Unusual Options for Your Photo Prints
When it comes to printing your photos, you’ll be amazed at what you can make. These days, you can print a photo on literally just about any surface imaginable and, as you might expect, this has inspired a new line of businesses promising to do just that.
After you edit your photos with Zoner Photo Studio, you might want to print it somehow. We thought we’d run down a few of the more unusual offerings that you might want to consider next time you’re in the mood for something a little different where your image output needs are concerned.
SHINY HAPPY IMAGES
How about your images printed out a sheet of shiny aluminum? The folks at Pixel2Canvas can do exactly that offering to print on your favorite images onto sheer or gloss coated aluminum – and the results we eyed were rather stunning.
Using sublimation inks and equipment, the image is printed to the aluminum sheet (sizes range from 8 x 10 to 16 x 24 inches) and finished with either a satin or gloss coating.
The finished print can also be fitted in a frosted frame mount that surrounds the image with a frosted acrylic frame.
SUNG AS A BUG
Not into heavy metal? Okay, how about having one of your favorite images printed out on something a bit softer, like a rug? Vision Bedding has a selection of personalized rugs starting at 20 x 30 for $37.50 up to a 48 x 72-inch rug for $216. I suspect this is the kind of thing that works a bit better with your landscapes and scenic shots, otherwise you’ll be stepping over the face of your loved ones.
Vision Bedding can also slap a photo onto bedding, pillows, tapestries and animal bedding as well. They’re machine washable too, so your images should stay pristine through the wear and tear of normal use.
GLASS HALF FULL
If something a bit more exotic is in order, how about printing your images to glass? A service called FractureMe offers a very unique print-on-glass service that produces stunning results at very affordable prices.
The process of taking your digital images and turning them into a prints on glass involves an interesting technique that starts as basic raw materials: sheets of glass and stacks of foam board. The image you upload to their site is printed directly on the sheet of glass. Forgive the brain trust at FractureMe if they are bit secretive about the entire process as there are a few shady characters lurking around out there looking to poach ideas.
After the printed glass plate emerges from a machine they have dubbed “Lavender,” the team adds the foam backing to give your glass print some protection and allow for mounting to a wall or displaying on a desk. They call the finished product a “fracture.”
The FractureMe.com site also offers a variety of borders you can add to the image or you can simply request a borderless option. Various shapes (landscape, square, portrait) sizes are available as well with a 5×7-inch Fracture priced at $8 – on up to an 21×28-inch size that will cost $125.