Vivid Metal Prints

What Vivid Metal Prints does

Vivid Metal Prints is a US-based custom manufacturer of dye-sublimation metal prints on aluminum panels, founded in 2003 and operated from a 40,000 sq ft dedicated production facility in Lexington, North Carolina. The company uses ChromaLuxe aluminum panels and a proprietary dye-sublimation process pioneered by original owner Roger K. Laudy, in which heat and pressure transform dyes into gas that bonds into a polymer coating suspended above a titanium dioxide white base on aluminum, producing the brand's signature luminous appearance. Custom prints range from 5x5 inches to 48x96 inches single panel, with five finish options (White or Clear base with Gloss, Semi-Gloss, or Satin) and seven backing/frame options. Supporting offerings include HD+ AI image enhancement, three-tier professional retouching, color correction, metal proofing, and sample kits.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market across four channels: Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer e-commerce, VIVID PRO Business (B2B with franchise ordering portals, brand color matching, white-label drop-ship, and in-house CNC routing), VIVID PRO Photographer (white-label production partner with blind drop-ship, 5+ year file retention, and limited edition services), and a VIVID PRO Affiliate program offering 15% lifetime commission. Pricing is square-inch tiered for custom prints, with add-on services and rush processing fees ranging from 20% to 100% of print price. Standard orders ship within 3-5 business days (98% on-time rate), and large orders (30+ pieces) ship in 7-10 business days.

Vivid Metal Prints serves four primary customer segments: homeowners and individuals seeking premium wall art, corporate and commercial clients (corporate offices, healthcare, hospitality, transit, galleries, museums, stadiums), professional photographers using Vivid as a white-label production partner, and affiliate resellers. Named enterprise clients include Harley-Davidson, Porsche, Volvo, Jimmy John's (franchise rollout), Tampa International Airport, and Charlotte Motor Speedway, with a gallery footprint cited at MoMA, Getty, Tate Modern, LACMA, and National Gallery of Victoria. The company is privately held, founder-owned, with no disclosed external funding, and operates as a boutique studio of 11-50 employees with 100% in-house production.

Name

Vivid Metal Prints

Legal name

Vivid Metal Prints LLC

Website

https://vividmetalprints.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vivid Metal Prints is a US-based custom manufacturer of dye-sublimation metal prints on aluminum panels, serving consumers, professional photographers, and commercial clients through Shopify e-commerce and dedicated VIVID PRO programs from a 40,000 sq ft Lexington, NC facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Metal Photo Printing

NAICS

Commercial Screen Printing (323113)

SIC

Services-Photofinishing Laboratories (7384)

akta.pro primary industry

Large-Format & Specialty Printing (Signage, Posters, Displays) (MPAJALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital & Specialty Inks (Inkjet, UV, Conductive) (IMAEAHAI)

Keywords

• Custom metal prints
• Dye-sublimation printing
• Aluminum photo prints
• White-label photo printing
• Commercial wall art

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Custom Metal Print Sales: One-time purchase model for custom metal prints in sizes from 5x5 inches up to 48x96 inches. Customers upload images, select size, finish, frame options, and mounting hardware. Pricing based on square-inch tiered structure with frame and finish adders.
2. Proofs and Sample Kits: Metal proof kits at $30 for full-size approval; finish sample kits at $10 for comparison purposes; personal sample kits with customer's own image at $120 for finish selection.
3. Gift Cards: E-gift cards ranging from $40 to $500, with optional physical metal gift card for additional $10. Delivered via email with custom redemption code.
4. File Enhancement Services: HD+ resolution enhancement at $20; retouching services at three levels ($10, $25, $50); color correction at $20 for calibrated monitor matching.
5. Affiliate Program: 15% lifetime commission on all referred customer orders. Display kits sold to affiliates at cost ($50-$200). Cashout available from $100 minimum balance.
6. Professional/Business Services: Volume pricing, brand color matching, custom reseller accounts, franchise ordering portals, white-label drop-ship fulfillment, and professional installation coordination for commercial clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vivid Metal Prints manufactures custom dye-sublimation metal prints on ChromaLuxe aluminum panels in sizes from 5x5 to 48x96 inches, with five finish options, seven backing/frame choices, and add-on services such as HD+ AI enhancement, multi-tier photo retouching, color correction, metal proofing, and sample kits. The company sells through its own Shopify e-commerce storefront to consumers and supports professional photographers and commercial clients through VIVID PRO Photographer and VIVID PRO Business white-label and enterprise programs.

Product overview

Vivid Metal Prints operates as a custom manufacturing e-commerce platform specializing in dye-sublimation metal prints on aluminum. The core product is the Order Your Metal Print system—a highly configurable custom manufacturing interface where customers upload images and specify size (5x5 to 48x96), finish (White or Clear base with Gloss/Semi-Gloss/Satin options), backing (Frame-to-Edge, Recessed, Shadowbox, Duo, Wall Mount, Curved, or No Backing), and hanging hardware. Supporting products include proofing services (Metal Proofs for $30, Sample Kits at $10-$120), image enhancement services (HD+ Processing at $20, Photo Retouching Levels 1-3 at $10-$50, Color Correction at $20), and Gift Cards ($40-$500). The company segments into VIVID PRO Photographer (white-label professional printing with file retention, editioning, and inventory ordering), VIVID PRO Business (commercial B2B with brand color matching, custom portals, CNC routing, and installation coordination), and an Affiliate Program (15% lifetime commission). VMP University provides product training resources. All production occurs in-house at their 40,000 sq ft Lexington, NC facility, using genuine ChromaLuxe aluminum panels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VIVID PRO: Professional partnership program serving pro photographers, business professionals, and affiliate partners with dedicated tools, trade pricing, and personalized service
• VIVID PRO Business
• VIVID PRO Photographer
• VIVID PRO Affiliate

Products and services

• Custom Metal Prints Dye-sublimation metal prints on aluminum panels ranging from 5x5 to 48x96 inches, with five finish options (White or Clear base in Gloss, Semi-Gloss, or Satin) and seven backing choices (Frame-to-Edge, Recessed, Shadowbox, Duo, Wall Mount, Curved, or No Backing). Customers upload images and configure size, finish, backing, and hanging hardware.
• Metal Proofs Physical metal proof service that ships two sample pieces (a scaled-down full image and a zoomed section at full print resolution) for color and detail review before production. Includes two proof sets and shipping.
• Sample Kit of 5 Finishes (Stock Image) Budget sample kit containing all five finish options printed on Vivid's stock imagery at approximately 3.5x5 inches each, designed for finish comparison before ordering.
• Sample Kit of 5 Finishes (Your Image) Personal sample kit printing the customer's own image across all five finish options at approximately 8x10 inches each, enabling side-by-side finish comparison before final production.
• Combo Sample Kit for Resellers Professional reseller sample kit containing multiple finish and backing options for demonstrating product quality to potential clients.
• Gift Cards E-gift cards available in denominations from $40 to $500, delivered via email with a custom redemption code. Optional physical metal gift card available for an additional $10.
• HD+ Processing AI-powered image enhancement service that runs files through upscaling and noise reduction programs to improve resolution for large-format printing, particularly suited for cell-phone photos at large sizes. Refund offered if enhancement does not improve the image.
• Photo Retouching (Level 1-3) Three-tier professional retouching service: Level 1 file audit and basic cleanup; Level 2 adds HD+ processing; Level 3 includes intensive dust and blemish removal for flawless large-format prints.
• Color Correction Professional color correction service ensuring numerically accurate color matching to calibrated monitors, with a refinement guarantee; required for color-critical projects.
• VIVID PRO Photographer White-label professional photographer program offering blind drop-ship to clients, Adobe RGB color correction, in-house metal proofing, file auditing, 5+ year file retention, limited edition services (signatures, edition numbers), image-inventory ordering, custom crating, HD+ processing, and free file review.
• VIVID PRO Business Commercial B2B program providing custom reseller pricing, PMS brand color matching with metal proofs, white-label drop-ship, in-house CNC routing for custom shapes, franchise ordering portals with pre-approved graphics, and professional installation coordination for corporate offices, healthcare, hospitality, airports, galleries, and stadiums.
• Affiliate Program Referral program offering 15% lifetime commission on all referred orders including repeat purchases with no earnings cap, $100 minimum payout, display kits available at cost, and access to VMP University training.
• Affiliate Display Kits Three-tier physical sample kit program for affiliates: Small Kit includes an 11x14 metal print with Duo mount and mini finish samples; Medium Kit includes a 16x24 framed print with 8x10 finish samples; Large Kit includes a 24x36 framed print with full finish and frame sample collection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of orders ship within 3-5 business days
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jimmy John'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranchise rollout of metal prints for restaurant locations. Featured as case study demonstrating VIVID PRO Business capabilities for multi-location commercial installations.
• Speedway Motorsports / Charlotte Motor SpeedwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarge-format metal prints for sports venues and racing facilities. Case study showcasing capability for high-visibility sports and entertainment installations.
• Tampa International AirportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetal prints for airport public and transit spaces. Featured as public infrastructure case study demonstrating scale and quality for high-traffic commercial environments.
• Harley-DavidsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with metal prints featured in their branding/display.
• PorscheminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with metal prints featured in their branding/display.
• VolvominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with metal prints featured in their branding/display.
• Nashville SuperspeedwayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with metal prints featured in their branding/display.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WhiteWall: Germany-based premium photo lab specializing in large-format metal, acrylic, and fine-art prints with strong gallery and pro photographer presence. Closely comparable to Vivid on product quality, finish options, and museum-grade positioning, with international reach Vivid lacks.
• Bay Photo: Long-established US-based professional photo lab offering metal prints, acrylic prints, and a wide range of custom photo products for professional photographers. Competes directly with Vivid's VIVID PRO Photographer program on white-label drop-ship, color accuracy, and pro-grade fulfillment.
• Mpix: US-based professional-grade photo printing service with metal prints as part of its product line, serving both consumers and professional photographers. Overlaps with Vivid's consumer and pro segments, though broader in product scope.
• ProDPI: US-based professional photo printing lab offering metal prints, canvas, and acrylics with white-label drop-ship targeted at professional photographers. Directly comparable to Vivid's photographer program in business model and customer base.
• Nations Photo Lab: US professional and consumer photo lab offering metal prints alongside traditional photo products with pro-grade color services. Competes for the same professional photographer customer base as Vivid's VIVID PRO Photographer offering.
• MetalPrints.com: US metal-print focused manufacturer leveraging ChromaLuxe substrates for custom and trade metal prints. Directly comparable core product (dye-sublimation on aluminum) with overlap in both consumer and pro/affiliate channels.

Emerging players

• Fine Art America: Online marketplace and print-on-demand platform for artists offering metal prints among many substrates. Comparable as an artist/photographer-facing channel and adjacent to Vivid's affiliate and VIVID PRO Photographer programs, though more marketplace-oriented.

Others

• ChromaLuxe: Manufacturer of the dye-sublimation aluminum panels that Vivid (and most metal-print competitors) use as their core substrate. Ecosystem participant and upstream supplier rather than direct competitor, but strategic relationship central to Vivid's product.

Broad incumbents

• Shutterfly: Large US-based consumer photo printing platform offering metal prints as part of a much broader photo-product portfolio. Competes for the consumer wall-art segment but lacks Vivid's depth in pro photographer and franchise/enterprise channels.
• Printful: Large-scale print-on-demand platform with metal prints as part of its catalog, targeting ecommerce brands and creators. Overlaps with Vivid's affiliate/creator channel at much larger scale, though less specialized in pro photographer workflows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MetalVivid
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCi_FHLzcuscGpGpIfekHsuA
• Facebookfacebook.com/VividMetalPrints
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vivid-metal-prints
• Instagraminstagram.com/vividmetalprints

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vivid Metal Prints