Choosing the Right Print for Your Space
So, you have fallen in love with a print, and you want to display it in your home. What are the things that you need to know now so that your new purchase meets your expectations? That’s what I am going to cover in this article.
First, you must have a place in mind of where you want your new artwork to be displayed. Knowing this will help you make the right choices in choosing a size and the medium that it will be printed on. Some things to think about are the size of the space that you are displaying it in, the amount, the type of lighting the area has and what you budget can handle. There is an old saying that goes buy nice or buy twice. I am not saying that you need the most expensive piece that you can afford but instead don’t cheap out and end up regretting your decision later. You will be much more satisfied by saving until you can afford the right piece.
What Medium Should I Pick
In this section I am going to discuss the four major mediums that you will most likely have to choose from. They are Acrylic, Metal, Canvas and Paper. I will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages to each. This will help you decide which one is best for your specific need.
Acrylic
As of this writing, acrylic is widely recognized as the top of the line in printing, but it is also the most expensive. Be wary of cheaper versions where the image is printed on the acrylic sheet. Traditionally, the image is printed on a specialized type of fine art paper and then it is face mounted onto a sheet of acrylic. Then a backing layer is added to the print to protect and seal it.
Pros
They are recognized as top of the line because they are stunning show pieces and because they are sealed, they can last a lifetime when displayed properly. Part of what makes them look so good is that as the light passes through the acrylic sheet, the light is diffused causing the highlights to really stand out from the shadows. Acrylic is best used for medium to large images.
Cons
One of the disadvantages of acrylic is the cost. Yes, they are more expensive but as with most things in life, quality comes at a higher price. Another downside is that they are heavy, especially in larger sizes. You have to remember that your print is sandwiched between a layer of acrylic (often ¼” thick) and the backing material. So be sure of where you want to display it. This is not something that you will want to be moving around a lot.
Metal
The next medium that I want to discuss is metal. This is one of my favorite mediums and they are extremely popular. They produce bold, rich colors and display great dynamic range and detail. These prints are on sheets of aluminum. A word of caution though, there are some print labs offering cheaper versions of this type of print leaving a lot to be desired.
Pros
The first thing that you will notice about a metal print is how bright and vibrant they are. They just seem to come to life. Another benefit is that they are much lighter than their acrylic counterparts. Lastly, they are so easy to maintain. They can just simply be wiped with a damp microfiber cloth.
Cons
Metal prints are often printed on a high gloss finish, to take advantage of the bold colors and high dynamic range. A high gloss finish can have a lot of glare especially in a room with a lot of bright light. Look for a place in your area that is not subject to a lot of direct light. If that is not possible, you can ask if the print is available in a semi-gloss or a matte finish. The tradeoff is that you lose a little of that boldness that we all like.
Canvas
This is where the image is printed on, naturally, canvas and stretched around a wood frame and use a wire hanging system. These are an even less expensive way to get artwork into your home or office space. They are a good choice for a room in which you may have paintings or other canvas pieces. I would not suggest mixing this medium in a room with other mediums though.
Pros
I would argue that this is the most affordable option in the market. You could argue that paper prints are more affordable but more on that in the paper print section below. They are lightweight and easy to hang; therefore, making them easy to relocate to another location.
Cons
Good quality canvas print can be bright and colorful, but they do lack the vibrance of metal, acrylic or even paper prints. They just don’t have as much of a wow factor. Also, canvas has a texture to it, so the image just won’t have as much detail in it as other mediums. Also, don’t just assume that since it is canvas that it will not create any glare. Though the glare is reduced naturally by the medium and texture, it can still have glare.
Paper Prints
This is the medium that we are all most familiar with and has been around for a long time. There are hundreds if not thousands of paper types available on the market and each one has its own specific characteristics. They tend to be more traditional. That could be a positive or a negative depending on what your tastes in décor are.
Pros/Cons
I am going to discuss the pros and cons together here because it’s hard to differentiate them. The cost of the print is just the beginning. Once you have purchased the print you still need to have it mounted and framed before you can hang it. For small prints that are a common size this may not cost a lot if you buy an inexpensive frame with a mat already included. Be careful though not all are created equal. A lot of cheap mats are not acid free and will actually damage the print over time not to mention that the core of the mat, which is often white, will eventually turn brown. Also, a lot of cheap frames do not use real glass, instead they use varying types of plastic which are subject to scratching and degrading over time. Lastly, the quality of the paper used in printing makes a difference. A lot of cheap prints are printed on cheap paper. Subjected to light they will fade over time. The life of such a print may only be a few years. For paper prints, I only use acid free fine art papers which are much heavier (thicker) and will hold up for many years if not in direct sunlight. As you can see by the time that you buy a high-quality print, have it mounted and framed and real glass, often you can buy a high-quality metal print. But if you are going for a more traditional look and have the budget to do it right, then paper prints may be right for you.
Sizing
No matter which type of print you decide on, you need to choose the right size. The easiest way that I know of to figure this out is to do the following. Once you identify where your new artwork is going to be displayed, grab a tape measure and some painter’s tape. Measure the length and height of the size that you are thinking of and mark those measurements on your wall with the tape make sure to use painter’s tape so that you don’t damage the wall when peeling the tape off (If I didn’t say that someone would use duct tape and then troll be because they damaged their wall). Step back and look at what the dimensions look like in your space. This is an easy way to try a few different sizes before making your purchase.
I hope that this was helpful. If you have any questions just email me at chad@chadhensonphoto.com.