Most of us have thousands of photos on a phone and almost nothing on the walls. A custom metal print is the fix. You send us a photo that means something, and we turn it into a piece of wall art made from real aluminium. Here is everything worth knowing before you order one.
What is a custom metal print?
A custom metal print is your own photo printed onto a sheet of aluminium instead of paper or canvas. The image isn't sitting on the surface like ink on a page. It's fused into a coating on the metal itself, so it becomes part of the panel. That's what gives it the deep colour and the sharpness people notice straight away, and it's also why the picture holds up far better over time than a paper or canvas print.
The panels have square, clean corners and no frame. Your photo runs edge to edge, so the whole piece is the image and nothing else.
How we make them
Every print is made by hand, here in Durban. We use a process called dye-sublimation. In simple terms, heat turns the ink into a gas that bonds into the surface coating of the aluminium. Once it cools, the image is locked into the metal for good.
Because we make each one to order, you're not picking from a fixed catalogue. You choose the photo, the size and the finish, and we produce that single piece for you.
Gloss or matte?
We offer two finishes, and neither is a wrong choice. It comes down to the photo and the room it's going in.
Gloss has a reflective sheen. Colours look richer and the surface catches the light, which suits bold shots like cars, landscapes and anything with strong colour.
Matte has no glare. It reads softer and calmer, and it works well in bright rooms or next to a window, where a glossy surface would throw back too much light.
Sizes
Prints come in standard A sizes, from A4 up to A1. A4 suits a desk or a shelf. A3 is the most popular choice for a single feature on a wall. A2 and A1 make a statement on their own, or anchor a bigger gallery wall. Every size keeps the same proportions, so your photo is cropped the same way whichever one you pick.
Mounting, with no drilling
Every print comes ready to hang with a magnet mount. A slim adhesive pad sticks to the wall, and magnets built into the back of the print hold it in place. No holes, no screws, no frame to level. It goes up in a couple of minutes and comes off just as cleanly if you want to move it, which makes it a genuinely good option for renters.
Caring for your print
A metal print is low maintenance. Wipe it now and then with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth, and keep harsh cleaners and anything abrasive away from it. Because the image is sealed into the surface, it won't yellow or flake the way a paper print can, and it copes with humidity far better than canvas.
How to order your custom metal print
Ordering takes a few minutes. Go to the custom print page, upload your photo, and choose your size and finish. You'll see a preview as you go. Once you're happy, place the order and we make it by hand.
For the sharpest result, use the highest-resolution version of the photo you have. Send the original file rather than a version that has been through WhatsApp or saved off social, both of which shrink it. A2 and A1 need roughly 8 megapixels or more to stay sharp.