Metal Prints and Lighting in Gallery

Hey,
Anyone with experience using ceiling mounted track lighting for metal prints? If so, what finish did you choose for the metal print and what kind of bulb are you using. The people in SF tell me some finishes will cause a reflection over the image and other finishes have less of that problem. I need some insight into the successful way to light a beautiful metal print which will be the central image in my place.
Thanks ---If I've chosen the wrong forum; please move ASAP.
Jim

Jim,

I have a couple of metal prints in my gallery and we use primarily track lighting. They reflect terribly when the light strikes them directly. THey are done in a high gloss finish. If you feather the light to strike them either indirectly or with reflected light they are much better. I would think that a lustre or satin finish would be much better for reflectvity if they offer that, if not I would try to get some type of soft diffused light or feather it somehow.

Les,
Thanks......they do offer satin finish. But I've never seen one.

Would you, perhaps, avoid the risk and go with a pixel painted canvas print? Might be the safest way, what do you think?

Thanks
Jim

Jim,

My personal preference is canvas WAY over metal. I personally don't like the look of metal for room decor. I think they look great in a trade show display or for small senior pictures etc. but I MUCH prefer canvas. Of course I also detest glare...

Les,
Thanks-----I've a gallery filled with canvas prints from Canvas On Demand and I'll just add one more and use the track lighting. I needed to check the winds of experience on this one and you've filled the bill. I do appreciate you taking the time to share.
Best,
Jim Daniel

I have 20x24 and 20x30 metal prints in my gallery area and to carry to shows. Clients LOVE them. I prefer glossy and I detest the "sheer" finishes, though I showed one of those to a client and she really liked it.

They are great for shows in that if they get dirty you can clean them like a window.

I just received 8 29" x 48" panels from Bay Photo. My client loved the sheer matte finish. The texture of the aluminum certainly help add a sense of depth to the image (See http://www.naturescapes.net/phpBB3/view ... 6&t=206399 in Travel & Culture). The glossy finish has way too much glare, you'll end up looking at your reflection rather than the image. Also, being that the inks used are translucent, moving around the image gives you a bit of the same feeling as those old plastic trinkets, where a girl winks at you, certain details pop out at different angles depending on the colour.

The float mount option also gives the final product a nicely finished, window type look. I'll be installing these on the weekend and will follow up with a photo of the final installation in this thread on Monday.

cheers

Stu

Here's a shot of the 8 metal prints mounted on my client's wall. I would absolutely do this again. The visual impact of such a large print was amazing!
Total file size was 4.08GB, uploaded as 8 29"x48" 300 dpi L12 JPGs. Colour match to my files was perfect!

Stu