What type of print suits you?

When most people think about prints, they think about prints on paper, the traditional medium for prints. But today we can print on other mediums as well, such as canvas, metal, wood, or acrylic. The different types of prints are suitable for different uses and for different styles. What type of print suit you and your needs? The following should help you know a little more about some of the alternatives to a paper print since everyone is familiar with them and how they can be framed and used as wall art.

Canvas

I love canvas prints for larger sized art, and it is the only medium I will print by paintings on. Canvas can be left unformed for a more contemporary look or framed for a more traditional look, and quality archival professionally printed canvas gives the feel and impression of a traditional oil painting. I like to hand finish these with varnish brushed on by hand to bring out that oil painting feel. As a result, the hand finish and canvas texture brings depth and dimension to the art piece. I own a number of these hand finished works of art, and they are often mistaken for actual oil paintings. Moreover, a large framed canvas has impact and prestige. Canvases can be cleaned by lightly dusting, or if very dirty, with a slightly damp cloth. Varnish finished canvases are more protected from light fading and cleaning.

Metal

Another type of print is printed on metal. These can be done two ways: with a white finish before the print is added or straight onto bare metal. The white finished makes the metal take on the same colors and uniform quality we would find in a high quality paper print. On the other hand, when printed directly on metal, most of the texture of the metal comes through and the colors (to me at least) are not as brilliant, but it has moe of a modern urban vibe. Which ever finish you choose, one of the best qualities of metal is that it can be used in places like bathrooms, kitchens and covered patios (away from the sun). Paper and canvas are poor choices for these high humidity areas.

Metal prints can be framed for a more traditional look or hung on the wall with a float mount (which keeps them a short distance out from the wall itself) which lends itself to a more modern or minimalist style. Another advantage of these types of prints is that they can be quite light, so they can be printed very large without needing additional support. Metal prints can be dusted or cleaned with a non-ammonia cleaning solution.

Hogwarts comes to life!

Wood

A third type of print is printed directly on maple wood. The wood can be finished before hand so that the grain does not show through or left alone so that the wood grain can be seen lightly through the print. I have seen some prints done like this that I liked, but in general I am not a fan of this type of print because I do not feel like it adds anything to the image and it is heavy. The other problem with these is I can’t find clear cleaning information from any of the pro-labs that sell them, so I assume they can only be dusted. I think these are better suited for landscapes where the wood grain adds to the natural feel.

Acrylic

Finally, a fourth type of print is the acrylic print. With these, the image is printed on the back of plexiglass up to 1/4” thick for large sizes or 1” thick for small acrylic blocks (desk or nightstand sized pieces) They are glossy and modern in style. They can be mounted on the wall in several ways, including metal stand outs for a very modern look. I think they se suit landscapes better than portraits. While writing this blog, I checked several pro labs’ websites for information, and almost all of them featured landscapes in acrylics. These prints can be dusted with a soft cloth or cleaned with a damp soapy cloth.

Beware: acrylics scratch easily! These are best for a location where they are not likely to get bumped or run into by someone or something. They are well suited for over a fireplace or a sofa or credenza. They can be a great option for a business that wants to feature one of their buildings or products in a high impact way in a reception area. The small blocks are beautiful on a desk in a place where they will not be hit by other desk supplies.

What will your choice be?

The choice among a traditional framed print, a canvas, a metal print, a wood print, or an acrylic print will depend on your style and needs. Each type of print can be beautiful. I will be happy to talk to you more about these and to help you to select appropriate sizes and materials for the locations where you want wall art.

For more information on this topic, try this site: https://www.surfandsunshine.com/how-to-choose-wood-metal-canvas-or-acrylic-for-your-photographs/

For information on choosing the right size print, go here: What Size Print Do You Need?