Curran Photo LLC photo buyers have choices for types of media to have their photos printed on. These can make a difference in price and how your photos look.
Framed photo prints:
- What to expect: The most popular option. Conventional photo paper brings out detail and color.
Photos printed on stretched canvas – framed or unframed.
- What to expect: Color and detail won’t match other media simply because the canvas is not smooth. Canvas prints look great from a distance but in smaller rooms, the lack of detail can be a problem. At art shows, I have customers often mistaking some canvas prints as paintings.
Photos printed on glass or acrylic
- What to expect: The “good” is these photos have fantastic detail. Glass and acrylic prints are both designed to hang on a wall without a frame. Early renditions of acrylic prints were a photo printed on regular photo paper and glued between a sheet of acrylic and a base on the back. We do not sell these types of prints. The glass and acrylic prints we sell have the photo printed directly onto the glass or acrylic with a backing for hanging. They are both very thin. Individuals can make their own choice on which to buy. Both hang flat against the wall. Our acrylic prints do not have metal stand offs (studs) on the front. This is a taste thing on my part. I think the metal studs detract from the photo. Both are printed on a glossy surface.
- Photos printed on metal
- What to expect: The detail and color amazes. Photos are printed on 0.75 mm thick aluminum. They have a glossy finish. Wood blocks on the back are used to fasten or hang on the wall. The blocks provide space between the photo and the wall and give the impression that the photo is floating. I have two metal prints hanging in my studio. One is of Bald eagle and the other is fireworks. Both subjects look like they are flying off the surface. In my experience, this option works best with darker or muted photo backgrounds and bright colors. Glass, acrylic and metal prints are equally crisp.