Help needed - metal prints (Page 2): Aluminyze in NYC does a fantastic job. I have been very pleased with many alu prints. For a small fee they will send you a sample pack giving you a...

jims203 Loc: Connecticut

Aluminyze in NYC does a fantastic job. I have been very pleased with many alu prints. For a small fee they will send you a sample pack giving you a better idea as to your printing choices and how they will turn out. They are always having highly discounted sales too.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Another vote for Bay. For the right subject, their metalllic prints can be spectacular.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

TriX wrote:

Another vote for Bay. For the right subject, their metalllic prints can be spectacular.

Metallic prints, and metal prints are vastly different.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

tshift wrote:

f8lee

What make you think they are better??

Tom

They tell me they just buy batter base stock than the bigger guys do - there is a certain "depth" to the look of the prints (and I've made a couple of dozen, including a few 24x36" that I have sold) - compared to what I got from the other labs when I tried them, these were just more visually appealing. I have no relations to laser light; am just a very satisfied customer.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I'm on Fine Art America. I think you can now upload an image to be printed without actually being posted on their website. They do a really good job.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

f8lee wrote:

They tell me they just buy batter base stock than the bigger guys do - there is a certain "depth" to the look of the prints (and I've made a couple of dozen, including a few 24x36" that I have sold) - compared to what I got from the other labs when I tried them, these were just more visually appealing. I have no relations to laser light; am just a very satisfied customer.

Devil's advocate here...... would "they" ever say that they buy crappier stock than the big guys? My guess is that there is a limited number of manufacturers of the metal base stock for this process.

Maybe they do better work, but I wouldn't believe what some salesman tells you about their stock over someone else's.

I've been in purchasing for 35 years, I hear stuff like that all the time. My answer is always, don't tell me what the other guy does wrong, what makes you special? It's also how I work with my photography business. I would never put another photographer down, I just focus on what makes me special, and they can do comparisons themselves. If they think I'm worth more than the other guy, I work for them. If not, they aren't someone I want. Bargain hunters will work you to death, and still not be happy.

Brent Rowlett Loc: Atlanta, GA

tshift wrote:

f8lee

What make you think they are better??

Tom

The print quality is the best and the workmanship of support framing, mounting hardware is far superior. They furnish custom sizes that support Pano oddball rectangular shapes, coupled with making custom work shipping cases for damage free delivery. If you have standard 16 x 20 and common matrix sizes, I guess they are all comparable. MPIX does not offer custom and super large sizes like 48" wide X 24" high which I sell for $1200@ (costing me about $450@).

Brent Rowlett Loc: Atlanta, GA

bkyser wrote:

Devil's advocate here...... would "they"... (show quote)

There are always good-better-best grades of stock relating to surface microscopic quality. I sold the aluminum special alloy used for metal printing and litho plates (Alcan, Alcoa, Reynolds Metals). Bay Photo kinda takes your approach...the most expensive out there, but the workmanship is far superior. Nothing wrong with using a more reasonable source. Analyze what you think your market will pay and pick a source to use that allows you to make money. I use MPIX all the time for volume customers. However they do not make custom shapes and sizes. Shooting many HDR Panos, often my images do not measure a perfect 24 x 36. Bay Photo is the choice.

tshift Loc: Overland Park, KS.

Brent Rowlett wrote:

There are always good-better-best grades of stock ... (show quote)

Just because Mpix doesn't offer custom sizes and as big as you want doesn't make their product inferior! Their's is an excellent product.

Tom

Deecee

I've used Aspin Creek Photo and they have always done a great job. They will occasionally put their 20x30's on sale for $99.00.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

bkyser wrote:

Devil's advocate here...... would "they"... (show quote)

As I indicated, it was specifically because I noticed a difference in output quality that I asked the owner the question, and got that reply, which made sense to me. Advocate for beelzebub all you like, but I didn't start buying from them because I got told a story - I saw a difference an made an inquiry.

ppage Loc: Pittsburg, (San Francisco area)

Magnachrome. Concord, CA. Talk to Josh or Naj. Small shop, nice work.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

JimNC wrote:

Does anyone use a online company that does metal prints? Walgreens no longer does them. Costco requires a membership number and I am not a member. Shutterfly website does not work in spite of offering metal prints.

With the demise of photo stores, on line seems the only option. Just can't find something user friendly to use.

Any success you have had would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Except for small 4x6 and 5x7 prints, I have everything done at Fine Art America--photo paper, metal prints, canvass prints, acrylic prints, clothing, bed sheets, pillow cases, throw pillows, caps........

thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

JimNC wrote:

Does anyone use a online company that does metal prints? Walgreens no longer does them. Costco requires a membership number and I am not a member. Shutterfly website does not work in spite of offering metal prints.

With the demise of photo stores, on line seems the only option. Just can't find something user friendly to use.

Any success you have had would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Hello Jim. My daughter and family just move to NC by Fayetteville. They closed on their house this morning.
Now about those metal prints. I have used Bay Photo several times with excellent results. Once, when I was in a time jam, they expedited the work. I had it on time for display, and sold it.

Japakomom Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier

I have used Nations Photo Lab a couple of times for Large (24x30 and 16x30) aluminum metal prints. They do an excellent job and at times will have 40% off coupons to save on the cost. They usually take about 1-2 weeks in getting back to me and packaged very well. Happy customer!