How Metal Printing Works? -

afm metal printing

The art of printing pictures onto metal has been practiced since the advent of photography. In those times, photographers processed their images on metal sheets called tintypes. Over the years, significant efforts have been made to develop new and better metal printing techniques, and this resulted in the creation of increasingly attractive metal prints. Now, metal prints are more popular than ever before, and they are widely used for commercial and decorative purposes.

The Benefits of Printing Images onto Metal

One of the main reasons why metal prints are becoming more and more popular is because of their captivating appearance. They feature exceptionally vibrant colors and a deep coating that creates a luminous quality that cannot be achieved on paper prints. Since the images are infused into the special coating, the final products have an archival value, and they can remain in a good condition for a long time without a protective glass. Most metal prints are scratch-resistant, and some of them are also waterproof. As such, they can be displayed in kitchens, bathrooms or other places where paper prints will be exposed to the risk of water damage. Since they do not come with protective glass, they give their viewers a more intimate visual experience, and they can also reduce glare. Click here for more information about metal prints.

How Metal Printing Works?

Those who want to have a photo printed on metal can go to any store that offers metal printing services. The image will be assessed and then printed onto a heat transfer paper that is specially designed for dye sublimation. The paper is taped down to an aluminum sheet that has a coating for accepting the transfer of the image. Then, the paper and aluminum sheet will be pressed together and undergo a baking process. This process, which is called dye sublimation, turns the inks into gases for a moment before capturing and bonding them to the metal. The paper will be removed after the baking process is complete, and it will look very dull with little ink remaining. The metal, on the other hand, will have a beautiful gloss and deep vibrant colors.

Metal Print Options

Surface Options

There are basically two surface options available for metal prints, and they are the gloss finish and satin finish. The gloss finish provides very rich and deep colors, and it creates a gloss that is even deeper than super-gloss. The satin finish, on the other hand, is a low-glare finish that has a softer visual effect.

Base Options

Metal prints can be produced with either a white or clear base. A white base is used for creating a traditional photographic effect with the bold and deep colors that are characteristic of metal prints. In a metal print that is made with a clear base, the underlying metal is visible, and the image has a more non-traditional appearance.

Metal prints are usually more expensive than paper prints, but they are worth the extra money because of their great aesthetic appeal and durability. Click here to learn about the potential of metal printing.