Dye Infused Metal Prints

There are three primary benefits to imaging onto metal:

*The colors are extraordinarily vibrant and the depth of the coating gives photos a luminous quality that no paper print can achieve.

The old masters like Rembrandt built their paintings with many translucent layers of ink. This is why a Rembrandt is like no other painting. The multi-dimensional effect achieved by layering, gave a unique luminosity to their work. Special dyes are infused into a thick translucent coating. The image is not printed onto the surface, but rather has a depth that in effect glows. People that see a metal print for the first time, often think that the print is backlit.

 

*Because the image is infused into and not onto the special coating, the prints have an archival value and durability without the need for a protective glass. In fact, these prints are not only scratch-resistant, they are also waterproof. This makes them ideal for hanging in bathrooms, kitchens and other areas where paper prints would be susceptible to water damage. Displaying without glass has several advantages: viewing images is more intimate; there is no possibility of breaking the glass during shipment or while on display; glare is reduced.

 

 

*The rigidity of the metal plates allows for several unique and contemporary hanging methods that would be impossible with a paper print.

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How permanent is a metal print?

Images printed with this process will last for generations when displayed indoors and out of direct sunlight. Like any fine art print, dye infused metal prints should not be exposed to direct sunlight. However, they can be hung outdoors if they are out of direct sunlight. Metal prints have an archival value that is better than the best giclees and photographic papers. Rochester Institute of Technology has conducted accelerated aging tests on metal prints and show an archival value of over 150 years.

Plus, these prints have an additional benefit over other processes in that they are waterproof and have an ultra-hard coating that is virtually scratch proof. The archival value of a print should be judged not only by its resistance to degradation by U.V. light and ozone exposure, but also to moisture and surface damage. When these factors are brought into the equation, dye infused metal prints would be, without a doubt, the best way to preserve an image.

 

 

 

 

 

How is a photo printed onto a metal plate?

Actually, images are not printed onto the metal. Special dyes are printed onto a transfer paper and then infused into a polymer coating using pressure and heat.