What is an acrylic print? Everything you need to know

Have you ever gazed at a captivating piece of wall art and wondered how it achieves such vibrancy and depth? Chances are, you were admiring an acrylic print - a modern alternative that’s shaking up the art display scene. Unlike traditional prints, acrylic prints offer a unique blend of luminous colors and exceptional clarity, making any image pop. 

In this blog, we will answer the question, “What is an acrylic print?” You'll discover what sets them apart from other formats and explore their various features, like durability and easy maintenance.

We will also explore how they add elegance and sophistication to spaces, whether in your home or an office. Plus, we'll guide you on creating stunning acrylic prints using Gelato’s easy-to-use platform.

• Acrylic prints offer a modern, high-quality way to display vibrant, long-lasting photos or designs.

• These prints are more durable and moisture-resistant than canvas prints, providing an easy-to-clean option.

• Due to their exceptional clarity and fade-resistant features, they are ideal for various settings, such as the home, office, photography, and commercial spaces.

• Creating personalized acrylic prints with Gelato is straightforward: choose your design, customize, upload, and order.

• Gelato provides an accessible platform for creating stunning, professional-grade acrylic prints.

An acrylic print is a modern art display method where images are printed directly onto acrylic glass. They offer a vibrant, three-dimensional effect with exceptional clarity and resist fading and scratches. Known for their polished finish, acrylic prints are more affordable and durable than traditional framed artwork, making them ideal for sophisticated decor.

Choosing between acrylic and canvas prints can be tough, given their distinct characteristics. Let's explore their unique qualities to help you decide which best suits your needs.

Durability

Acrylic prints are known for their exceptional durability. The solid acrylic sheet protects the image from physical damage, moisture, and UV rays, preventing fading and warping over time. This makes them ideal for high-traffic areas or spaces with varying environmental conditions. 

Canvas prints, while sturdy, are more susceptible to environmental factors. They are typically mounted on wooden frames, which can warp or degrade under extreme temperatures or humidity. 

Vibrancy

Due to the reflective nature of the acrylic print surface, they deliver vibrant, high-contrast colors. The depth and clarity of the image are enhanced, resulting in a striking, almost three-dimensional appearance. The glass-like finish intensifies the colors, making them pop and giving the artwork a modern, sleek look. 

Canvas prints offer a more subdued, textured appearance. While they can reproduce rich colors, the natural weave of the canvas can slightly soften the image. 

Finish

Clean acrylic prints feature a glossy, high-shine finish that enhances color depth and image sharpness. This reflective surface adds a contemporary and sleek aesthetic, making the artwork look polished. The finish also provides a smooth, glass-like surface that is easy to clean and maintain. 

On the other hand, canvas art prints have a matte or semi-gloss finish that emphasizes the texture of the canvas material. This finish offers a more traditional, artistic feel, often preferred for fine art reproductions.

Now, let's examine the benefits of acrylic paints, which make them a top choice for transforming images into captivating art.

Vibrant colors

The acrylic material acts as a lens, enhancing color saturation and contrast for a striking visual impact. This vividness ensures that every detail of your photo is highlighted, making it ideal for both personal and professional displays. The depth and luminosity achieved through acrylic prints are unmatched by traditional paper prints, offering a gallery-like presentation. 

Exceptional clarity

The clarity of acrylic photo prints is exceptional, providing a glass-like finish that highlights the finest details in your images. Acrylic's high transparency reduces glare and reflections, ensuring that colors remain true and sharp from various angles. This level of clarity enhances the overall quality of the print, making it appear almost three-dimensional. 

Durability

The sturdy acrylic material protects the printed image from environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations and humidity. Unlike paper prints, acrylic prints can withstand handling and transportation without compromising their appearance. This durability makes them suitable for long-term display in both indoor and outdoor settings, ensuring that your cherished photos remain intact. 

Resistance to fading & scratches

Acrylic prints boast excellent resistance to fading and scratches, maintaining their vibrant appearance over time. The UV-resistant coatings often applied to acrylic surfaces prevent colors from deteriorating when exposed to sunlight, ensuring the longevity of the image's brightness and contrast. The smooth surface of acrylic is less prone to scratches than other materials, preserving the print's pristine look. 

Moisture resistant

The non-porous surface of acrylic prevents moisture from penetrating the print, reducing the risk of damage such as warping or mold growth. This resistance ensures that the images remain clear and intact, even in bathrooms, kitchens, or outdoor areas where humidity levels can fluctuate. Moisture resistance extends the lifespan of the print, maintaining its quality and appearance over time.

Easy to clean and maintain

The smooth, non-porous surface can be wiped down with a soft, dry cloth to remove dust and fingerprints without leaving streaks or residue. A slightly damp cloth with mild soap can be used for tougher stains, ensuring that the print on hanging hardware remains free from smudges and grime. This low-maintenance aspect makes acrylic prints a practical choice for busy environments.

Acrylic prints offer a chic way to showcase art and photography in various environments. Let's explore where these vibrant and durable prints can have the most impact.

Home decor

Their glossy finish and vivid colors make them ideal for showcasing family photos, artwork, or inspirational quotes on wall art. They are eye-catching focal points in living rooms, bedrooms, or hallways that complement modern, minimalist, or eclectic décor styles. These prints are lightweight and easy to secure for an acrylic face mount, allowing for flexible arrangement options. Their durability ensures that they remain vibrant and pristine like an oil painting for long-lasting enjoyment.

Office decor

Acrylic prints can enhance the professional environment while adding a touch of personality in office settings. They are perfect for displaying company logos, motivational images, or important information in conference rooms, reception areas, and individual offices. The high-gloss finish of acrylic prints reflects light beautifully, creating an engaging and polished look. Their durability and resistance to glare make them suitable for high-traffic areas. 

Photography

Photographers often choose acrylic prints to showcase their work due to the print's ability to highlight intricate details and vibrant colors. The depth and clarity provided by acrylic enhance the visual impact of photography prints, making them appear more lifelike and dynamic. The sleek, modern look of acrylic prints makes them suitable for galleries, exhibitions, and personal collections, providing a professional and striking way to present photographic art.

Retail and commercial spaces

Stores use acrylic prints to display product images, promotional materials, and branded graphics, benefiting from the print's high visibility and vibrant colors. Restaurants, bars, and hotels use acrylic prints to feature artwork, menus, or decorative elements contributing to the establishment’s ambiance. Their durability and resistance to wear and tear make acrylic prints a practical choice for busy commercial spaces, ensuring that visuals remain sharp and appealing despite constant handling. 

If you want to turn your favorite moments into stunning acrylic prints, discover how Gelato can help you craft personalized acrylic prints below. 

1. Choose a high-quality photo or design

When it comes to creating acrylic prints, selecting a high-quality photo is a must. Here's how you can choose a high-quality design: 

• Opt for high-resolution images: Ensure your image is high-resolution. This means it should have a good DPI (dots per inch) to maintain clarity when enlarged.

• Consider color vibrancy: Pick a photo that boasts vibrant colors, which will translate beautifully on the acrylic surface, creating a striking, eye-catching result.

• Match with room decor: Choose an image that complements your space's color palette and style, so it blends into your home or office.

• Understand your style: Reflect on the emotions or statements you want your artwork to convey. The tone and style you envision can influence your image choice.

2. Select the orientation and size based on your decor style

When choosing the perfect orientation and size for your acrylic prints, it's essential to consider how they can best complement your existing decor style. To help you make the right choice, here are some pointers to keep in mind: 

• Consider the layout: Opt for a landscape orientation if you have wide walls. For tall, narrow spaces, a portrait orientation might be more suitable. Square prints work well in symmetrical spaces and can help balance your decor.

• Scale and proportion: Choose a print size that matches the room's dimensions for a balanced look. Larger spaces are perfect for grand prints, while small rooms benefit from more modest sizes.

• Match your style: The print's orientation and size should align with the room's decor style. Contemporary minimalist spaces may call for large, statement pieces, while cozy, eclectic rooms might benefit from smaller, intimate prints.

• Mix and match: Don't hesitate to combine different sizes and orientations to create an artful display that reflects your personality and enhances your decor.

3. Upload your design to Gelato’s platform

After completing the first two steps, upload your design onto Gelato’s platform. Here’s a simple guide to help you upload your work and prepare it for printing on Gelato:

• Log into your account: Start by signing in to your Gelato account. If you're new, quickly create one to access the full suite of features.

• Navigate to the acrylic prints section: Once you're logged in, head over to the acrylic prints section to start designing. 

• Select your image files: Choose the high-quality photo or design you prepared in the earlier steps. Ensure the file format and size meet Gelato’s guidelines for optimal printing results.

• Use the customization options: Gelato provides various customization options such as sizing, framing, and filter effects to enhance your custom acrylic printing design.

4. Order your prints!

Once you've perfected your acrylic print design and selected all the right options, it's time to place your order. Gelato makes this process simple and straightforward, ensuring your custom artwork is just a few clicks away. Here’s how to order prints:

• Review your choices: Before finalizing the order, double-check that you've selected the correct size, orientation, and finish to match your decor needs.

• Enter your shipping information: To ensure fast delivery, provide your address details accurately. Gelato offers multiple shipping options so you can choose what best fits your timeline.

• Proceed to payment: Complete your order using various payment methods. 

• Track your order: Once your order is placed, use Gelato’s tracking feature to monitor your order until it reaches your doorstep.

We've navigated through the vibrant world of acrylic prints, exploring their unparalleled color vibrancy, exceptional clarity, and resilience against fading and scratches. Now, it's time to bring your vision to life with Gelato's diverse offerings. 

Gelato gives you the key to creativity with our print on demand solutions. Our printing solutions open doors to various custom products, including striking acrylic prints and t-shirts, mugs, wall art, phone cases, tote bags, and photo books. 

Trusted globally, Gelato has various print options that capture memories with precision and style. If customization is key for your shop, you can choose the size, orientation, and finish to match your decor dream. 

Ready to elevate your photo art? Sign up for Gelato and begin your artistic journey today

What’s the difference between metal prints and acrylic prints?

Metal prints are created by infusing dyes directly into specially coated aluminum sheets, resulting in a durable, sleek finish with vibrant colors and a modern look. Acrylic prints involve mounting images behind acrylic glass, offering a high-gloss finish that enhances depth and color saturation. 

Are acrylic prints waterproof?

Acrylic prints are water-resistant, but not all acrylic prints are entirely waterproof. The acrylic coating protects against moisture and humidity, making them suitable for various environments. However, prolonged exposure to water or submersion can damage the print. 

Is acrylic glass durable?

Yes, acrylic glass, also known as plexiglass or PMMA, is highly durable. It is lightweight, shatter-resistant, and more impact-resistant than regular glass. While it can scratch more easily, with proper care and maintenance, acrylic glass remains a sturdy and reliable display option. 

Are there any non-glare acrylic options for printing?

Yes, non-glare or matte acrylic options are available for direct printing. These finishes reduce reflections and glare, making them ideal for displaying images in brightly lit environments. Non-glare acrylic provides a more subdued appearance while still maintaining color vibrancy and image clarity.