Print Surface Comparison

Discover how various print surfaces can significantly impact the appearance of your images. Watch our video to see why your editing style should complement your photography—and how that connection plays out across all our print surface options. Each surface brings its own texture, tone, and character to the final result. These differences aren’t just expected; they can be celebrated!
 

Product Comparison

Multi-Substrate Prints

Photo Prints

Print Process

Photographic Prints are printed on Fujicolor Crystal Archive professional paper for superior quality and longevity.

Suggestions

Lustre Paper is our most popular Photographic Print surface. Professional finishing suggestions for Lustre Paper include a protective Lustre coating, a Protective Laminate, three different print textures, and a variety of mounting substrates. Perfect for framed wall portraits of any size, tabletop displays with a small easel back frame, and gift prints for family members. The beauty of a Lustre Photo Print is matched only by its versatility.

Differences

• Lustre Photo Paper: A semi-gloss surface with bold colors and true skin tones.
• Deep Matte Paper: True non-reflective matte paper great for skin tones, soft images, and black & whites. Ultra-smooth and soft to the touch with slightly subdued colors.
• Pearl Paper: Rich in color and quality, this paper has a very reflective, high-gloss finish with a pearlescent appearance.

Fine Art Prints

Print Process

Fine Art Prints are inkjet printed with archival pigment inks that significantly enhance the visual brilliance of both your color and black & white images. These inks also have a substantial longevity that keeps your images beautiful for generations.

Suggestions

Start with Smooth Matte paper is a favorite for portraits and artwork, thanks to its clean look and soft, cotton feel. To make your print stand out, try adding a white border for contrast. Mounting it on a rigid backing gives it a professional, gallery-ready finish.

Differences

• Smooth Matte – Our most popular! Made from 100% cotton with a smooth surface that’s great for portraits and detailed artwork.
• Aquarelle Rag – Also 100% cotton, but with a textured, watercolor-like surface. Ideal for art prints where you want a more traditional, painterly look.
• Photo Rag Baryta – A cotton paper with a soft shine and warm tones. It’s great for photos that need depth and contrast, especially black & white.
• Photo Rag Metallic – This cotton paper has a subtle shimmer and glossy finish. Perfect for bold colors and dramatic images.
• Torchon – A bright white, highly textured watercolor paper made from pure cellulose. It adds a handcrafted feel to art reproductions.

Metal Prints

Print Process

Images are printed on high-quality aluminum with either a white or clear base, utilizing an innovative dye sublimation process for an impressive Metal Print display that stands the test of time.

Suggestions

White Base is our most popular metal product and the best way to achieve vibrant skin tones. A High-Gloss finish takes your bright, vivid colors to the next level and is chosen to brighten up any space with a sleek, stylish, modern art display.

Differences

• White Base: A smooth, opaque base with no metal texture showing through the final image.

• Clear Base: Shows the raw brushed aluminum through your image. This makes industrial subjects, such as cars, motorcycles, and cityscapes, look incredible.

   

Acrylic Prints

Print Process

Acrylic Prints are printed on a fine art quality Glossy inkjet paper, then face-mounted to ¼" acrylic. Experience the remarkable craftsmanship of unmatched beauty that sets our acrylic prints apart in our Craftsmanship Video.
 

Suggestions

You can choose to hang it with our popular Float Mount backing option or turn your Acrylic Print into framed Wall Art with the option of Black or White Frame. Acrylic provides exceptional detail reproduction for all types of photography, including portraits and landscapes. 

Wood Prints

Print Process

Your image is inkjet printed and then pressed onto wood using an innovative dye sublimation process. The ink fuses with a thin protective coating on the Wood Print surface, preserving the image long-term. The wood grain adds a warm, natural look to your image.

Suggestions

A Wood Print is a solid, 1/2" thick panel of real maple. Each panel has its own natural grain, making it a truly one-of-a-kind work of art. The grain is visible in the white and light areas of your image. The overall look is soft and warm. Wood Prints are the perfect wall display for outdoor and natural light photography, whether landscape, scenery, or portraiture. Images with a rustic, vintage, or all-natural vibe translate into beautiful, authentic art.

Canvas

Print Process

Our most popular canvas option is Premium Fine Art Canvas with Semi-Gloss Laminate. We use an inkjet process for outstanding color accuracy and true black & white. Your image is printed onto fine art canvas with a tight, consistent weave. The semi-gloss laminate provides protection and a slightly reflective finish for the canvas surface.

Suggestions

A Premium Gallery Wrap turns an image into a masterpiece. The canvas is wrapped around a wood stretcher frame for a gallery-quality presentation. The sides can be finished with an optional black or white border, or the edges of the image wrapping around.

Differences

• Premium Fine Art Canvas: Semi-Gloss Laminate – A beautiful option for almost all imagery styles with a slightly reflective finish.
• Premium Fine Art Canvas: Matte Laminate - A matte finish that provides the least amount of reflection.
• Fine Art Canvas - No protective laminate is applied over the print, making this our most economically priced option.