making art work for you

Choosing The Best Substrate For Your Art Print

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Choosing the right image for your wall is just the first step in making the perfect art print work for your space.  Here at Third & Wall, we have more than 15,000 contemporary artworks to choose from–and we are continually adding more–for your custom Print-On-Demand project! Once you find your image, determining the print size you need for your wall and the substrate you want it printed on are the next steps.  Each substrate offers a unique look and style, whether it’s a paper piece to frame, a canvas piece to stretch, or an alternative substrate like wood, metal, or acrylic.  We wanted to share the differences of each to help you find the best material for your artwork!

featuring “Golden Bliss” by K. Nari

Paper

Picturing a framed glass image on your wall?  Then a paper print is for you!  With a few different options to choose from, you can find the best type of paper for your image.  Semi-matte paper is coated and reflects colors and details vividly without being too glossy.  Enhanced Matte paper is a lighter uncoated paper ideal for images that do not require gloss, but prints saturated images with excellent highlight and shadow detail.  And Fine Art Paper is uncoated, toothy and heavy for a luxurious fine art look (similar to high-quality watercolor paper), helping the matte finish show detail beautifully.

embellished canvas print of “White Peony” by Liz Jardine with metallic paint

Canvas

A canvas giclée print is great for large-scale images and most closely resembles an original art piece on a painter’s canvas.  Canvas pieces can be stretched and framed to elevate your giclée print, and hand embellishment with gel, pigment, pearlescent color, or metallic leafing can be added for extra texture, shimmer and shine.

framed “High Style III” and “High Style IV” by Liz Jardine on wallcovering image by Corrie LaVelle

Wallcovering

With bold walls making a comeback, adding wallcovering to your space is a great way to make a statement!  Depending on the image you are using to cover your wall(s) and the feeling you want to create, we can help you find the best type of wallcovering for your interiors.  Matte wallcovering is ideal for crisp prints such as photography or detailed designs, while canvas wallcovering adds more texture to your walls, like a painter’s canvas.  Suede wallcovering brings elegance & warmth with a similar texture to suede fabric and reduces glare, whereas Terralon wallcovering has a very smooth surface and is made from 31% post-consumer recycled materials!

“Proximity” by Jill Martin on acrylic

Alternative Substrates

Want to create a truly unique look with your imagery?  Try an alternative substrate such as wood, metal, or acrylic!  Images can be printed on honey-colored birch or apple Europly wood for a rustic finish, and you can choose between a solid image or to have the woodgrain show through.  For a modern, sleek, and elegant feel, try printing on metal—this process is called DiBond and is formed by two thin metal sheets sandwiching a sheet of black sintra–with a brushed aluminum surface.  While printing your image on clear acrylic can give your art print depth and add a polished touch to your walls!

outdoor piece is “Canyon Vista” by Scott Brems

Although all of these options can seem overwhelming, we want to help make choosing the best substrate for your art easy! Have you thought of another cool substrate for your art print?  We will try and source it and create it for you!

For more details about all of the different substrate options we offer, check out our Products page.

Some areas of our website are password-protected. If you are a member of the trade but don’t have full access to our website, www.thirdandwall.com, please contact us at customerservice@thirdandwall.com.

Finding The Best Pieces For Your Entryway

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A stylish and functional entryway can create the perfect warm-welcome the minute you step through the door!  Whether it is the lobby of a communal building or the foyer of your home, the design of this space can set the tone for the rest of the interior. Even if it isn’t large–or technically it’s own room–your entryway can still make a dramatic impact.  No matter how much space you have, we wanted to share some tips for finding the best pieces for making a show-stopping first impression!

featuring “Expedite” by Corrie LaVelle

Make A Statement

Your entryway can be one of the best places to make a big statement, which is why we love the idea of a bold wallcovering–on just one wall or all of them–to define this space.  If you aren’t quite ready to cover your whole wall, finding large art pieces to fill your blank wall is another great way to add drama to your entryway and make a small space feel larger.  If you have a rug in your foyer, finding wall decor to complement it will help keep the space cohesive without feeling too busy.

Keep It Functional

A main priority when designing and decorating your entryway is its functionality and space.  Utilizing your square footage is important, whether airy and spacious or just a hallway, and you want to be sure that it serves the purpose(s) you need.  Make sure to account for any seating or a console table you might need in this area, and try hanging some art above a bench or displaying pieces in a vignette to bring pops of color and interest to the space.

Keep It Cohesive

As the first impression of your space, you want your foyer to set the right tone for the rest of your interior.  Keeping it with the color scheme and thematic design of the other rooms can help keep them unified as a whole.  To find the best style for your entryway, think about the mood you want to create once you walk in.  From light and neutral to eclectic and bold, there so many ways to create your perfect warm welcome!

A beautiful and organized entryway can make your space even more inviting, so finding the right decor is key to creating your perfect grand entrance!