Articles, Tips, And Tutorials: The Prints

The Magic of Lumachrome® Acrylic Fine Art Prints

Lumachrome® acrylic prints are widely regarded by professional photographers as the pinnacle of photographic presentation—offering extraordinary depth, unmatched clarity, vibrant colour, and exceptional archival longevity.

Produced through an exclusive, proprietary process by one of the world’s leading fine art print labs, Lumachrome® represents a significant advancement over traditional acrylic face-mounted prints. Many seasoned artists who have printed their work for decades consider this to be the finest print medium they have ever seen.

Photographer Dean McLeod poses beside an 8 foot tall by twelve foot wide Lumachrome triptych print of his Japanese maple image hanging in the lobby of an office tower in Calgary, Alberta. — Dean McLeod beside an enormous 8'x12' Lumachrome® TruLife® acrylic triptych print.

A Lumachrome® acrylic print is more than a photograph—it is a statement piece. With remarkable presence and dimensionality, it transforms a space into a refined, gallery-like environment.

Well-known artists such as Peter Lik helped popularize acrylic prints in high-end galleries, particularly in cities like Las Vegas and New York City. While many acrylic prints share a luminous, high-gloss appearance, not all are created equal.

What sets Lumachrome® apart is not just its brilliance—but the technology behind it.

An elevated view of the Las Vegas strip at night. — Las Vegas is home to a vibrant arts scene where many people see acrylic prints for the first time in the many galleries throughout the city.

A common misconception is that acrylic prints are backlit. In reality, the effect comes from acrylic face mounting—where the photograph is mounted behind optically clear acrylic and illuminated from the front.

The interior walls of an art gallery with large landscape photographs on the walls. — Although the accent lighting is from overhead, these acrylic face mount prints have the unique effect of appearing backlit.

When paired with proper lighting, the result is a luminous, almost backlit appearance with a depth and intensity that no other medium can replicate.

Artworks Unto Themselves

While traditional face-mounted prints rely on standard photographic papers, Lumachrome® was developed to go far beyond these limitations.

Created by master printer Robert Park, this process uses a proprietary photographic material engineered specifically for acrylic presentation.

Printed at an exceptional resolution of 1,200 DPI, Lumachrome® delivers extraordinary detail, tonal range, and colour accuracy—surpassing even the finest photo papers available today.

An infographic of the expanded view of a Lumachrome TruLife acrylic photography print showing the many layers that make up its construction. — The craftsmanship and multi-layered construction of Lumachrome® prints make them pieces of art unto themselves.

The result is a multi-layered, archival artwork with:

Exceptional colour gamut
Superior clarity and sharpness
Remarkable highlight and shadow detail

Infused with iridium particles, Lumachrome® prints are designed to maintain their brilliance for over 120 years, offering true generational longevity.

Only TruLife® Acrylic

The acrylic itself plays a critical role in the final presentation.

Standard acrylic or glass can introduce distracting reflections and glare—especially in bright rooms or near windows. That’s why every print is finished with TruLife® acrylic.

Side by side views of the same living room wall with a large photograph on the wall illustrating the difference in window glare between glossy and non glare acrylic over the photograph.. — There is nothing more distracting than unsightly glare on an art piece in your home. TruLife® acrylic will vastly reduce reflections for a better viewing experience.

TruLife® is an optically engineered acrylic featuring:

Advanced anti-reflective properties
99% UV protection
Abrasion resistance
Anti-static, dust-repelling surface

The result is a crystal-clear viewing experience that allows the image to be seen exactly as intended—without distraction.

The Signature 'Backlit' Effect

One of the most captivating qualities of acrylic prints is their luminous, almost backlit appearance.

This effect is created by the interaction between light, the photographic material, and the acrylic itself.

Infographic closeup corner view of an acrylic face mount photography print and how accent lighting refracts inside the acrylic. — Accent lighting will reflect from the print surface and refract within the acrylic, creating a unique glowing effect.

Light enters through the acrylic surface, reflects off the image, and subtly refracts within the material—creating a sense of depth, glow, and dimensionality that feels almost holographic.

This optical phenomenon is entirely unique to the acrylic face-mounted process.

The Importance Of Accent Lighting

To fully appreciate the depth and vibrancy of a Lumachrome® print, proper lighting is essential.

Side by side comparison view of a large landscape photograph on a wall, one with natural room light and one with dedicated accent lighting to illustrate the benefits of accent lighting. — Fine art prints always benefit from dedicated accent lighting.

Thoughtfully placed accent lighting enhances:

Colour accuracy
Perceived depth
Overall visual impact

In the evening especially, a well-lit print becomes a striking focal point within the room.

Side by side comparison of the same bowl of strawberries, each illuminated by different light bulbs to illustrate the color rendering differences between good and bad light bulbs. — The quality of your light bulbs will have a big impact on the appearance of your fine art print.

High-quality LED lighting with strong colour rendering is recommended to ensure your artwork is displayed at its full potential.

For a complete guide, see: How To Light Photography Prints And Artwork.

A New Standard in Fine Art Presentation

All of my acrylic prints are produced using Lumachrome® photographic technology paired with TruLife® acrylic—resulting in museum-quality artworks with exceptional depth, clarity, and presence.

A large photograph of a maple tree with a custom wood frame hangs on the wall of a contemporary living room. — 'Dreamweaver', Butchart Gardens, British Columbia. Limited Edition of 150.

These limited edition pieces are crafted to the highest standards and designed to endure for generations.

Whether you are beginning your collection or searching for a single statement piece, Lumachrome® acrylic prints offer a level of visual impact that is simply unmatched.

Experience it on your wall

Preview any image from the gallery as a Lumachrome® acrylic print in your own space.