Start with the file, not the frame
A clean panel starts with a clean file. We check resolution, crop, bleed and tonal range before anything goes to print so the image suits the panel size and the final viewing distance. For close-up portrait work, product images or fine art, the details need to hold up properly on aluminium and not fall apart at the edges.
If a file needs colour preparation, we look at contrast, shadow depth and saturation for dye sublimation onto coated aluminium. That helps avoid flat skin tones, blocked blacks, or overcooked colour that looks fine on screen but prints badly. Customers must own the images they send or have the rights to use them, especially for commercial jobs and client work.
Finish choices that change how the work reads
Different finishes change the way light plays across the panel. Gloss gives strong colour and a polished feel, matte softens reflections, white-coated panels suit full-colour images, and brushed finishes work well when parts of the aluminium are left exposed for a more industrial look. The right choice depends on where the panel will hang, how much daylight it gets, and whether people will stand close to it.
- Gloss for rich colour and strong contrast in brighter rooms
- Matte for offices, galleries and spaces with harsh lighting
- White for sharp image detail and accurate colour work
- Brushed for a metallic effect on selected artwork or signage
Sizing that suits the wall, not just the file
Custom sizing matters when a wall has odd proportions, a tight passage or a reception area with a narrow sightline. We help plan the crop so the subject stays balanced and faces are not clipped at an awkward edge. For multi panel layouts, spacing between panels needs to be measured carefully so the full image reads as one piece once it is on the wall.
SubAlu works with display pieces for homes, boardrooms, studios and retail spaces from Randburg to Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Gqeberha. In humid coastal areas, the right mounting method and handling during packing become more important, because the panel must arrive clean and ready to hang without warping or corner damage.
Mounting hardware that matches the job
Hanging preparation is part of the print and mount service, not an afterthought. We offer mounting options to suit the panel size and the surface it will be fixed to, whether that is plaster, brick or a feature wall in a commercial space. Hardware is selected to give a neat finish and reduce movement once the panel is up.
- Hidden hangers for a floating look
- Standoff fittings where the design needs a lifted profile
- Rear-mounted options for lighter panels and clean edges
- Set-up advice for multi panel walls and grid layouts
For larger panels, even small alignment errors show quickly, so the mounting plan needs proper attention before dispatch. A panel that hangs square is easier to live with and less likely to need rework later on.
Test panels, reprint matching and colour checks
Some images need a first pass before the full run is produced. Test panels are useful when colour balance, skin tone or a tricky dark image needs checking under real light. They also help when a client wants a reprint that must match an older panel already in use, or when the source file has been edited from several devices and the colours do not line up.
Our colour and prepress lead checks how the file will translate to aluminium and whether any adjustment is needed before production. That step saves time, keeps the result consistent and helps avoid surprises at installation. It is the practical part that makes the final piece look right, not just print right.
Packing for Randburg pickup and national delivery
Finished panels are packed to travel safely from our Randburg base to Johannesburg, Midrand, Sandton and beyond. Protective packing matters for corners, edges and surface finish, because aluminium panels can mark if they are handled badly in transit. We also keep the workflow tight for local orders that need quick collection or delivery into Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha.
The service path is structured so customers can move from file check to printed panel, then on to packing and delivery without guessing what happens next. That is useful for businesses with launch dates, photographers delivering to clients, and artists preparing work for a show with a fixed install date.
- File checks before production starts
- Resolution review for print clarity
- Finish selection for the space and light
- Mounting options prepared for the final wall
- Packing and delivery arranged for local or national jobs