Does anyone have any experience with metallic prints. Have an opportunity through Groupon to get 11 x14s at a very reasonable price. What kind of images show the best using this type of process? Can they be framed in the same manner as a regular print? They also give an option of depth of the print. Afraid I'm having a hard time envisioning but have been told the end result is impressive. What is their longevity? Are they good sellers? Etc.
Patricia, Ok. I have quite a few of these made through MPIX on Kodak Metallic Paper though. They look nice specially for Florals, Butterfly and Dragonfly kind of photos. I would not use it for Portraiture even though some special ones would look nice. I have prints that are 3 year old (sorry, cannot see the guaranteed life of 75 some years in my lifetime though) and they look as gorgeous as they did when printed.
I have since moved on and most of my new prints are made on Hahnemuhle William Turner, Fineart Baryta etc. Ilford Goldfibre Silk also looks great.
Metallic Papers have a Wow factor associated with them specially with common folks who have not looked beyond Matte and Glossy.
I have not sold any of the metallic ones (I don't market or look to sell my photos in a planned way) but the other Hahnemuhle Paper ones have sold to people with fine tastes.
Hi Patricia - I use MPIX to print my Kodak Endura Metallic. They look very much like the old Cibachrome from transparency prints I used to print and develop in my own darkroom. Endura metallic prints are very vibrant. I like it and use it almost exclusively for my color prints of sunrise and sunsets.
Posted by Kent Staubus on June 14, 2011 at 11:38 PM
They can be stunning, but only seem to work for specific shots. Shots with reds/yellows in them often seem to come out best IMO. Same for snow scenes.
Kent in SD
Posted by Mike Klarich on June 16, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Water looks amazing on Kodak Endura Matallic Paper. I have images of the ocean with waves crashing on the beach that look amazing. I can't help but be kind of amazed every time I walk by my wall of Metallic prints because the shimmer as I move and the light hits them from different angles. It's like the waves are moving. I agree with sunsets, too! Sky in general looks great. I've never tried a portrait with one, but I have to believe that would be a bad idea. Shine on skin is always bad.
Good Luck. I think you'll love them. I have used Adorama Prints in the past. They are very good and have frequent sales.
I've worked with both the Kodak Metallic and Fuji Pearl papers. I prefer the Fuji Pearl out of the two. Its got similar properties, but is toned down and more white than silver on the base and seems like it would work for a wider range of images. I wouldn't use the metallic exclusively.
They are both very glossy surface papers, so its hard to control reflections with this paper in a normal household display. They look brilliant under gallery lighting, but aren't that easy to display under normal conditions IMO. I think they could be really nice when laminate mounted with a satin finish on top.
On the Kodak Metallic, I agree that the warm tones are particularly interesting on this paper. This type of paper multiplies color intensity. As such, I don't think its the best choice for portraits because the result can be a bit unpredictable.
Both papers can be mounted and framed in any manner you could mount any photograph. Traditional mounting, face mounting, laminate mounting all work fine.
On Kodak metallic, I think simple shining or metallic looking subjects look much better than complex textured images. Could work nicely for floral macro images as well. The effect on the pear paper is toned down enough that I think it would work on a much wider range of scenarios including detailed landscapes and textural images. Both work well in cases with intense color, but since both are traditional photographic material and dye based, there are inkjet options with greater gammut.
My closest friend and teaching partner (Kathryn Watts-Martinez) and I at ACC teach a graduating class of professional photographers, called Portfolio Development. Among other things they become members of the Texas Professional Photographers, Assn., and they must compete with working pros in summer convention. In the last year since metallics have been available we have found that a careful selection must be considered. Use Macs, Wacom tablets, and print only with Epson. We have.found that full scale prints with lots of blacks and dark tonal separations work extremely well with the highest quality Luster papers. Delicate toned photos especially with high key or metal subjects work very well with metallics. I always suggest that a small print using both materials be tried before making the large print, it is astonishing what a dig difference this can make.
Another "however" to consider is the printed on aluminum technology that is available through some specialty labs. I have a couple of absolutely outstanding aluminum prints that I bought from my friend Aaron Feinberg (yes I actually bought a print from another photographer, the first time in 60 years). These were sunset landscapes of astonishing quality. I've truly never seen photos as brilliant as these when printed on aluminum.
Discussion
9 repliesThanks for all input.
Pat
I have since moved on and most of my new prints are made on Hahnemuhle William Turner, Fineart Baryta etc. Ilford Goldfibre Silk also looks great.
Metallic Papers have a Wow factor associated with them specially with common folks who have not looked beyond Matte and Glossy.
I have not sold any of the metallic ones (I don't market or look to sell my photos in a planned way) but the other Hahnemuhle Paper ones have sold to people with fine tastes.
Kent in SD
Good Luck. I think you'll love them. I have used Adorama Prints in the past. They are very good and have frequent sales.
They are both very glossy surface papers, so its hard to control reflections with this paper in a normal household display. They look brilliant under gallery lighting, but aren't that easy to display under normal conditions IMO. I think they could be really nice when laminate mounted with a satin finish on top.
On the Kodak Metallic, I agree that the warm tones are particularly interesting on this paper. This type of paper multiplies color intensity. As such, I don't think its the best choice for portraits because the result can be a bit unpredictable.
Both papers can be mounted and framed in any manner you could mount any photograph. Traditional mounting, face mounting, laminate mounting all work fine.
On Kodak metallic, I think simple shining or metallic looking subjects look much better than complex textured images. Could work nicely for floral macro images as well. The effect on the pear paper is toned down enough that I think it would work on a much wider range of scenarios including detailed landscapes and textural images. Both work well in cases with intense color, but since both are traditional photographic material and dye based, there are inkjet options with greater gammut.
My closest friend and teaching partner (Kathryn Watts-Martinez) and I at ACC teach a graduating class of professional photographers, called Portfolio Development. Among other things they become members of the Texas Professional Photographers, Assn., and they must compete with working pros in summer convention. In the last year since metallics have been available we have found that a careful selection must be considered. Use Macs, Wacom tablets, and print only with Epson. We have.found that full scale prints with lots of blacks and dark tonal separations work extremely well with the highest quality Luster papers. Delicate toned photos especially with high key or metal subjects work very well with metallics. I always suggest that a small print using both materials be tried before making the large print, it is astonishing what a dig difference this can make.
Another "however" to consider is the printed on aluminum technology that is available through some specialty labs. I have a couple of absolutely outstanding aluminum prints that I bought from my friend Aaron Feinberg (yes I actually bought a print from another photographer, the first time in 60 years). These were sunset landscapes of astonishing quality. I've truly never seen photos as brilliant as these when printed on aluminum.
Lynn
Pat