Exhibition Production Services

As the visual arts industry evolves, the exhibition photo printing, bespoke mounting and framing services available here at Metro have grown enormously over the past ten years. Our Exhibition Production Services are designed around the needs of artists and photographers who prefer to have a hands-on role in the printing of their work. Described as ‘Bespoke’ this service features add-ons that make it attractive to artists, photographers and archives working on large complex projects requiring detailed production management from concept to final installation.

Photography in commercial or interior spaces is increasingly popular as more innovative presentation methods become more widely available. At Metro Imaging we have developed products such as Artlite lightboxes and Perspex photo mounting. Produced exclusively in house, these beautifully constructed objects create a ‘wow factor’ in any interior or commercial space.

IMG © Bespoke Lightboxes for GOOD GRIEF, CHARLIE BROWN!  Somerset House.

Exhibition Production Services

At Vogue and National Portrait Gallery we really can say, without any question how much we appreciated all the work Metro put in.

— Robin Muir, Vogue 100

Exhibition Printing

>C Type Professional Photo Printing

C Type Professional Photo Printing

Digital C-Type prints produced on our Lambda or Lightjet printers have the archival and tonal benefits of traditional photographic papers, with the advantages of digital photo printing. C-Types are a conventional photographic print from a digital file, and as such is the most suitable option when printing a colour photograph.

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>Fine Art Giclée Printing

Fine Art Giclée Printing

Our Giclée print studio with over 30 years experience in traditional photographic printing, and using the most advanced inkjet technologies. Giclée is a gallery-quality inkjet print onto fine art watercolour papers. This is most suitable for art illustrations, but can also be used for colour and B&W photographs.

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>Black & White Printing

Black & White Printing

After working in collaboration with Harman Technology to develop silver gelatin fibre-based and resin-coated photographic prints from digital files, Metro is the only lab in the UK to produce real B&W prints from digital files without a colour cast. The resin-coated is suitable for most types of B&W printing, and Fibre-based is ideal for gallery use.

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>Duratran Printing

Duratran Printing

Our Superwide Lightjet XL500 printer can produce mural size photographic Duratrans at a quality level unmatched by anything else out there. Duratrans have to be lit from behind, so need to be mounted in a rear lit display, or we can produce led lightboxes, which are conventional photo frames containing the Duratran and led panel.

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>Direct to Media Printing

Direct to Media Printing

Direct to media printing is exactly that; we print your image directly to a substrate of your choice. Be it paper, card, aluminium, Perspex, canvas, wood, slate... Our Jetrix UV inkjet flatbed printer can print on any flat surface up to 3m x 2m, less than 10cm thick. To ensure your material is suitable, we can print test prints around A4 in size.

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>Vinyl Printing

Vinyl Printing

Vinyl Phototex is chosen for its high-quality Giclée finish as well as its ease of application to wall or mounting material due to its self-adhesive properties. We can print on vinyl using our direct to media printer, in strips of 1.5m x 3m and these can be applied to the wall in the fashion of wallpaper to cover a complete wall or interior.

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Exhibition Mounting Services

As opposed to reverse mounting, acrylic mounting presents the prints bonded to the surface of an acrylic sheet, on top rather than on the back. This is an optional presentation for pop-up shows, however, due to the vulnerability to be damaged without any protection, we wouldn’t recommend it for other ways of exhibiting.

Acrylic Mounting

As opposed to reverse mounting, acrylic mounting presents the prints bonded to the surface of an acrylic sheet, on top rather than on the back. This is an optional presentation for pop-up shows, however, due to the vulnerability to be damaged without any protection, we wouldn’t recommend it for other ways of exhibiting.

Perspex® mounting is a contemporary way to present prints for interiors and exhibitions. The print is bonded to Acrylic using a silicon gel and then backed with Dibond®. Once the Perspex has been bonded to the front of your print, the refraction of light through the Perspex® gives a high definition effect and deeply saturated […]

Reverse Perspex® Mounting

Perspex® mounting is a contemporary way to present prints for interiors and exhibitions. The print is bonded to Acrylic using a silicon gel and then backed with Dibond®. Once the Perspex has been bonded to the front of your print, the refraction of light through the Perspex® gives a high definition effect and deeply saturated colour.

Aluminium mounting is widely popular due to the archival quality of the material. Although considerably heavier and slightly less rigid than Dibond, Aluminium has the advantage of a clean silver edge which many find attractive. Delivered with an option of wooden battens or an aluminium sub-frame depending on the size of the print.

Aluminium Mounting

Aluminium mounting is widely popular due to the archival quality of the material. Although considerably heavier and slightly less rigid than Dibond, Aluminium has the advantage of a clean silver edge which many find attractive. Delivered with an option of wooden battens or an aluminium sub-frame depending on the size of the print.

Dibond® is a composite display material comprising two sheets of archival quality thin aluminium with a thermoplastic core. It is valued for its lightweight rigidity and clean white coating. At an additional cost, panels can be supplied with wooden batons or Aluminium sub-frames. Specific finishes on Dibond are supplied in various sizes.

Dibond® Mounting

Dibond® is a composite display material comprising two sheets of archival quality thin aluminium with a thermoplastic core. It is valued for its lightweight rigidity and clean white coating. At an additional cost, panels can be supplied with wooden batons or Aluminium sub-frames. Specific finishes on Dibond are supplied in various sizes.

Foamex® is a solid PVC mounting material used for simple, non-archival purposes such as exhibition prints requiring a durable substrate for touring shows or public exhibitions. This material is available in both black or white colour, as well as in two different thicknesses for you to choose.

Foamex® Mounting

Foamex® is a solid PVC mounting material used for simple, non-archival purposes such as exhibition prints requiring a durable substrate for touring shows or public exhibitions. This material is available in both black or white colour, as well as in two different thicknesses for you to choose.

Foamboard is a lightweight mounting material used for large hanging signs and displays or as a smooth and rigid substrate for framing photography or illustration prints. Prints mounted to foamboard may be attached to the wall using velcro or small nails. Surprisingly sturdy and very light.

Foamboard Mounting

Foamboard is a lightweight mounting material used for large hanging signs and displays or as a smooth and rigid substrate for framing photography or illustration prints. Prints mounted to foamboard may be attached to the wall using velcro or small nails. Surprisingly sturdy and very light.

MDF mounting is an effective and economical way of displaying prints, available in different thicknesses. Although heavy, MDF is very rigid and the painted edges create a finished effect for mounted prints that, especially when sealed, will stand up to the toughest environments.

MDF Mounting

MDF mounting is an effective and economical way of displaying prints, available in different thicknesses. Although heavy, MDF is very rigid and the painted edges create a finished effect for mounted prints that, especially when sealed, will stand up to the toughest environments.

Kapa® foamboard is a lightweight mounting material used for large hanging signs and displays or as a smooth and rigid substrate for framing photographs. We use Kapa® foamboard, known for its aluminium foil surface, which adds a layer of protection for photographic paper. This material is available in 5 mm and 10 mm sheets.

Kapa® Mounting

Kapa® foamboard is a lightweight mounting material used for large hanging signs and displays or as a smooth and rigid substrate for framing photographs. We use Kapa® foamboard, known for its aluminium foil surface, which adds a layer of protection for photographic paper. This material is available in 5 mm and 10 mm sheets.

We use grey centred board made from alpha cellulose providing very high degrees of protection. Our board passes the Silver Tarnish Test making it suitable for mounting precious photographs. With a pH value of 7.5 even after 200 years, this board offers very high protection for the future.

Card Mounting

We use grey centred board made from alpha cellulose providing very high degrees of protection. Our board passes the Silver Tarnish Test making it suitable for mounting precious photographs. With a pH value of 7.5 even after 200 years, this board offers very high protection for the future.

Framing for Exhibitions

Similar to tray frames but a more slimline offering. Works are often reverse Perspex® acrylic float mounted with only a minimal gap between the work and the moulding. Framing options available in both narrow and wide styles but for specific sizes and options please visit or contact our team.

Keyline Photo Frame

Similar to tray frames but a more slimline offering. Works are often reverse Perspex® acrylic float mounted with only a minimal gap between the work and the moulding. Framing options available in both narrow and wide styles but for specific sizes and options please visit or contact our team.

Perfect for prints that have been dry mounted and don’t necessarily require glazing. The print is set back slightly below the face of the frame to prevent damage. It is mounted to Dibond or aluminium for rigidity and then floated in the frame with a space between the work and the frame moulding.

Tray Photo Frame

Perfect for prints that have been dry mounted and don’t necessarily require glazing. The print is set back slightly below the face of the frame to prevent damage. It is mounted to Dibond or aluminium for rigidity and then floated in the frame with a space between the work and the frame moulding.

This is a stylish take on the box frame, with your print mounted inside the box, rather than fitted edge to edge. Your print is mounted to 2mm Aluminium or Dibond® to create a sleek borderless surround for your print. There is a gap between the work and the moulding creating a ‘floating’ effect.  

Floating Box Frame

This is a stylish take on the box frame, with your print mounted inside the box, rather than fitted edge to edge. Your print is mounted to 2mm Aluminium or Dibond® to create a sleek borderless surround for your print. There is a gap between the work and the moulding creating a ‘floating’ effect.

 

Box frames have a fillet which creates a space between the print and the glazing, so there is no contact with the glass, for a deep box effect. Using Waterwhite float glass, your print is mounted first to Foamboard before being set into a box moulding with a fillet. This can be with a deep […]

Box Photo Frame

Box frames have a fillet which creates a space between the print and the glazing, so there is no contact with the glass, for a deep box effect. Using Waterwhite float glass, your print is mounted first to Foamboard before being set into a box moulding with a fillet. This can be with a deep or shallow profile.

Classic picture frames are available in a wide variety of mouldings from natural woods which are perfect for warm tone prints, to hand stained or satin finishes for a more contemporary feel. Framed with or without a window mount, this is perfect for showing off strong photographic prints.  

Classic Photo Frame

Classic picture frames are available in a wide variety of mouldings from natural woods which are perfect for warm tone prints, to hand stained or satin finishes for a more contemporary feel. Framed with or without a window mount, this is perfect for showing off strong photographic prints.

 

As standard, we use Water White Float glass giving optimum colour rendition. Water White Museum Glass is ideal for deep frames and shadow boxes where UV protection, low reflectance and clarity of image are critical. We also use the Schoot Mirogard range of specialist glasses, as well as TruVue Glass.

Photographic Framing Glass

As standard, we use Water White Float glass giving optimum colour rendition. Water White Museum Glass is ideal for deep frames and shadow boxes where UV protection, low reflectance and clarity of image are critical. We also use the Schoot Mirogard range of specialist glasses, as well as TruVue Glass.

We have thousands of frame mouldings available to complement your chosen frame style, including natural wood frames and aluminium frames. Also, we offer a variety of finishing services from sprayed, hand-stained and natural waxes to pre-finished satin and veneer as well as gilding styles.

Frame Mouldings

We have thousands of frame mouldings available to complement your chosen frame style, including natural wood frames and aluminium frames. Also, we offer a variety of finishing services from sprayed, hand-stained and natural waxes to pre-finished satin and veneer as well as gilding styles.

Our choice of frame finishes is vast to ensure we suit all our clients’ needs and artworks. From sprayed, hand-stained and natural waxes to pre-finished satin and veneer as well as a range of different gilding styles.

Frame Finishes

Our choice of frame finishes is vast to ensure we suit all our clients’ needs and artworks. From sprayed, hand-stained and natural waxes to pre-finished satin and veneer as well as a range of different gilding styles.

Frame hanging fixing options include D-rings single or double hole for small to medium size frames, as well as sub-frame and split baton for orders over 2 sq. m, as this strengthens the frame and provides a strong secure hanging. Get in touch with our specialists to find the ideal fixing for you.

Frame Fixings

Frame hanging fixing options include D-rings single or double hole for small to medium size frames, as well as sub-frame and split baton for orders over 2 sq. m, as this strengthens the frame and provides a strong secure hanging. Get in touch with our specialists to find the ideal fixing for you.