Product News & Features

MpixPro Showcase Products Make Your Images Stand OutAcrylic PrintsMetal PrintsVivid MetalsPrint WrapsStandoutsFine Art PrintsCanvas

August 17th, 2015

By Amanda Burse

If there is one thing I really like to sell in my business, it’s showcase items. When I first started out as a photographer, Canvas was pretty much the only true showcase item other than framed prints—and I fell in love with it almost instantly. The printing industry has revolutionized these products, and now there are so many it is hard for photographers to keep up. Acrylics, metals, standouts, print wraps: all with a variety of finishes, widths, and mountings. Every time one of these items arrives, I wait anxiously by the door for the FedEx truck. When the delivery man arrives, he shoots me a little smile and hands me the package as if he is a bit nervous I might give him a hug or spontaneously explode with anticipation.

Acrylic Prints

acrylic Acrylic

One of our most impressive MpixPro showcase items is Acrylic Prints. They have such a sleek look. After the photo is printed directly to the acrylic, a layer of opaque white ink is screen printed on the back to create a product that highlights the bright colors and fine details of the image. When I am selling this item I like to mention that there is a reflective quality to it. You will want to take into consideration the light in the room and also the photo itself before offering this to your client.

Metal Prints

Metal Prints have become big in the industry in the past couple of years. These impressive showstoppers are distinct and modern. They won’t be right for all of your clients, but one thing is for sure, the finish and stylish quality of this item will impress the person you print it for. A coat of opaque white ink is added to the brushed aluminum metal surface and then the image is printed on top. Better yet, it comes ready to hang.

Vivid Metals

An offshoot to metal prints are Vivid Metals. As you can see, these have quite a bit of shine to them. It is important to look at your image carefully before choosing this type of wall art. I love the two represented in these photos. The high gloss emphasizes the light in the photographs. I have taken care to show the reflective quality. Window light and artificial light will play a part in how these images look in a home collection. You can either order these with the metal base, which allows that metallic look to come through, or your can order it with a white base, which will allow all of your details to be seen. There are also a few choices for mounting. You can go with a magnet mount for pictures that are 8 x 10 or smaller. You can also choose the easel mount so that you are able to stand your images up, which is available for images that are 16 x 20 or smaller. Finally, you have the float mount option, which is for any image 6 x 6 and up.

Print Wraps

Print Wraps are one of my favorite new showcase items. These are sturdy, they come ready to hang, and they are very affordable. They are also laminated, which is great for your daily cleaning routine, and they can be dusted easily with a dry, soft towel. The print itself is wrapped around a layer of foam with a block on the back pre-drilled for mounting. And just like prints, you have the choice of E-Surface or Metallic.

Standouts

Stand Outs

I see a lot of Standouts in corporate offices and displays—they are lightweight, they come ready to hang, and they are affordable. A Standout display consists of a photographic print mounted on a 1.5″ thick, lightweight foam board with a lightly textured black or white trim around the edges. You can order these in either the E-Surface, Metallic, or Black and White finishes and expect the same quality you would see with the regular prints MpixPro offers.

Fine Art Prints

Fine Art Paper

Fine Art Prints is similar in look and feel to watercolor paper and is a great alternative to fiber-based printing. It’s elegant and classic with a noticeable texture, so it won’t be right for every image. One additional note is that Fine Art paper is fragile. You will want to handle it with care and make sure not to have any grease or dirt on your hands when you touch it.

Canvas

canvas

Canvas

Last but certainly not least is Canvas. About five years ago I switched to a package-based portrait business that included a set of canvases along with digital prints. This got my clients what they wanted—digital images. But it also introduced them to portraits as art. Nothing is more versatile than Canvas. It looks good in every style of home. Images are printed on premier art canvas and wrapped around a 1.5″ or 2.5” thick wooden stretcher frame. They also arrive ready to hang. Again, this is a textured item, so not all images are suited for Canvas. It comes in Classic and Pearl finishes. Classic is more matte. It has very little reflection to it. Pearl has an iridescent glow that will make vibrant colors pop in certain light.

No matter what type of photographer you are, showcase items are sure to add something special to your images. And the best thing is your clients will see the perfect moments you captured in front of them every single day!

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Amanda Burse is a devoted wife and mom to four children between the ages of 2 and 12. She is part of the Zenfolio Customer Support Team and has been a professional photographer for eight years.