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Today is my son’s first birthday, but he’s down for a nap, so I thought I’d sneak in to my office and give you something to chew on. I’ll keep it brief though.

If you’ve never heard of metallic paper for prints, you need to perk up and pay attention. If you’ve heard of it but never seen it, you need to check it out. The first time I saw a print made on metallic paper was when my lab sent me a sample print. I was immediately blown away. The picture was a black and white print of a train, but I instantly saw the potential for portraits both monochrome and color. I immediately sat down at the computer and ordered up a test print from my portfolio.

When the print came, I was amazed at the near 3D quality that the print had. The colors were vibrant and the print had a strange depth to it. You really do need to see it for yourself to believe it. I only wish I could show you on the web what the difference is.

Metallic paper is made by Kodak, and the line of paper is Endura. Aside from the amazing look, here are a few of the benefits of using metallic:

• Image stability - 100 years in a typical home, and 200 years in dark storage.
• It’s different - If you’re a professional, this can add a wonderful new product to your offerings.
• Cost - Endura metallic is only a few cents more per print than standard paper at many labs.
• Versatility - Both film and digital prints can be made on Endura metallic.

I have yet to see this paper offered at any consumer labs such as Sam’s Club, Costco, drug stores, grocery stores, etc. But many professional labs offer the service. The lab I use is White House Custom Colour.

For more information about Kodak Professional Endura Metallic paper, check out Kodak’s web site.