When you first jump into having prints made of your photos, you might not realize the nuances that separate one print style from another, as well as just how many choices are actually available. To be clear, there are a lot of options, from basic prints to canvas, acrylic, wood, and metal. We’ve previously covered different types of prints in this guide to photo prints for wall art, and it’s a great place to start. In this article, we’re going to look at a unique new fine art print option from Bay Photo that brings together the subtle texture of photo rag paper and the silvery finish of a metal print. In other words, these prints feature a texture and finish combination that you won’t see anywhere else. And with that, here are 6 reasons to try Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic Fine Art Prints.
What Is a Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic Fine Art Print?
First, Hahnemühle is one of the industry’s leading photo paper manufacturers, specializing in producing archival quality paper for fine art prints using inkjet printers. The Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic Fine Art Print, specifically, is a new option currently offered only through Bay Photo that features a unique light texture and metallic finish combination that is also worthy of fine art applications ranging from legitimate art and photo exhibitions to special editions and art collections.
How Is It Different?
Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic Fine Art Prints distinguish themselves from other Fine Art Prints based on the combination of a subtle photo rag texture and metallic finish. While they feature the heaviest paper weight (340 GSM) available in Bay Photo’s Fine Art collection, the texture is more subtle than other options like Bamboo or Torchon, which are also made by Hahnemühle.
While we can share photos of these prints, nothing beats seeing them in person to take in the incredible detail that comes through in this unique finish. If you like, Bay Photo can send you a Swatchbook so that you can feel the range of textures and thicknesses firsthand. These Swatchbooks also allow you to examine the various white points, contrast, saturation and finishes.
Where Does It Fit In?
Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic Fine Art Prints represent one of six Hahnemühle Fine Art Paper options available through Bay Photo, and one of Bay Photo’s 19 premium textured or smooth Fine Art Papers overall. In terms of quality and price, they sit comfortably right alongside the other Fine Art options you can choose from, which includes archival quality paper makers like Moab, Epson, Canson, and others. The prices across these options are the same and change based on sizing and customization, which we’ll cover in more detail below.
With that, let’s get into our list of reasons to try Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic Fine Art Prints.
1. Instant Wow Factor
More often than not, the photos that we (and our clients) choose to print and hang represent important moments, or they capture the essence of the person photographed. As such, these photos are meant to be seen, and showcasing them via fine art prints will allow them to be seen via the best possible means.
While we encourage prints of any kind over leaving photos to languish in the digital realm, fine art prints typically feature more detail and richer colors than standard prints. Bay Photo, in particular, makes their fine art prints using high-quality archival inks in a high-resolution large format inkjet printer. When you combine these factors with the unique finish and texture of the Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic paper, you get a piece of wall art that will make a statement and keep the captured memories top of mind.
2. A Unique Piece of Art
Just as photos offer a unique perspective of a moment captured in time, prints of those photos give us an opportunity to showcase those moments as unique pieces of art. Giving your clients’ photos the special treatment of being made into fine art prints will set them apart from other print styles.
As noted above, Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic Fine Art Prints don’t look like any other prints currently on the market, thanks to their unique combination of a “pearlescent sheen” and “subtle texture.” This also holds true from other metallic paper options, which tend to be smoother and glossier. It’s not that one style is better than the other, but this combination makes for a stunning display.
3. Elevated Status
Right out of the gate, prints signify that photos have become moments worthy of printing. Unlike digital images that typically (and quickly) make their way into cyber oblivion, printed photos gain longevity and in a sense take on added importance. Prints in albums or on mantles or walls remain seen, and the moments are regularly revisited and remembered.
Bumping your prints into the fine art realm, however, can make an even bigger impact on how the photo is viewed or regarded. For example, it’s not every day that people are given the royal treatment and showcased in fine art prints. When your clients see themselves printed on quality, high-resolution prints, they’re going to feel important, and the print will become more significant to them as well.
4. Higher Quality
When we talk about fine art prints, we’re talking about prints of a higher quality in regard to the archival inks used, the high-resolution printers used to print those inks, and the fine art paper or surface used to showcase the image. When you order from professional print labs like Bay Photo, even the basic photographic prints will use only professional quality photo paper and yield great results. Fine art options, however, include premium ink and surface options. The Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic option, in particular, offers the following attributes:
- Weighted at 340 GSM (grams per square meter): Anywhere between 200-350 GSM is considered high quality, so the Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic option lands on the higher end of the spectrum.
- Pearlescent metallic finish
- Archival quality
- 100% cotton
- Acid free
Whether you’re creating large or small prints, the level of detail present in these prints is incredible, and that holds true across a spectrum of styles and tonal ranges, from light and airy to editorial or dark and moody.
5. Customizable Sizes
When it comes to choosing between print options to fill a space, whether it be on the mantle, within a collection of other prints, or up on a wide open wall, it’s important to have plenty of choices in terms of size and display options. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of customization options when ordering Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic prints, which means you can fine tune this fine art print to satisfy your clients’ wall art needs, whatever they are.
Here are the main options you’ll need to consider when choosing one of these prints: Sizes:
- 63 Choices, From 8×8″ to 40×80″ – custom sizes are also available and can be made in any size between 4×4 and 43×120″
- Deckled Edges: Hand-Torn with Optional Borders
- Border Options: 5 Options Available from ¼” to 1½”
- Display Options: 2mm Black or White Styrene, Gatorfoam, Frame & Optional Mat
Your clients can showcase their photos as standalone prints or they can choose to add frames and matting, of which Bay Photo offers a wide variety of high quality wood or metal options. For those prints that won’t be framed but will still be displayed, the styrene or Gatorfoam backing options do a great job of making the prints more durable while also keeping them from warping, and the additional cost is minimal.
A nice, matted frame can also serve your fine art prints well. Bay Photo, in particular, offers more than 80 molding colors & profiles in a range of sizes (including custom sizes) as well as 13 mat colors with multiple window configurations.
6. Fairly Priced
Lastly, given the quality of these prints based on the attributes listed above, among others, they represent a surprisingly good value and will allow you to use top-tier prints to make your clients happy while also bringing in additional revenue. You can find Bay Photo’s fine art pricing here, and check out these tips from an earlier article for more information on selling more wall art and albums to your clients to boost your revenue and make print sales a part of your workflow.
Conclusion
We hope you found this overview of 6 reasons to try Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic Fine Art Prints from Bay Photo helpful. Fine art prints, with their high-resolution detail and richer colors, give photographers a means to showcase their work in the best way possible, and the effects are equally significant for clients who get to hang the prints in their homes. The Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic Fine Art Prints, in particular, take it up a notch with a one-of-a-kind texture and sheen combination that sets them apart from the other options on the market. If you’re new to fine art prints, these Photo Rag Metallic prints represent a worthwhile option to add to your products.
