Metal Prints

Metal Prints | Picturing a Fine Art Metal Print of Moraine Lake Sunrise Brilliance — Metal Prints
Modern fine art prints infused into aluminum for striking clarity, depth and longevity.

Metal Prints as Fine Art

Offering a sleek and contemporary way to display fine art photography, metal prints rich with color and exceptional clarity. Unlike canvas or paper where ink is placed onto the material, the image is infused directly into aluminum which creates a piece of art with details that stand out and and a clean, frameless presentation.

This process produces beautiful prints that feel both modern and substantial and creates a surface that responds beautifully to light. Metal prints are especially well suited for statement pieces, large-scale installations and contemporary interiors where impact and longevity matter.

If you’re exploring metal prints as a display option for fine art photography, this page will help you understand the process, the materials and what sets a high-quality metal prints apart.

Metal Prints as Wall Art: Antelope Canyon Spirit print pictured on a bedroom wall — A metal print of Antelope Canyon Spirit on a bedroom wall in a modern home in the mountains.

How Metal Prints on Aluminum Are Made

Using a process called dye-sublimation a professional metal print is created by permanently bonding the photograph to the aluminum panel. Learn more about how the process works below:

Image Presentation

Each photograph is carefully prepared specifically for metal printing. Because aluminum reflects light differently than traditional papers, the contrast, tonal balance and color of the image file being sent to print are adjusted to preserve detail and maintain a natural photographic look.

Dye Sublimation Transfer

The image is then printed onto specialized transfer paper using sublimation dyes. Under controlled heat and pressure, these dyes transition into a gas and infuse directly into the panel’s surface coating.

Permanent Image Infusion

The dyes become locked beneath the surface as the panel cools. By using this process, there is no ink layer sitting on top of the print. This results in a smooth and continuous finish that will not crack, peel or fade under normal indoor display conditions.

What Sets High-End Metal Prints Apart

While I may have explained the professional process I use with my metal prints above, not all metal prints are created the same. Many of the lower-cost options rely on lower-quality surface printing methods where ink is applied on top of aluminum.

The metal prints I offer use true dye sublimation, a process called Chromaluxe, which provides:

A greater image depth and luminosity
Smooth tonal transitions without harsh textures
Clean highlights with natural blacks
A more refined photographic appearance rather than a “printed” look

These differences become most apparent in the skies, water and large prints where subtle detail and tonal smoothness matter most.

Metal Prints | Pictured: Fine Art Metal Print of Moraine Lake Sunrise Brilliance — A rendering of a metal print of Moraine Lake Sunrise Brilliance on Chromaluxe aluminum.

ChromaLuxe Aluminum Panels

Metal prints are currently produced using ChromaLuxe aluminum panels which is widely regarded as the professional standard for dye-sublimated metal printing.

ChromaLuxe panels are known for:

Consistent color reproduction
Archival stability for long-term indoor display
Durable, scratch-resistant surfaces
A range of finishes to suit different environments

Chromaluxe aluminum provides an excellent foundation for fine art photography prints that balance visual impact with durability.

Finish Options

Metal prints are available in multiple finishes, each offering a distinct visual character. Below are the different options:

Glossy Surface

A glossy finish is highly vibrant with strong contrast and depth and is ideal for bold landscapes with dramatic light and images meant to command attention.

Semi-Gloss Surface

Semi-gloss offers a balanced option that retains color richness while reducing glare and is well suited for bright rooms and larger pieces.

Matte Surface

Soft and understated with minimal reflection, a matte surface is best for subtle color palettes and lighting environments with large amounts of lights and glares for those who don't want lots of reflections in the artwork.

By detail, I offer all of my metal prints as glossy, as this produces the desired high-gloss, sharp and "shiny" print that people come to expect from a high quality metal print. However, semi-gloss and matte are also available upon request. As stated above, matte can help reduce glare and reflections on walls where this poses a major problem. If you’re unsure which finish best suits a specific image or space, I’m happy to help guide that choice.

Mounting & Presentation

All metal prints are finished with a hidden floating mount on the back of the panel. This reinforces the clean and modern aesthetic of a metal print with the artwork hovering slightly off the wall as a "gallery float" style.

No visible hardware. No additional framing required, though ROMA and Larson Juhl options are available for those that desire an elegant framing presentation.

Why Choose Metal Prints?

Metal prints are an excellent choice for your wall when durability, clarity, impact and "wow" factor are the priority.

They work especially well for:

Modern and contemporary interiors
Large statement artwork
High-contrast landscapes
Coastal, mountain, and desert imagery

The interaction between light and the aluminum gives a metal print a subtle sense of depth that changes throughout the day, making the artwork feel both dynamic and alive in a space.

Crafted With Care

Every metal print is produced with close attention to detail. From the color accuracy to the finish quality and overall presentation, each piece is made to meet gallery-level standards.

You can view available artwork and select metal as a print option throughout my galleries.