Aluminum, Wood or Acrylic: Choosing a Wall Art Material

Three materials, three completely different results

The same photograph printed on aluminum, on wood and behind acrylic produces three different objects. None is objectively better; they behave differently with light, with a room and with time. Choosing well is mostly about knowing what each one does.

Aluminum: quiet, matte, unfussy

An aluminium print has a smooth, non-reflective surface that refuses glare, which makes it the safe choice above a sofa lamp or beside a tall window. It resists moisture, scratches and fading, and it arrives with an aluminium frame on the back and a built-in hanging system, so there is no hardware to buy. The look is modern and calm; a warm, traditional room can find it slightly cool.

Wood: texture that becomes part of the image

Printing on a wood panel puts grain into the picture. Where the photograph is light, the grain shows through and the piece reads as an object rather than a print. It suits travel images, landscapes, maps and anything with a personal history. Panels have a matte finish and can be finished with a wooden frame or an aluminium rail frame at the back for hanging, in custom sizes up to 96″x48″.

Acrylic: depth, gloss, and a little drama

Acrylic pushes colour and contrast forward and makes an image look as though it sits inside the panel. It is the choice for water, sky, night scenes and bold colour. It is also glossy, so it will show the room — a wall facing a window is the one place we usually steer people away from it. Panels are available with a clear acrylic border, a printed or laser-cut frame, or standoff mounts that hold the work off the wall. See photo on acrylic for the full range of finishes.

How to decide in one question

Ask what the room is doing. A bright, busy room wants aluminum. A warm room with timber and fabric wants wood. A dim or carefully lit wall, where the image is the point, wants acrylic. If the piece is going somewhere damp — a bathroom, a kitchen, a covered terrace — acrylic and aluminum both handle it; paper and canvas do not. And if you would rather frame the work, our picture frames and mouldings can be compared with the print in hand.

Compare before you commit

These differences are almost impossible to judge online. Bring the photograph to our showroom at 4860 N. Dixie Hwy in Oakland Park and we will print the same image on each material so you can hold all three against your wall. Not nearby? Send the file and a photo of the wall and we will recommend one with reasons.

Photography by Mike Gedj.