My Printing Process
Printing process
Metal Prints are known by several names such as HD Metal Prints, Aluminum Prints, Brushed Aluminum Prints, DiBond Prints, Metallic Prints and Metal Photo Prints. Printing my photos on metal (typically aluminum) is a sleek modern way to display my work without having to frame it.
Metal Prints bring my photos to life. There are so many different types of metal prints on the market that as a consumer it can get very confusing. There are 3 common ways to put an image on metal: Dye Sublimation, Direct Print and Mounting. My lab only uses Dye Sublimation.
Dye Sublimation is where your image is first printed onto a transfer paper with dye inks and then sublimated into the aluminum sheet with heat and pressure. The inks are bonded with aluminum.
Pros:
·†††††††Since the ink is infused into the aluminum your image is scratch and water-resistant.
·†††††††If used with the right aluminum (more about this below) they are now archival prints and will resist fading for 65+years.
The type of metal is aluminum sheets with dye sublimation coated. Dye Sublimation coated aluminum sheets basically all start out the same, using imported aluminum panels that then have to be coated. The real magic happens in coating technology used by different manufacturers. The super-thin coating is the layer that the image is actually infused into, not the aluminum itself. So the longevity, durability, and vibrance are all dependent upon the coating used. My lab only uses Chromaluxe because they produce the absolute highest quality coated sheets. They are the only sheets that the lab is aware of that have been independently tested for longevity and durability by the Wilhelm Institute. These aluminum sheets are rated to last 65+ years and have amazing depth and clarity.
My black and white images are printed on Palo Duro Baryta Fiber 300 offers all of the rich tonality, depth, and feel of a traditional wet darkroom fiber paper. It has a lightly textured semigloss surface, which adds depth and an elegant reflectivity to the finished print. Palo Duro Baryta Fiber is a pleasant neutral white that adds natural richness to portraits and landscapes. Black & White images also benefit from Palo Duro Baryta Fiber's deep blacks and exceptional contrast.
How Much Does This Paper Look Like Darkroom Paper?
Palo Duro Baryta has been described as "as close as you can get to Oriental New Seagull G", which was a favorite of Ansel Adams. It is not the exact paper to be sure. However, it will be your go-to paper for a true darkroom fiber look.
What Is Baryta?
Palo Duro Baryta Fiber's whiteness comes from a special barium sulfate variant called blanc-fixe, which means permanent white. This material is in the coating. It is inert and lends stability to the paper's whiteness over time. The coating and base materials are free of acid, lignin, and fluorescent brightening agents. Palo Duro Baryta Fiber gives you all you need for true exhibition quality photographic prints.
My traditional color prints
Setting the bar for premium photographic inkjet paper, Arctic Polar Luster is the paper pros demand and enthusiasts deserve. Arctic Polar Luster's surface represents the true modern photographic look and feel. Its extra weight and thickness gives the assurance of a fine photographic print. The profoundly beautiful surface and state-of-the-art coating will make your photography look its best.
Arctic Luster features a deep luster finish which offers the perfect balance between deeply saturated color and minimized gloss reflectivity. If you use pigment inks, this is especially helpful and will greatly reduce gloss differential and bronzing.
Compatible with any inkjet printer, Arctic Polar Luster fits an important niche for professional photographers. Increasingly, pros and enthusiasts require a high-end photo feel product that combines quality and consistent usability. Unlike many of the new boutique photo papers flooding the market, this Luster will feed consistently, withstand handling, show minimal fingerprinting, and offer cost savings.
Deep luster (E-surface) offers the perfect balance for pigment ink printers. You get the best of both worlds:
- Wonderful color saturation of a microporous paper
- Greatly minimized gloss differential and bronzing associated with glossy media
Thanks to the microporous layer on the top of Arctic Polar Luster, large quantities of ink (read deeply saturated hues and blacks) will dry instantly. This means no smudging and minimal fingerprint troubles.