me. Customer service at both is excellent.

DRM Loc: NC

alberio wrote:

Thanks for that info, I had never heard of Black River. I do like Bay Photo, but if I can save shipping on the larger ones, I'd give them a try.

As I mentioned, the photography gallery of which I am a part sells hundreds of metal prints annually (combined, metal outsells all our canvas and traditional framed prints by about a 2:1 margin). I would estimate that at least 65% of the metal prints we sell come from Black River. I don't think you will be disappointed if you order from them--essentially, we view Black River as offering Bay level quality at less cost.