Photo Prints on Metal, WHO's THE BEST

I have a dozen keepers from six hours at the glen I want to get printed on metal. Decorations for the camper.

Does anyone here have any experiences with this? Who is the best. I'm not that concerned with price, just the highest resolution/quality product.

Thanks
Eric

I have ordered A LOT of pretty big metal prints.

However, I have only used two companies for these orders; AdoramaPix and Fine Art America. . Of these two, each is better at something different.

AdoramaPix is good because they offer several different finish options - glossy, satin (matte), glossy silver, and silver satin. . They used to only have sizes up to 30" by 40", but now they also offer large sizes - up to 40" by 60".

Fine Art America is good because they will make metal prints in any aspect ratio. . So if you crop an image to non-standard proportions, they will make the metal print to those proportions.

The problem with FAA is that they only offer a glossy finish. . This is a big problem for me because so much of what I shoot is nature, which seldom looks good with a glossy finish. . But it looks like you shoot motorsports, which subject matter lends itself quite well to glossy, and that's probably what you'd pick, anyway.

I don't know if either of these companies is "the best", because I haven't used any others. . But if you want advice from someone who has actually ordered a lot of pretty big metal prints from the companies they recommend, then my info may prove helpful. . I've ordered over two dozen metal prints from each of these companies that are sized at 24" by 36" or larger, and never had a problem. . Plus countless smaller metal prints from AdoramaPix, and never had a problem with any of them, either.


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I've only used White House Custom Color (WHCC) so far, but they've done a bang up job with the ones I've sent through.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #18660566
Fine Art America is good because they will make metal prints in any aspect ratio. . So if you crop an image to non-standard proportions, they will make the metal print to those proportions.

That's excellent info, Thanks. I was planning on taking them to a friend that has a metal break to "crop" them after printed.

Eric

I highly recommend Whitewall.com. They are very very good quality wise, although with me being in the UK I have used the Berlin lab. I understand that they also have a facility in the US too. They also do custom sizes and aspect ratios.

Alan

I've used Bayphoto & I've been happy. Don't know where you are, they are in CA.

I have used Meridian Pro for the few metal prints I've ordered. I am happy with their product.

I will agree with Fine Art America. I've been there 6 years.

The issue of custom aspect ratios with metal prints is huge. FAA's quality is average to above average, but metal printers who do custom sizes are rare indeed.

Here's a look at CG Pro Prints. They are pretty well representative of the industry. They do a knock out job on canvas prints and are dirt cheap, but I've never had a metal done there because their size selection is horribly restrictive.

Most labs buy metal blanks and force you to crop to a specific size. So if custom sizes are important to you, your choice of labs has dwindled substantially.

From their website:

Any/Every Size From 2x3½" to 48x96", Including Custom Sizes

These labs allow you purchase "samples". You send them a pic and they send you a 4x6 ($30), 5x7 ($37), or 8x12($56) of their 5 different surfaces. Bayphoto also offers 25% off a new customer's 1st purchase.

Here is a link to their size chart & price list. This is just their single layers prints, they do have other options.

https://www.bayphoto.c​om …rints/single-metalprints/

One of their pros: You can order a print be drop shipped to your customer anywhere. If you do this there will not be an invoice or receipt included so your customer will not know your pricing (there is an invoice when it is shipped directly to you).

One of their cons: They do not have a private section for their professional clients. This means any of your customers may look to their website to see what you paid!!

Last I checked, custom sizes were priced as such: .25 cents per square inch. A 70x90 for example is 6,300 square inches, so .25 X 6,300 would be $1,575.