If you’ve seen my work in person, you’ll know that here at Diamond Photography everything I print is on metal. I get lots of questions about the process and the wow factor of it. Well, here’s a bit more detail of how it works.
The metal printing process is fascinating! Metal Prints are created using dye sublimation. First, the image is printed on a special type of paper. This special paper is then laid on top of a metal aluminum sheet that has been pre-coated using a poly based coating. This combination is then put through the sublimation machine. Using extreme heat, this machine turns the ink from the print into a gas that then adheres itself to the metal and returns to a solid. What’s left? A gorgeous metal photographic print!
To complete the story:
Metal prints are archival quality photographs. The ultra-hard, scratch-resistant surface is also waterproof and can be easily cleaned with any mild glass cleaner. As with other archival quality art, it is suggested to avoid direct sunlight. While photo papers have fantastic image stability, test results show that the image stability of metal photographs are 2 to 4 times the image stability of traditional silver based photo papers. With these qualities metal prints should last for generations. 
The sample in the photograph is an 8×8 print and shows the float mount back and hanging system. The float mounts makes the photographic “pop” from the wall. While it is a modern look, it is a finished piece of art that can be made in almost any size you’d like. Have any questions related to metal (aluminum) prints?