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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Metallic paper
Melissa Wade, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 8:47 AM on 10.05.08 |
->> Getting some 24x30s printed and foamcore mounted by Elco on Monday. Waited til last minute - still preparing files - so I don't have time to do a test order of images on metallic paper and as I have about 21 to do, can't afford to have them all done both metallic and lustre.
For those that have printed on metallic - are there any images that look worse or odd when it is used? I have a couple of images that due to the amount of "metal" in them, should be improved, but Elco also mentioned that it makes color pop in general. The other images are all hockey and therefore have a decent amount of ice included in many of the shots - not sure how "whites" come across.
Thanks for any info,
-Melissa |
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Jeff Snyder, Photographer
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Metro DC Region | MD | USA | Posted: 9:02 AM on 10.05.08 |
->> Melissa-
I have 16x20's printed by AdoramaPix.com on Metallic paper from last years Super Bowl, and they look incredible...
There's a special offer here for SportsShooter members: http://www.sportsshooter.com/store.html |
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Wally Nell, Photographer
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CAIRO | EG | EGYPT | Posted: 10:33 AM on 10.05.08 |
->> Melissa, generally metallic paper works better for pictures without direct light. Natural light portraits in overcast light will really pop out, but portraits done with direct light like sunlight or strobes, will not do metallic paper justice. Colours pop more with metallic paper when lighting is subdued rather than direct. If you are wanting to show accurate skin tones, then I don't think metallic paper is the thing to use for it.
Do you have something I can look at online to give you an idea (opinion worth 10 piastres!) of what I think would work with metallic paper? |
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Peter Wine, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Dayton | OH | USA | Posted: 11:18 AM on 10.05.08 |
->> I have had a couple of photos printed on metalic paper, and I hadn't thought of why, but the idea of natural vs. direct light makes sense as to why I liked the ones I've had done.
I would say that one of the ones I have seemed a bit blue shifted vs standard paper, so maybe that's why. But it was 4x6, so may not be the same with larger prints, and I don't have any others handy.
I haven't tried metalic paper for portraits or any other directly lit photos, so don't have anything to compare to.
But the few that I've had made, I like a lot. It does seem to add another dimension, or 'make it pop,' if you will. |
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Dirk Dewachter, Photographer
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Playa Del Rey | CA | USA | Posted: 11:48 AM on 10.05.08 |
| ->> Melissa, since they are ice hockey images and as you said there is a decent amount of ice in it, the whites have a tendency to go to gray because of the metallic sheen. I created some designs a couple of years ago that included pure white (RGB values all at 255) and the white areas had a grayer look than I expected. |
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Joshua Prezant, Photographer
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North Miami Beach | FL | USA | Posted: 11:49 AM on 10.05.08 |
->> Colors, nice saturated colors work best for metallic paper. Whites and highlights do not do well. They tend to blow out.
I have also found that the metallic paper does not hold detail as well. It has no tooth to it like a nice semi gloss paper.
My 2.5 cents. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 12:10 PM on 10.05.08 |
->> I'd advise getting a sample done before you go with it. I've had mixed results.
Aside from the previous tips on subject matter, a lot of it depends on your audience. Metallic is definitely a gimmicky paper, so if you are trying to sell to a fine-art crowd it's a non-starter. But if you're doing it for fun and just want something that is ooh-ahh cool, it can give an interesting look depending on the subject. |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 3:38 PM on 10.05.08 |
->> Jeff-
Is the Adorama deal still valid? It looks like it expired on 9/30?
dbr |
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Jeff Snyder, Photographer
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Metro DC Region | MD | USA | Posted: 4:40 PM on 10.05.08 |
->> Delane-
Yes, I will have the date changed....Jeff |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 6:58 PM on 10.05.08 |
| ->> I'll add one exception to the "white not so good" observation for metallic papers (even though this doesn't really help Melissa, I think it's relevant to the discussion in general): infrareds. It gives those ghostly prints an especially ethereal look to them. |
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Bill McGuire, Photographer, Assistant
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Atlanta | GA | USA | Posted: 7:45 PM on 10.05.08 |
->> Jeff,
Is that special for only 11x14 prints or do you have specials on other sizes as well?
Also, I tried to do an order this eveing and it said that the coupon code was not valid.. |
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Chris Machian, Photographer, Assistant
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Omaha | NE | USA | Posted: 8:58 PM on 10.05.08 |
->> I loved it for B&W, not color---looked gimicky.
All my prints have curled though-- |
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Ben Shyman, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 9:13 PM on 10.05.08 |
| ->> I used mpix.com to print on metallic paper for all the photos from a recent trip I took Down Under. They look incredible and I was very pleased. |
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Rob Bye, Photographer
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Winnipeg | MB | Canada | Posted: 10:19 PM on 10.05.08 |
->> I've had dozens of prints made on metallic paper, with very satisfying results. You have to pick your images carefully, though. A highly reflective subject, or one with a metallic sheen works best. My motorsports subjects are a natural for this.
I've had several winter motorsports prints made, and the snow and ice reproduced beautifully - nice and white, with a realistic degree of reflectivity. I haven't seen any blue or grey shading, but it probably helps that I'm dealing with a very good lab.
One of my favorite treatments is to have metallic prints plaque or flush mounted. It helps to highlight their special nature. Worth trying, I'd say. |
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Melissa Wade, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 7:02 PM on 10.06.08 |
| ->> Thanks for the advice. I went the safe route and didn't get the player images on metallic. Will try with something smaller and non-mounted at some point to know for the future. |
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Melissa Wade, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:36 AM on 10.09.08 |
->> While thanks to UPS I haven't gotten to see my metallic prints, I just wanted to put in a big endorsement of Elco - http://elcocolor.com/. They've always been very nice and accomodating of my rush requests, but this time not only did they patiently and pleasantly deal with an extreme rush request - and get it out even earlier than needed - but when UPS totally messed up on delivering one box, they were super nice about dealing with the returned box and getting it back to UPS for re-delivery. It meant a looonnngggg phone call with UPS - which after 10 calls of my own to UPS, I know is torture - to deal with UPS paying for the overnight shipping when they could have just said we aren't dealing with this - you pay for it and try to get money back from UPS.
Fingers crossed UPS won't screw this up and when I get up to Boston tomorrow, the box will be there. |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 8:12 AM on 09.10.09 |
->> Couple of questions...
- Anybody have advice for what kind of pen/ink to use for signing prints made on metallic paper? I'm especially interested in lighter-colored inks that will show against a dark background.
- Melissa, how was your experience with metallic paper? |
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Brian Cripe, Photographer, Assistant
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Palm Beach | FL | USA | Posted: 8:48 AM on 09.10.09 |
->> Chuck -
The silver sharpies work well on dark background/metallic paper.
I've had about 3 dozen prints done on metallic paper (many through Adoramapix) and have been happy. I'd echo the comments here - blues really pop, saturated colors rock on them. Whites go a little gray. If your prints are in a well-lit area, the metallic paper really looks good. |
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Jon Wright, Photographer
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Wayzata | MN | USA | Posted: 2:04 PM on 09.10.09 |
| ->> I showcase my portrait work, both studio and location with metallic wallets that include company name and info. The response is always good. Being very glossy, the color gamut is wide and bright colors really jump. My lab, ACI always does a great job with these. |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 3:41 PM on 09.10.09 |
| ->> I was thinking metallic silver Sharpie, and it was even better than expected. Thanks for the tip Brian! |
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