Do Metal Prints Fade? The simple answer is yes but it takes more than a hundred years for this to be visible. With the proper after care and maintenance, make your metal prints last for future generations!
Metal Prints are a great addition to any home. They provide great detail as display pieces for any part of your house. Turn your plain old wall into a creative display gallery of your most precious photos. Metal Photo Prints are the highest form of wall prints. They provide excellent quality, durability, and life span. It really is worth investing in for cherishing your most precious memories.
This article answers the question “do metal prints fade” and at the same time gives sufficient knowledge about metal prints!
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Metal Prints Lifespan
Metal prints are the most scratch and wear resistant among all printing mediums. They fare well against humidity and heat, outclassing the other print mediums.
For indoor display and use, metal prints last for more than a hundred years. Their quality is preserved – showing vivid and stunning colors for generations! On the other hand, a metal print lasts 5 to 10 years when displayed outdoors.
The weather affects how much an object deteriorates. This is no different to metal prints! Harsh sunlight and extreme weather conditions harm prints through time.
The following section details how this came to be. Understanding the process of its creation answers the question – “Why are metal prints durable and long lasting?”
How are Metal Prints Made?
Metal prints are made by a process called dye sublimation. First, we must understand the traditional printing process. The traditional method prints directly on the surface. This is not as durable as one thinks it may be.Traditional prints damage easily since they are essentially only on top of a surface. However, dye sublimation infuses the image directly into the hard coating of a metal surface. This provides lasting durability and protection as well as prolonging its lifespan.
First, an image is printed on a paper transfer media. Manufacturers use a giclee printer with specialized sublimation inks. These inks are specifically for metal printing processes. This print appears as a flat colored mirrored copy of the original image.
Next, this printed sheet is taped onto a blank metal photo panel. The metal photo panel undergoes a heat press. The heat and pressure turns the sublimation inks to gas. The gas is then absorbed through the pores of the polymer coating of the metal and into the base coating. As the metal cools, the pores close and the metal surface stabilizes.
What are Metal Prints?
Metal Prints are modern and high definition pieces of wall art. These prioritize quality without compromising longevity. They are well known for being the toughest and most long lasting medium for Wall Art.
A metal print is a wall art piece that has a clean, modern, industrial, high-definition look. Metal prints utilize aluminum, with a variety of coats. This gives off vivid colors on any printed image. Metal prints are resistant to fading, moisture, and scratching. This makes metal prints the superior choice for both indoor and outdoor display.
These head-turning metal prints showcase your best photos in colorful hues. Printing photos on a metal piece gives your photo a striking industrial and modern touch to your walls. As a bonus, they do not require frames! Installation is a breeze, with a handy hanger attached to the back. This makes mounting these metal photo prints quick and simple.
These ultra-modern metal prints are the highlight of your wall art pieces and perfectly display your personalized photos. Make your wall art piece one of a kind with a variety of design options. Choose from a wide range of layouts, backgrounds, and custom texts.
Creative Metal Prints Ideas
Metal Prints work well as home, office, gallery, and outdoor pieces. They have extremely long lifespans extending for generations. The durability and appearance of a metal print make them the perfect print choice. Photos remain vibrant and brilliant through time. This makes way for creativity to have a part in metal print applications. The following are some crafty and creative uses for metal prints.
Collages
First, look toward creating gallery walls with your metal prints. Mix and match different photos and create a wall filled with memories. Have a special date in mind? Collect photos from that day and create a collage. Next, choose the perfect size for you and display it on your wall. A quick way of creating a personalized corner is by displaying collages on your wall. Not only does this showcase a special day, but they also stand out as metal prints. Utilize the vibrant colors and stunning surface of metal prints for your display.
Coasters
Second, coasters are useful any time of the day. Pairing this with a refreshing drink already makes one’s day. Why not turn some memories and beautiful scenery as your drinking buddy? With the option of printing on various shapes and sizes, metal prints make great additions to everyday use as coasters.
Calendars
While metal prints last for 100+ years, every new year is something to celebrate about! Consider turning your gathered memories throughout the year as a calendar. A calendar is always a nice addition to any home. Make it personalized by choosing your best photos from the past year as placeholders for the upcoming months.
Split Metal Prints
Next, split metal prints offer a creative and professional way of displaying photos. These pieces offer an extra artistic touch! Split your photos to multiple panels and create a unique gallery inside your home. Each panel hangs one inch apart from each other. This creates an elegant and dramatic effect through its floating appearance.
Panoramic Metal Prints
Next, Panoramic metal prints are perfect for showcasing locations. This option is best for those who travel. There are destinations that are just too jaw dropping. Consider printing them on a panoramic metal print and give them a permanent place in your home.
Shaped Metal Prints
Lastly, there are shaped metal prints. May it be an oval, square, heart, or a circle; this is possible for metal prints. Make your images stand out from your wall by choosing an extraordinary shape! Not only does the vibrancy of the image make it head turning, but the shape also contributes to its uniqueness!
Do Metal Prints Fade? Metal Print Aftercare and Maintenance
In the previous sections, we discussed the lifespan and longevity of a metal print. Nevertheless, after care for these wall art is still notable. Especially with creative applications for metal prints, one must know how to properly maintain them. Here are the main points to follow to ensure the longevity of your display pieces.
1. Avoid Direct Sunlight
Firstly, sunlight is harmful to any type of prints due to the UV exposure it causes. Direct exposure to sunlight causes changes in color particularly fading.
Proper lighting can bring out the colors of these display pieces. Indoor light sources are preferred rather than placing your prints in areas that are hit with direct sunlight.
2. Avoid Wet and Humid Areas
Secondly, humidity is another factor for wall art deterioration. Humidity causes your prints to be subjected to vapor. Wetness affects the surface of the printing medium and with time, also changes not just the durability but also the color.
General tip for this is to display these wall art in air conditioned rooms if possible. Air conditioners regulate not just the temperature of the room but also the room’s humidity.
3. Avoid Rubbing
Next, when cleaning your wall art, it is of best practice to dust them instead. Rubbing the wall arts causes friction to its surface. Friction causes heat and at times, scratches. Heat also affects the paint applications on your chosen medium. Though most mediums are scratch resistant, it’s still best practice to use a feather duster instead of a cloth.
4. Avoid using Chemicals
Lastly, we know that it’s tempting to use cleaning chemicals to easily clean various surfaces. With regards to prints though, it is best to avoid them. The ink used on your wall art pieces may have certain reactions to cleaning products and affect their overall appearance.
If some areas of your prints are still unclean upon dusting, a wet damp cloth will suffice. If this fails, it would be best to take your display pieces to professional cleaners.
Conclusion
Metal Prints fade but it takes decades to occur. The printing process of metal prints makes your image settle into the metal material itself. This makes it scratch and wear resistant. The only factor that contributes to the fading of metal prints are weather conditions. Sunlight and humidity play a factor in this. It is of best practice to display your metal prints away from direct sunlight and wet or humid areas.
Also take note of the proper aftercare and maintenance for metal prints. This ensures your metal print lasts for more than a hundred years. Spread the word as you give your loved ones precious images printed on metal.
Creative uses of metal prints also share their durability and appearance. A metal print coaster for example remains vivid and stunning even with multiple uses! Should you look for creative uses for metal prints, some outstanding applications are calendars, coasters, and collages. Design your home or give it to loved ones, metal prints are always a great choice!
Afterword
We hope that you find this article helpful. Thank you for reading and you’re always free to leave a comment. If you find this article interesting, consider checking out one of our recently published posts. A few of them showcase these AI Art Generators in extreme detail. On the other hand, if you’re looking towards Photography, we also offer great articles for your inspiration. We also have multiple articles that talk about the various printing mediums for wall art. May these articles give you inspiration for your next print!
Find them here:
The 5 Best AI Art Generators
Why Choose Metal Prints using Chromaluxe?
Guide to Product Photography
Guide to Toy Photography
The Art of Editing Photos
Best Outdoor Print and Signage Options
Best Wood Printing Companies in 2022
We enjoy reading your comments and insights with our posts! Should you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave them below! -Mark
