Best Printing quality for photo exhibition : Canvas or Metal ???

Hello Guys !

I'm going to make my first photo exhibition this year, and I'm going to need to print 30 pictures.

I've working hard on photography, but un printing I have no experience.

Canvas seems to be much cheaper than Metal Prints, but it is quality ok for printing in big format size ?

Does anybody can give some tips about it ?

In advance many thanks

These questions should be directed to the exhibition venue as they will have a better idea as to what sells in their local.

BTW...you have some stellar images on your site.

No help with question ...

... but fantastic images and website.

Canvas is on the very low end of showing photo detail.

Metal is on the very high end of showing photo detail.

Both are great options but certain photos look better on the different media. Personally I like metal for very bold landscape images and do not like it for photos of people. Canvas is very nice for people images. I personally print more on canvas than on metal and I feel customers are more impressed with large canvas prints...but that's my images which are printed large for living room walls.

If you can't get more direction from the gallery, then I'd print your landscapes on metal and others on canvas. This will cover a larger customer base.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18351778
Canvas is on the very low end of showing photo detail.

Metal is on the very high end of showing photo detail.

Yes, this.

For your type of photography, IMO, the answer for canvas is, "No."

Not necessarily metal--more considerations involved in going that far. But you do, indeed, want a very smooth surface.

In my experience, the visual interest of metal prints is extremely dependent on the lighting in which they're displayed.

What level of control will you have over the lighting in the gallery? If you can put a spotlight on each image, they'll be outstanding. If it's just can lights in the ceiling, the prints will lose quite a bit of impact.

RDKirk wrote in post #18351795
Yes, this.

For your type of photography, IMO, the answer for canvas is, "No."

Not necessarily metal--more considerations involved in going that far. But you do, indeed, want a very smooth surface.

Your images are really nice. But I don't think I would print them on either canvas or metallic papers. I'd be printing on a textured fine art paper, like Epson Cold Press Bright or Epson Velvet Fine Art.

What's wrong with paper?

When I exhibit I also print on paper. I really like Moab Lasal Exhibition Luster at the moment and I mount and mat with white 4 ply museum board and simple black metal frames. An exhibit from 2015

Thanks a lot for your answer Chauncey,

Well it will be free exhibition, well a first one in a travel Library, and then in other Travel festivals. So unfortunately they are not expert in this area

Tristan29photography wrote in post #18351921
Thanks a lot for your answer Chauncey,

Well it will be free exhibition, well a first one in a travel Library, and then in other Travel festivals. So unfortunately they are not expert in this area

Canvas obscures details. Glossy obscures viewing if you can't control the lighting.

I'd recommend a smooth slightly matte ("luster") surface, then, for a traveling gallery.

Thanks a lot that sounds a good Idea ! I will take them in consideration your idea and also the recommendation of Hen3ry can be interesting to study

Best regards

Thanks a lot for your answer

Well I'm planning to print it from a general platform, since I'm working from Colombia and the exhibition in France. So I'm afraid I can't choose this option. But I will look closely if I can find these options on the main websites

Regards !

Thanks mate, I'm going to look at these kind of surfaces