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Welcome to Vivid Metal Prints!
This page will introduce you to everything you need to know about metal prints, our services, and how to enhance your home, gallery, business, or personal space with Vivid’s professional-grade metal prints.
To get started, select the category below that best describes you and explore a step-by-step guide to ordering your metal prints!
You will be blown away by your metal prints and see why Vivid is at the top of the game in delivering consistent color, eye-popping clarity, and most importantly gorgeous photographic prints on metal.
We're excited to work with you!
Personalized Experience
Choose what kind of shopper you are for a personalized experience
Introduction to Metal Photo Prints & Vivid: Understanding the Basics
Before diving into the world of metal prints, it's essential to understand what they are and how they are made. Unlike traditional photo prints that are printed on paper, metal prints involve transferring your image onto a specially coated metal surface via a process called sublimation. This process creates a vibrant, high-definition display with excellent color reproduction by super-heating dyes in a carrier paper, turning them into a vapor, and then using time, heat, and pressure to embed the dyes into the coated surface.
Since the dyes are IN the coating instead of just being printed on the surface, one key advantage of metal prints is their durability. The metal surface is resistant to scratches, fading, moisture, and even fire, ensuring that your metal print will last for many years. Unlike paper and canvas alternatives, metal prints are also safe and easy to clean with any non-abrasive cleaner.
Step-by-Step Guide to Metal Photo Printing
Keep reading for a general intro into our order process and product/service offerings
Before sending your photo for printing, it's crucial to make any necessary edits and adjustments. This includes cropping, straightening, and enhancing the colors and contrast if needed. Ultimately, we match to what we see on screen. That being said, you can always request for us to do more work to enhance your photos. We walk a fine line of wanting to help those who ask for it, and not wanting to offend those who don’t want us to touch their work (apart from printing it).
We typically recommend 300dpi at size in the Adobe RGB color space. We accept most popular formats, though we mostly prefer TIFF as it is lossless and keeps all of the precious data in your file resulting in the best possible image.
Also, please be sure your file scales to the appropriate ratio you are trying to order. If you have a square image and you do not want it cropped, be sure to order a square print, otherwise you could lose critical parts of your image. We will never crop key components of an image without first contacting you.
Modern camera phones can print images up to around 20x30. Older smartphones typically cap out at 11x14 to 12x18. If you have a nice DSLR camera then you should be good to go on even our largest sizes. Remember, we don’t charge anything to review your image or have a discussion to help answer any questions you may have.
You’ve prepared your file! Now it’s time to choose your metal surface!
There are several surface options to choose from. Each surface has its own unique characteristics and can enhance certain types of images. Keep in mind that not every surface works perfectly on every image. Feel free to give us a call and we can help you make the right decision.
Below is a quick summary of the different finishes, and more info and media are available by clicking the “learn more about finishes here” button.
As a general rule of thumb, printing something that has a ton of white with light gray gradients would not be good on the clear finishes as all of those whites and grays would be lost on the metallic base. You’d want to do something with a ton of contrast, like a city skyline for example. The white finishes look great and pop with any image.
As an honorable mention. we use 100% genuine Chromaluxe panels. Each panel is serialized on the back to ensure top quality during production. Any issues are immediately captured and intercepted. Aluminum is one of the lightest and most durable mediums out there. Nothing else gives your prints the clarity and dimension of merging Chromaluxe metal with the Vivid Metal file process.
Our primary focus when choosing the different frames choices that we offer was letting the images be the focus, and allowing the frames to just be vehicles for that art. If you want to frame the metal prints in more traditional frames with a local framer you may have a relationship with, simply order the frameless option during the order process.
We offer four primary ways to mount your images:
- Frame to Edge (our best seller)
- Recessed Frame (also called floating)
- Shadowbox Frame (only frame visible standing in front of the image)
- Small print options (various options only for prints 11x14 and smaller)
4 different frame types:
Frame-to-Edge
The frame is flush to the edge of the print
Available in the following thicknesses/colors:
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- 1.25" Black
- 1.25" Pewter
- 1.25" Silver
- 3/4" Black
- 3/4" Silver
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Recessed / Float Frame
This frame is recessed or inset 1.5” from the edge of the image.
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- 1.25" Black
- 1.25" Pewter
- 1.25" Silver
- 3/4" Black
- 3/4" Silver
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Shadowbox
Sometimes known as "Floater Frame." This frame creates a ¼" gap between the edge of the image and the frame --the image floats in the frame.
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- 1-7/8" Black
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DUO Backer
Our exclusive "DUO." backer allows you to hang your print on a wall without nails or damage. Move it up to 5-7 times! You can also display it on any flat surface like a desk/shelf. Lowest cost option. For sizes from 5"x5" to 11"x14".
Available in the following sizes:
5x5 6x6 8x8 8x10 8x12 10x10 12x12 11x14
Consider Vivid Metal Print like the hidden card in your sleeve. Whether you are trying to impress someone with an awesome gift, or are a professional trying to show your sweet new shot in the best light possible - we can help you elevate to the next level. Vivid offers various services that can assist you in getting totally stellar results!
Press Proofs
Our Studio & Production teams will take your image through every step of our Gallery-Level process and send you two metal pieces (approximately 6″x 8″) for approval. The first piece will be your full image scaled down so that you can see how each color & shade has translated through the process on your chosen finish. The second piece will be a zoomed in portion of your image to represent the level of detail & clarity that will come through on full-sized print of your selected dimensions. Once you receive your proofs in the mail let us know your thoughts! You can approve the way we’ve processed your work and move forward with an order for a full-sized print, or, if you want to make changes our Studio team will be happy to discuss and work with you to ensure fidelity with your vision.
Personal Sample Kit
Not sure which of our 5 finishes is right for you? Order a sample kit of your image printed with all 5 of our finishes for $120, including shipping. You will receive samples of all 5 of our finishes, similar to what is shown in the image to the left but with YOUR image. Each sample is approximately 8″ x 10″.
HD+ Processing
We run your image through a suite of different programs to attempt to get the absolute most out of it visually. This helps with detail when going larger than your original file would allow, as well as noise/grain.
Gallery Prep Levels I, II, and III
Here at Vivid, we pride ourselves on caring more than most other labs about how the image looks and how you feel about the final product. If you do not choose any gallery prep, we will still reach out if we see any red flags in your file prior to going to print. However, gallery prep is a system we developed to allow our customers to have one of our lead techs go above and beyond and spend more time than normal.
- Level 1 includes the regular quick review and fixing of red eyes, obvious artifacts, cloning lens dust, halos, etc.
- Level 2 includes a 30-minute review doing everything above, as well as pro color correction and a one-on-one consultation with the studio to discuss the image, workflow, and how to get the most out of each image you produce.
- Level 3 includes everything above, along with a one-hour window of work. We will clean every single spec and make sure the file is perfect. Should you receive the print after purchasing level 3 and are not happy, we will refund or swap it out, no questions asked. Level three also includes a set of proofs, which is explained above.
Questions?
If you have any questions prior to placing your order, please visit our FAQ page and feel free to reach out to us:
Info@VividMetalPrints.com or 336-283-8679
