Significant advancements in photo printing have been made over the past few years, and metallic prints are one of the newer ways to make physical photographs. Compared to other photo-printing methods, metallic photo prints have several advantages.
Long-Lasting Colors
All artwork will eventually fade, although not all artwork will fade quickly. Some pieces can last decades or centuries. In particular, metallic prints last a long time—often much longer than the photographs themselves are needed. If these prints aren't exposed to direct sunlight, they can last for more than 200 years without showing any signs of fading. For reference, standard printed paper photos will begin to fade slightly within a lifetime. Some fading can begin within 25 to 50 years, and almost certainly within 100 years.
Maintaining crisp images and bright colors for 200-plus years ensures that people will be able to enjoy the photos as they're intended for multiple generations. If you want your grandchildren's grandchildren to see pictures of their distant grandparents, metallic photos last much longer.
Scratch-Resistant and Tear-Proof
Through a process called sublimation, the dyes used for metallic photo prints are transferred below the outermost layer of the aluminum that's used. This ensures that the image itself (which is printed with the dyes) is protected by a thin layer of metal. The metal protection prevents the image itself from being scratched, and aluminum certainly won't tear.
In contrast, photos that are printed on paper can easily be scratched, folded, or torn. Canvas prints (which are also newer) are also susceptible to tears. Complementing the anti-fading properties, resistance to scratches further helps ensure the longevity of metallic prints. They likely won't even be scratched during moves.
Heat-Resistant
Metallic photo prints are also heat resistant. They might sustain smoke damage in a house fire (which would combust paper or canvas prints). Barring a full-fledged house fire, however, heat is unlikely to damage metal photos.
The heat-resistant properties of metallic photos are important if you want to hand the photographs up anywhere that's warm. Over a fireplace or near a kitchen oven, for instance, are locations where metallic photos can be placed but aren't suitable for other photo prints.
Able to Be Cleaned
In most situations, metallic photos can be easily cleaned with an all-purpose cleaner (or water) and cloth. Fingerprints and dust can be wiped off without issue since the actual surface being wiped is a thin layer of aluminum. A professional restorer might even be able to clean off smoke damage from a house fire.
For more insight, contact metal printing services.
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