Metal prints aren’t printed on just any ol’ sheet of metal. Typically, aluminum is used with a specially treated surface that provides UV protection and ensures proper sublimation!
For those of you interested in the different types of finishes, the two most popular are clear gloss and white gloss.
Differences Between Clear Gloss and White Gloss Metal Print Finishes
As the name suggests, clear gloss aluminum has a clear coating, whereas white gloss aluminum has a white coating. Both types of coating are “glossy” and therefore have a metallic/reflective shine to them.
If you’re looking for a more metallic look, then clear gloss is a great way to go. However, if you’re a sucker for true-to-color images, then white gloss prints are a good choice.
In the below image, you’ll notice the 5x7 clear gloss print on the upper left side with two larger white gloss prints surrounding it.
While the colors are somewhat similar, the white gloss prints have more accurate colors, whereas the clear gloss metal picture print tends to have a more metallic look—and, under close examination, the texture of the aluminum is more visible on the clear gloss print.
Another interesting feature about both metal finishes is how they reflect light. White gloss metal prints reflect light more evenly than clear gloss prints and tend to appear the same regardless of how the light is “hitting” the print.
On the other hand, clear gloss metal prints tend to absorb more light and reflect light at the same angle of the light hitting it. As a result, the print will appear more vibrant when you are viewing the print at the same angle as the light being reflected from it. On the other hand, from a different angle, the print will likely appear darker—as seen in the image below.
Final Thoughts
Both clear and white gloss finishes result in vibrant colors and a metallic look—but still have their own differences. If you’re interested in a print of your own, then you can choose from both finishes:
As a completely unbiased metal print store owner, who definitely doesn’t have a monetary incentive for customers to buy multiple prints, I recommend trying both finishes out.
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