Brushed Aluminum Prints

Brushed aluminium gives a print a quiet silver glow. The image is printed straight onto a 3 mm silver panel, so the metal becomes part of the artwork. It is the format to look at if you like pale tones with a little shine in them.

Where the silver shows through

There's no white ink on this surface, so anything white or very pale lets the brushed silver come through. Soft backgrounds pick up a silvery tone, and bright highlights catch a faint shine. Look at the lightest part of the artwork first, because that is where the metal will be most visible.

Deep, saturated areas sit over the metal and read much as they would on any panel. If you'd rather keep crisp paper-white areas, look at our metal framed prints or canvas prints.

A grain that runs side to side

The brushing runs horizontally across the panel. Wide horizontal bands of colour sit naturally with it, and the grain reads as a quiet texture behind them. Stacked stripes and long, soft washes follow the same direction.

Upright marks and round shapes cut across the grain, which can look just as striking. Hang the panel the way the artwork is shown, so the lines keep running side to side. The grain is easiest to see from a short distance, so step close once.

It changes with the light

Metal picks up the light around it, so the piece looks a little different through the day. Hang it across from a window or under a lamp you use in the evening, and you'll see the surface shift. Cool daylight and warm lamp light each give the silver a slightly different tone.

A bright lamp pointed straight at the face will bounce back, so aim lights from the side or above. Keep it indoors, out of long periods of direct sun and away from heaters and steam.

Walls that suit it

A plain wall in white, stone or soft grey lets the silver sit quietly. A deeper wall colour such as navy or forest green can make the metal stand out by contrast. Warm wood furniture nearby gives the cool silver something to play against.

Try one panel above a console or desk, or a row of three with the same gap between each. Pale, airy artworks show the most silver, while darker ones give a bolder, more graphic edge.

Choosing the size

Each artwork lists its own sizes. Mark the outline on the wall with tape and look at it from where you usually sit. Leave the tape up for a day before you decide.

A larger panel gives the grain more room to show, and one big piece can say more than several small ones. For a group, leave the same gap between every panel and line up their top edges. Keep the panels in a similar size range so the grain reads as one line.

Hanging and care

Hold the panel by its edges when you hang it, so fingerprints stay off the face. Follow the hanging instructions that come with it. For the larger sizes, a second pair of hands makes it easier to keep the panel level.

Dust the face with a soft, dry cloth, wiping side to side along the grain. Avoid sprays and abrasive cleaners, which can mark a brushed surface. A dry cloth is all it needs between hangs.