Photography

Spring is in the air and the Earth is blooming. Always the season where florals are in style, Spring has been re-infused with flower power. This timeless classic has been spun on its head with sweet and simple shrubs shrinking down under big, bold blossoms. An overwhelming appearance of over-sized orchids and delicate daffodils has established floral print as a major trend of the season.

The design world gained a green thumb this Spring, with flower prints springing up everywhere from interiors to runways. What is appealing about this trend is that the small garden of stylistic possibilities has expanded to become an endless field of flower prints. Planted alongside the delicate romance of the quintessential flower print come florals that meet minimalistic interests, and flowers bold and bright. The versatility has drawn all kinds of audiences into the trend.

While big and beautiful seems to be what has been catching the eyes of many, multiple trends have emerged, leading to the evolution of the traditional flower print. Simplicity is common among floral lovers, as it can be paired with anything and added to any space. On the other hand, striking colors combined with dynamic prints have a way of creating a bold statement, without the need for adding much more. As an accent, flowers create interest and grab attention, without an excessive shock factor. Flower prints can come with few or many flowers. Larger flowers create more of an impact, as they create more focus and can be seen as a statement piece. A print with a flower bunch, conversely, creates interest with a subtle impact.

Flowers contribute positively to any space as they bring the outside in, creating a nature filled environment, even in a windowless room. In addition, the variety of colors that flowers can be represented in allows for the trend to appeal to just about any taste.

Spring has sprung! This season there are definitely perks to having a wall-flower... or an entire bouquet!

You ordered your customized plexiglas piece. You eagerly awaited it’s arrival. Finally, you open the door to a big cardboard box. What now? 

You may be excited to have received your unique Plexiglas print, but you may also be experiencing difficulty moving your Plexiglas piece from a box on your doorstep to an artwork on your wall.

I’d like to help facilitate this process. Follow these 10, easy steps to unwrap a fresh, new look for any space.

Before you begin, it may be helpful to note that you will need scissors, an open space, and possibly another person to help you.

1. Clear a space. This box in which you will receive your Plexiglas piece is big, and the artwork itself is even bigger. Give yourself room to unwrap the piece.

When you receive your box, it will look something like this.

2. Cut through the tape that holds one side of the box together.

3. Open the flaps that conceal the work within the box. Inside, you will find a smaller box of cardboard, which is wrapped around the artwork itself.

4. Hold the wings of the unwrapped side of the box open, and pull the smaller cardboard box out of the larger cardboard box in which it is wrapped. This may be a two-person job. To make this easier, have one person pull the smaller, inner cardboard box, while the other pulls the larger, outer one.

5. Lay the smaller cardboard box on the floor, in your open space, making sure to keep the side completely covered by cardboard facedown.

6. Open the flaps of the cardboard that are holding the artwork, to expose all of the bubble wrap. Once you complete this, you will find the artwork to be wrapped in bubble wrap with foam securing the edges.

7. Take off the tape that seals the bubble wrap around the Plexiglas piece. You will find this around the edges of the painting, just before the foam on the edges.

8. Remove the bubble wrap from the Plexiglas piece. At this point, it may help to carefully bring the painting upright, so that the bubble wrap can be removed from the entire work.

9. Remove the sheet of paper that covers the front of the artwork. This will expose the plastic layer that protects the Plexiglas from scratches.

10. Carefully peel this protective layer from the surface of the artwork. It helps to begin at one corner, and then to work your way down and across the work. Be careful not to scratch the work during or after this process.

Once these steps have been completed, your Plexiglas piece will be ready to hang! Attached to the back of the piece of Plexiglas, you will find a wooden frame that should be used in order to hang your work of art.

Unwrap the crisp clarity offered by any Plexiglas artwork to brighten up your space.

Prints on plexiglas and aluminum are two fresh and modern options for art display. The versatility of these options contributes to their popularity. You can not only custom order artworks from MAP ACTE 3’s collection, but can also upload artwork of your own for printing.

Printing on Plexiglas, which is also known as printing on acrylic, is a MAP ACTE 3 specialty. Our process ensures a 100 year archival rating, with the use of European archival inks and materials that are 100% UV safe. In addition, these museum quality artworks will show no signs of aging, as they will neither crack nor yellow. With an extra layer of protection, we aim to prevent scratches while adding opacity to enliven printed images.

These crisp, modern prints on plexiglas are not only frame-friendly, but are also ready-to-hang, if you choose to let your unframed work speak for itself. This helpful hanging mechanism leaves your artworks hanging 1 1/4” from the wall, providing a visual fluidity that gives the piece a real sense of presence, as it will look as though it is floating within a space. Being only 4mm thick, these works are also easy to transport.

Images recommended for printing on this substrate include black and white and color photography, highly textured acrylic paintings, bright watercolors, and organic art in cool, primary tones. These types of images have been proven to enhance the  crisp, luminosity of these prints on plexiglas.

Art on plexiglas is recommended for light-filled spaces, as the bright, crisp clarity of these works complements and enhances these luminescent atmospheres. The addition of a print on plexiglas could open up any space.

Printing on aluminum is an excellent alternative to printing on plexiglas. Although artworks printed on this substrate are 2mm thinner than those on plexiglas, their quality equals that of plexiglas prints. This sleek, ultraslim option is printed using high-quality aluminum and proprietary archival inks, providing the same 100 year archival rating as prints on plexiglas. In addition, the hanging mechanism on the aluminum product is just as easy to use.

Although the quality of these artworks on aluminum is the same as art on plexiglas, the style differs. All artwork is compatible with this substrate, as the aluminum is pre-treated with a white powder coating, allowing for the accurate presentation of all colors and mediums. Prints on aluminum have a contemporary, industrial quality, with a matte finish, perfect for artworks where it is necessary to eliminate glare.

Each option, whether on plexiglas or aluminum, provides a sleek, unique alternative to artwork on paper or canvas. These modern artworks are tailored to ensure that your decorative options fulfill your distinctive design dreams.

For more information about our quality, or our printing process, check out: http://mapacte3.com/index.php/quality/

Saturday marked the beginning of the summer season. The sun’s rays shone the longest they will all year, welcoming this new season of sun, sand, and surf. As spring became summer, and I traded my sweaters for sundresses, I realized I wasn’t the only one celebrating the sunshiny season. Artists like Nicolas Le Beuan Bénic have created works of art that capture the beauty of these summer months. His newest collection of beach scenes depicts the simplicity and sweetness of summer, with soft representations of beach-goers on the seaside. These cool seascapes are fresh, decorative pieces that liven up any beach house, bringing the feel of summer to your home long after the leaves begin to turn. You can find Le Beuan Bénic's works, and other summer seascapes on our website: http://mapacte3.com/index.php/