Caring for your art print is straightforward: the right cloth, a light touch, and a little awareness of where it hangs will keep it looking exactly as it did on day one.
Stephen Milner's large black and white wall art is produced to museum quality, archival standards and arrives ready to hang. Each piece is made to order in one of two finishes: under acrylic glass or on matte alu-dibond. Both are lightweight, rigid, and built to last. The care routine differs slightly between them, so the guidance below covers each finish in turn.
How Do You Clean an Acrylic Glass Print?
The acrylic glass finish is face mounted behind a sheet of high gloss acrylic. The surface is beautiful and reflective, and it responds well to gentle cleaning.
For everyday dust: use a soft, dry microfibre cloth. Work in straight strokes across the surface rather than circular motions, which can cause fine swirl marks over time.
For smudges or fingerprints: dampen a clean microfibre cloth very lightly, wipe the mark in a straight stroke, then immediately buff the surface dry with a second dry cloth. You can also use an anti static spray or a cleaner formulated specifically for acrylic surfaces.
What to avoid on acrylic glass:
- Household glass cleaners that contain ammonia. Ammonia degrades acrylic over time and will cause crazing or cloudiness.
- Paper towels, rough cloths, or anything abrasive. Even light abrasion scratches acrylic and dulls the finish permanently.
- Spraying liquid directly onto the surface. Always apply to the cloth first.
How Do You Clean a Matte Alu-Dibond Print?
The matte alu-dibond finish is printed directly onto a rigid aluminium composite panel. The surface is reflection free, hard wearing, and very forgiving to clean.
For everyday dust: a soft, dry cloth is all you need. The matte surface does not attract as many fingerprints as gloss finishes and rarely needs more than a quick wipe.
For marks or dirt: use a barely damp cloth, wipe gently, then dry the area with a clean cloth. No special products are needed.
What to avoid on alu-dibond:
- Harsh solvents or chemical cleaners. They can strip or discolour the surface.
- Abrasive pads or rough cloths. The matte coating is hard wearing but not impervious to scratching under heavy abrasion.
- Soaking or saturating the surface with water. Damp means barely damp.
Where Should You Hang Your Print?
Both finishes will reward a considered choice of location.
Light: avoid walls that receive prolonged direct sunlight through the course of the day. A well lit room with natural or artificial ambient light is ideal. UV from sustained direct sun is the single biggest long term risk to any print surface, regardless of quality.
Humidity: both finishes are robust, but consistently damp environments such as bathrooms with poor ventilation or kitchens close to steam sources are best avoided. A stable, dry interior environment is best.
Temperature: ordinary room temperatures are fine. Avoid hanging directly above heat sources such as radiators, which can cause fluctuating conditions at the wall surface.
How Long Will a Fine Art Print Last?
Both finishes are made to archival standards and are built to last. The materials and processes used are chosen for longevity, and with reasonable care either finish should remain in outstanding condition for a very long time.
The most important things you can do are keep the print out of direct sunlight, hang it in a stable environment, and clean it gently and infrequently with the right cloth. Neither finish requires any specialist ongoing maintenance beyond that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a standard window cleaner on my acrylic glass print?
No. Standard window cleaners typically contain ammonia, which damages acrylic surfaces and causes cloudiness or crazing over time. Use a clean microfibre cloth, either dry or barely damp, or an anti static or acrylic specific cleaner instead.
Is the matte alu-dibond finish harder to keep clean than acrylic glass?
In practice it is easier. The reflection free matte surface does not show fingerprints or dust as readily as high gloss acrylic, and it cleans with nothing more than a soft, barely damp cloth. It is also more forgiving if touched during hanging.
Both finishes arrived ready to hang. Do they need any framing or extra protection?
No additional framing or glazing is needed. Both the acrylic glass and matte alu-dibond prints arrive complete and ready to hang straight from the packaging. The acrylic itself acts as the protective face; the alu-dibond panel is self contained and rigid. All you need is the right wall space.
