Metal photo prints look elegant and pristine; in fact, they may be the absolute best way to display an image. But where should you actually do your metal printing?
We’ve scoured all the options out there, paying careful attention to aesthetics, accessibility, and costs. Below, we share the five best metal print producers in 2022!
The Best Metal Print Producers: 5 Amazing Picks
- 1. Bay Photo Lab
- 2. Nations Photo Lab
- 3. Pictorem
- 4. Printique
- 5. Collage
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1. Bay Photo Lab
Bay Photo Lab offers a gorgeous metal print option. It’s also one of the most famous labs in the US.
Bay Photo Lab, a well-known professional printing service in Northern California, offers an assortment of high-quality professional prints.
Many customers are impressed by Bay Photo’s Single MetalPrints, which infuse dye directly into the surface. The results are beautiful, but Bay Photo doesn’t stop there; the lab also produces unique Curved MetalPrints, Creative Edge prints, and much more. If you’re after a highly modern look, you might consider purchasing a Double Float MetalPrint, which gives your photos an unprecedented amount of depth.
Bay Photo has six finishing options to choose from: High gloss, mid-gloss, satin, sheer glossy, sheer satin, and textured. Each renders photographs in its own unique way.
And if you’re in a hurry, don’t worry. Bay Photo Lab works fast. Production times are often as little as 2-3 business days.
If you’re on a budget, you’ll also love Bay Photo’s prices. A petit 4×4 print costs just $11.
That said, prices do add up fast. Bay Photo’s largest prints can easily exceed $1000, and there are added fees for mounts, frames, and specialized coatings. So just bear that in mind as you choose your perfect metal printing service!
2. Nations Photo Lab
Nations Photo Lab offers consumer ease, professional quality, and great prices.
Nations Photo Lab is an outstanding printing company that provides a great array of photographic print options, including paper, acrylic, and metal. Metal is one of the company’s most-loved options.
Related Post: Nations Photo Lab Metal Print Review
In our view, their metal offerings are definitely worth purchasing. Ordering is a breeze and doesn’t require any excessive technical knowledge; just upload, select your options, and hit the “Place Order” button! Nations offers plenty of sizes, ranging from little 4×4 prints all the way up to large 24×36 prints (with prices from $16 to $230).
And although the print stands are a bit difficult to use, the quality of the prints is truly superb.
3. Pictorem
None of the standard options strike your fancy? This lab lets you customize down to the inch.
Pictorem is a multifaceted printing company that offers a slew of gorgeous options.
Related Post: The Pictorem HD Metal Print Will Blow You Away
For instance, there’s the stunning Metal Aluminum Print, which is printed directly onto the metal. There’s also the HD Sublimation Metal Print, which uses a dye-sublimation process to transfer your image onto aluminum. You can also opt for an Epoxy Metal Print, which protects the final product with a high-gloss resin coating.
Pictorem allows users to fully customize sizing by the inch (all the way up to a whopping 96×60!). However, this applies to aluminum and epoxy prints only.
Every print is made with archival, museum-grade materials. UV-cured ink prevents yellowing and fading from the sun.
While you can order a metal photo print without a mount for a slight discount, back-float mounts and frame boxes can elevate the presentation. Lightweight build and built-in mounting make these prints easy to hang straight out of the box!
Pictorem has a huge range of sizes, styling options, and prices. The largest prints can cost you a little over $2000, which is actually a pretty fair price for a metal photo print measuring around 40 square feet!
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You don’t have to spend big to enjoy Pictorem’s metal print selection, though. A simple aluminum print can cost as little as $22. Plus, sales and promotions can drive prices down by as much as 40%.
4. Printique
Adorama’s print lab is capable of doing metal, and the results are truly impressive.
Printique currently only offers one type of metal print, but the quality is outstanding and the company offers plenty of options for customization.
For instance, there’s no need to stick to standard rectangles and circles. The prints are available in a variety of different shapes, including circles, hexagons, and even hearts!
Printique metal prints are highly durable, too. In addition to the standard heat and moisture resistance, every print is dry-erasable. Printique also offers an amazing selection of display options, such as float mounts, easel props, magnetic backing, and even acrylic “pedestals” that allow prints to stand freely on their own.
Related Post: Printique Review
A calculator will automatically give you an estimated price and turnaround time based on the shape and size of your desired print. And a virtual room editor provides an idea of how your room will look with a brand new set of metal prints. You can even place orders straight from the editor!
Prices are consistently low. Small prints (5x7s) are available for just $16.50. Even the largest pieces, at 40×60, cost around $600.
5. Collage
Collage offers impressively low prices, and the printing quality is great, too.
Collage offers all sorts of photo prints, including canvas prints, poster prints, and even home decor prints (such as printed pillowcases and blankets). But while the company is hardly a metal print specialist, you can expect very high-quality results.
Print quality is excellent. Collage.com uses a high-definition dye-infused printing, which produces a wide range of vivid colors. And the metal sheet is lightweight and easy to display (you don’t need to worry about prints damaging your furniture or tearing out the wall).
Related Post: Collage.com Review
Collage.com offers a decent set of print sizes, ranging from 5×7 up to 20×24. No, the list of options isn’t huge, but that shouldn’t stop you from grabbing a beautiful metal print. And with prices between $17.99 to $64.99 (with many discounts throughout the year), these metal prints really are quite appealing.
Pick a Metal Print Producer and Get Printing!
As you can see, there are plenty of great metal printers to choose from. Our top choice is Bay Photo Lab as it offers gorgeous-quality results and wonderful prices. Nations Photo Lab is also great and offers similarly high-quality prints.
Metal prints look amazing – especially when they’re produced by one of the best print companies. So choose a photo, select a printer, and within a few weeks, you should have your new metal print hanging on the wall!
