How to print your photo on metal
A metal print is your photo infused into a coated sheet of aluminum. No paper, no glass, no frame required. This guide walks the whole process: picking the photo, choosing a finish, sizing it for the wall, and getting the file right so it prints the way you saw it. We have been doing this since 2003, so everything below is how it actually works, not theory.
2003
Pioneered the process
300 DPI
Target file resolution
5x7 to 48x96
Size range
3 Finishes
Same price, any of them
01 The basics
What a metal print actually is
Your image is printed onto a transfer sheet, then heat and pressure drive the dye as a gas straight into the coating on the aluminum. The color ends up inside the surface, not sitting on top of it. That is why a metal print holds detail, survives handling, and cleans up with a cloth instead of a prayer.
Dye-sublimation, not ink
Heat, time and pressure. The image becomes part of the panel, which is what makes it fade resistant and scratch resistant.
Aluminum, not paper
One rigid piece. Nothing to warp, tear, yellow or crease, and no glass to crack in a move.
Waterproof
Kitchens, bathrooms, boats, humid rooms. Moisture is a non-event.
Ships ready to hang
Backing and hardware come attached. Open the box, put in a nail, level it once.
Prints from a phone
Most modern phone files hold up beautifully to 24x36. Bigger files simply open up bigger sizes.
Proofed by a person
We look at resolution and crop before anything goes on the press. If your file will not hold up, we tell you first.
02 Step one
Pick your finish
Three surfaces, one price. The right pick is mostly about the room the print lives in and how much light hits it. Tap through them.
Gloss
The loudest of the three. Highest sheen, deepest blacks, the most color pop. This is the finish people picture when they picture a metal print.
- Best for: landscapes, sunsets, night cityscapes, underwater, anything with saturated color
- Watch for: reflections. Gloss mirrors a window or a ceiling light that sits directly across from it
- Room test: stand where the viewer will stand and look at what is behind you
Semi-Gloss
The middle ground and the safest default. Most of the depth and punch of gloss with noticeably less glare. If you are ordering without seeing the room, this is the one to pick.
- Best for: portraits, weddings, family walls, offices, mixed lighting
- Watch for: almost nothing. It behaves well in most rooms
- Room test: if the wall gets light from more than one direction, start here
Matte
No sheen. Quiet, soft, closer to a fine art paper look while keeping the durability of metal. Colors read a little calmer.
- Best for: black and white, film work, fine art, restaurants and lobbies with heavy downlighting
- Watch for: slightly less contrast punch than gloss. That is the trade you are making on purpose
- Room test: if the print sits under a spotlight or opposite a big window, matte solves it
Worth knowing: finish does not change the price. Pick the one the room wants, not the one the budget wants.
03 The process
Five steps from file to wall
Click a step to open it.
Choose the photo
Start with sharpness. Metal is unforgiving with soft focus because it resolves so much detail. If the photo looks slightly soft on your phone, it will look soft at 24x36.
Strong color and strong contrast are what metal does better than any other medium. Landscapes, cityscapes, water, portraits with good light, and bold abstracts all sing on it.
File size sets the ceiling on print size. Bigger original file, bigger print you can make. Most current phone cameras comfortably reach 24x36.
Edit and crop
Do your straightening, cropping and color work before you upload. Export at 300 dpi at the final print dimensions when you can. Anything close to that is fine, and our system tells you the pixel dimensions of what you upload so you can see which sizes it supports.
Watch the aspect ratio. A 3:2 photo does not drop into a 16x20 without something getting cut. Decide what leaves the frame instead of letting the crop decide for you.
Accepted formats: JPEG, TIFF and PNG. Full setup detail lives in our file size, format and colorspace guide.
Set finish and size
Finish first, since that is a room decision. Then size, which is a furniture decision more than a photo decision. The size tool further down this page shows every popular size against a standard 84 inch sofa.
Fifteen standard sizes run from small up to 32x46 and order in two clicks. Larger work, panoramas and custom dimensions up to 48x96 go through the custom order page.
Choose how it hangs
Every print ships ready to hang. What changes is the look of the edge and how far the print stands off the wall. The four options are laid out with photos in the next section.
For small prints from 5x7 up to 11x14, the Vivid Duo backer lets the same print hang on a wall or stand on a shelf, and switch between the two whenever you want.
Upload and proof
Upload straight from a phone or a computer. Our system reads the pixel dimensions and shows which sizes your file supports before you commit.
A person reviews resolution and crop before it prints. If something looks wrong, we contact you rather than printing it and hoping.
Small prints ship in 2 to 3 business days, larger prints in 5 to 7. Rush service is available for a fee based on the print price, the delivery speed and the number of prints, on orders submitted complete by 12:00pm EST.
04 Sizing
How big should it be
The most common regret is going too small. A print should fill roughly two thirds to three quarters of the furniture it hangs above. Pick a size below and see it to scale over a standard 84 inch sofa.
Room scenes are to scale against an 84 inch sofa. Need something bigger, curved or a custom shape? Start a custom order.
05 Mounting
How your print hangs on the wall
Every option below arrives with the hardware attached. Tap any photo to see it full screen.
Wall Mount
A PVC backer bonded to the panel floats the print about a half inch off the wall. Clean edge to edge image, no frame, gallery look at the lowest price.
Recessed Frame
A 1-1/4 inch frame sits behind the panel. Same floating look as Wall Mount, with the rigidity and finished back of a real frame. Best for larger pieces.
Frame to Edge
A 1-1/4 inch black frame wraps flush with the face of the print. A defined border with a traditional, finished presence.
What the back looks like
Sawtooth cutouts in the backer catch the nail. Nothing to assemble, nothing to buy at the hardware store.
Included hardware
Easy Mount, Secure Easy Mount and wire options cover drywall, plaster and high traffic spaces. One nail and a level handles most installs.
Frame profile up close
The 1-1/4 inch black corner on a Frame to Edge print. Squared, seamless and finished on every side.
Prints from 5x7 through 11x14 can also take the Vivid Duo backer, which hangs on a wall or stands on a shelf and switches between the two whenever the room changes. Full walkthrough: the ultimate guide to hanging metal prints.
06 Comparison
Metal vs paper vs canvas
Metal costs more up front. It also tends to be the last version of that photo you ever buy.
| Metal print | Framed paper | Canvas | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water and humidity | Waterproof | Damaged by moisture | Absorbs moisture |
| Fading | Highly fade resistant | Fades in sunlight | Fades and yellows |
| Cleaning | Wipe with a soft cloth | Glass only, never the print | Dust only, stains set |
| Glare | Choose gloss, semi-gloss or matte | Glass reflects | Low glare |
| Detail and color | Highest, dye infused | Good, softened by glass | Lowest, texture eats detail |
| Shipping and moving | Rigid, no glass to break | Glass breaks | Frame racks and dents |
| Ready to hang | Yes, hardware attached | Framing sold separately | Usually yes |
| Outdoor capable | Yes, with the outdoor finish | No | No |
07 Pitfalls
The four mistakes we see most
1. Low resolution at a big size
A screenshot or a heavily compressed download will look grainy at 24x36. Upload the original file, not the version that went through a text message.
2. Ignoring aspect ratio
A 4:3 file forced into a 20x30 loses content off two edges. Crop deliberately so you control what leaves the frame.
3. Not thinking about the light
Gloss opposite a picture window will show that window. Same print in semi-gloss or matte solves it completely.
4. Buying too small
A 16x20 over a 7 foot sofa looks like a mistake. Use the size tool above and check it against the furniture before ordering.
08 Before you order
Pre-flight checklist
Run through this once and your print will come out the way you pictured it.
0 of 7 complete
09 Longevity
Care and lifespan
Cared for normally, a metal print holds its color for decades. There is very little to do, and the few things that matter are easy.
Cleaning
A soft lint free cloth handles dust and fingerprints. Almost any common non-abrasive household cleaner is safe on the surface. Skip scrub pads, rough sponges and harsh chemicals.
Placement
Stable temperature and humidity, and no all-day direct sun. Metal handles far more than paper or canvas, and it still lasts longer out of a spotlight.
Storage and transport
Wrap in acid free tissue or a protective sleeve. Do not stack heavy objects on the face.
Outdoors
Our outdoor finish adds 20 percent to the print price and carries a three year guarantee against significant fading. A covered or shaded spot extends that further.
10 The result
What it looks like on a wall
Tap any image to view it full screen.
11 Who is printing it
Choosing a printer
Look for a lab that specializes in metal rather than adding it to a menu, that publishes real customer reviews, and that stands behind the result with a satisfaction guarantee. Turnaround, pricing and whether framing and mounting are handled in house are the practical differences between one lab and the next.
Vivid Metal Prints pioneered dye-sublimation on aluminum in 2003 and has printed nothing else since. Professional photographers, businesses and consumers across the country order from us directly, and we are the lab, not a middleman, so the panel you get is the same one the pros resell.
Vivid Metal Prints · Printing metal since 2003 · North Carolina, USA
12 Questions
Metal printing FAQ
Can I print any photo on metal?
Yes. Anything you can see on a screen can go on metal. We accept JPEG, TIFF and PNG. Aim for 300 dpi at the final print size for best results. Upload your file and our system shows the pixel dimensions so you can see which sizes it supports.
How long does it take?
Small prints ship in 2 to 3 business days. Larger prints ship in 5 to 7. Rush service is available for an added fee, calculated as a percentage of the print price and varying by delivery speed and quantity. Rush orders must be submitted complete by 12:00pm EST.
Can metal prints hang outdoors?
Yes. If the print takes more than about two hours of direct sun a day, some fading can occur over time. Our outdoor finish adds 20 percent to the print price and carries a three year guarantee against significant fading.
What sizes can I order?
Fifteen standard sizes run from 5x7 up to 32x46 and order straight off the product pages. Larger pieces, panoramas and custom dimensions up to 48x96 go through the custom order page, where you specify size, finish, frame type and the rest.
Can I have my metal print framed?
Yes. Frame to Edge and Recessed frames are both available, along with Wall Mount for a frameless floating look. You choose the mounting option when you order.
Does the finish change the price?
No. Gloss, semi-gloss and matte all cost the same. Choose based on the light in the room.
What if my file is not big enough?
We tell you before we print. Our system flags the pixel dimensions at upload, and a person reviews resolution and crop before anything goes on the press. If it will not hold up at the size you picked, we contact you.
Pick the photo. We handle the rest.
Upload in minutes, proofed by a person, and made in our own North Carolina facility. On your wall this week and on it for good.
VIVID METAL PRINTS · MADE IN THE USA SINCE 2003