Printage offers a wide range of customizable, traditional photo printing services on materials like canvas, photo paper, and posters, ideal for permanent, gallery-style displays. In contrast, Mixtiles focuses on a single product: lightweight, stick-on photo tiles that can be easily repositioned, catering to modern decor styles and renters who need a damage-free solution.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right photo printing service for your walls.
Printage: The Customizable, High-Quality Print Shop
Printage is a versatile online printing service for anyone wanting professional-grade photo products beyond standard prints. It targets customers aiming to create sophisticated, long-lasting wall art, from statement canvas pieces to custom-framed photos. Their strength lies in providing a breadth of options to match diverse interior design styles and personal preferences, all at an accessible price point.
- Product mix: A comprehensive selection of customizable products, including canvas prints, framed photos, posters, and simple photo tiles.
- Style/vibe: Traditional, versatile, and classic. The various framing and finish options allow their products to fit seamlessly into classic, modern, farmhouse, or eclectic interiors.
- Price point: Very budget-friendly. A 16x20 inch canvas print often starts in the $30–$50 range, with costs adjusting based on framing and other custom finishes.
- Quality: Prints are known for sharp detail and vibrant, accurate colors. They use high-quality photo paper and archival-grade canvas materials designed to resist fading, with sturdy wood and metal frame options.
- Dimensions/Sizing: Highly flexible sizing, with standard options from small 8x10 inch prints to large 24x36 inch formats, as well as custom-size availability.
- Shopping Experience: Features a straightforward website with a user-friendly design tool for uploading images, selecting formats, and previewing the final product.
- Sustainability: Uses recycled materials for packaging and provides options for environmentally friendly inks and paper types to reduce its carbon footprint.
Printage is the best option for those wanting permanent, professional-looking wall art with total control over size, material, and framing.
Shop Printage: printage.com
Mixtiles: The Modern, Stick-On Photo Tile Solution
Mixtiles simplified wall art by creating one core product: stylish, frameless photo tiles that stick directly to the wall. Their key appeal is convenience and damage-free hanging, which makes them perfect for renters, dorm rooms, or anyone who enjoys frequently changing their decor. The entire experience, from the app-based ordering to the peel-and-stick installation, is designed to be effortless and fun.
- Product mix: Focused primarily on its signature repositionable stick-on photo tiles.
- Style/vibe: Sleek, minimalist, and contemporary. The uniform, frameless look creates a clean, modern photo grid that complements current design trends.
- Price point: Mid-range, with pricing based on quantity. Individual tiles are around $25–$30, while a larger set of nine tiles comes in at about $225, often with free shipping.
- Quality: Photos are printed on a lightweight, durable foam core with a matte finish that resists glare and fading. The adhesive is designed to hold securely while allowing for clean removal and repositioning.
- Dimensions/Sizing: Tiles come in uniform sizes, typically 12x12 inches, making them easy to arrange in consistent grid patterns for a cohesive gallery wall.
- Installation: Arrives ready to hang with no tools required. You simply peel off the backing and stick the tile to the wall, making installation take only seconds.
- Sustainability: The reusability of the tiles helps reduce waste, and their lightweight construction reduces shipping emissions.
Mixtiles delivers a quick and stylish wall art solution for modern homes, prioritizing effortless installation and flexibility over classic customization.
Shop Mixtiles: mixtiles.com
Printage vs. Mixtiles Comparison
Price Comparison
Financially, these two brands serve different budgets. Printage is generally the more cost-effective choice for singular, large-format prints. A sizable 16x20 canvas can cost less than $50, making it an excellent value for creating a statement piece without a major investment. The price adapts based on your choices for framing and materials, keeping you in control of the final cost.
Mixtiles operates on a per-tile price model. At around $25–$30 per tile, a grid of nine can cost over $200. While the cost per square inch may be higher than Printage, the price includes the entire mounting system built in - no need to buy frames, hooks, or nails. The value comes from the convenience, reusability, and renter-friendly design.
Style & Aesthetic
Printage offers a timeless and customizable aesthetic. With options for wood frames, metallic finishes, and classic canvas wraps, their products can be tailored to match a wide range of interior styles, from a formal living room to a cozy bedroom. It's the go-to for someone who wants their photos to look like professionally curated art.
Mixtiles has a distinctively modern and minimalist look. The uniform, frameless squares create a clean grid that feels contemporary and organized. This polished aesthetic is ideal for modern, Scandinavian, or minimalist decor styles, where clean lines and simplicity are key. It’s less versatile than Printage but executes its signature style perfectly.
Quality & Materials
Printage focuses on traditional, long-lasting materials. Their use of archival-grade canvas, high-quality photo papers, and sturdy wood or metal frames ensures durability and protects the artwork for years. This approach is geared towards creating heirlooms or permanent fixtures in a home.
Mixtiles engineers its products for lightness and reusability. The photo is printed on a lightweight foam core, creating a tile that is durable enough to be handled and moved but light enough to hang securely with adhesive. While durable for their intended use, they are not designed with the same archival permanence as a professionally framed print from Printage.
Product Selection & Sizing
Product variety is a major point of difference. Printage gives you a full menu of options: canvases, framed prints, posters, and simple prints in a massive range of standard and custom sizes. This flexibility allows you to find the perfect piece to fit a specific nook or cover a large, empty wall.
Mixtiles focuses on perfecting one product: the photo tile. Available in a few uniform sizes like 12x12 inches, its system is based on modularity rather than customization. This simplicity streamlines the design process, making it fast and foolproof to build a gallery wall that looks cohesive.
Shopping Experience & Installation
The ordering process at Printage is a familiar e-commerce experience. You upload your photo, use their tools to crop it and select your specifications, and add it to your cart. Installation requires standard tools - a hammer, nails, and a level - just as any framed art would.
Mixtiles revolutionizes the installation process. Ordering is often done through a simple app, and the tiles arrive ready to hang. Installation is as easy as peel and stick, with no tools, measuring, or wall damage. For renters or anyone hesitant to put holes in their walls, Mixtiles offers a clear and significant advantage.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice comes down to your decor style, how you plan to use the photos, and whether you rent or own your space.
Choose Printage if:
- You want a classic, timeless look with custom frames or a large canvas.
- You need a specific or extra-large size to fit your wall space.
- You are creating a permanent art display in your home.
- Getting the lowest price for a single, large-scale print is your top priority.
Choose Mixtiles if:
- You are renting your home or can't put nails in the walls.
- You exclusively love a modern, clean, and minimalist aesthetic.
- You want the freedom to easily change, rearrange, or add to your photo display.
- Convenience is key - you want to order easily and hang your photos in minutes, without any tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Printage or Mixtiles cheaper?
For a single large print like a poster or canvas, Printage is almost always cheaper. However, Mixtiles' pricing includes an all-in-one, ready-to-hang system, which can be a better value if you factor in the cost and effort of framing a Printage print yourself.
Which has better quality furniture?
Both offer excellent print quality, but they focus on different materials. Printage offers high-end, archival-quality materials like canvas and acid-free papers for maximum longevity. Mixtiles prioritizes a lightweight, durable build that can withstand being moved and re-stuck multiple times.
Can you return decor to both stores?
Mixtiles is known for a flexible and customer-friendly return or replacement policy, especially for orders that arrive damaged or do not meet expectations. Printage also typically accepts returns for quality issues or shipping damage, though policies may be stricter for custom-sized items, as is standard for personalized products.
Is Mixtiles really damage-free for walls?
Yes, Mixtiles are designed with a special adhesive that sticks securely to most common wall surfaces (like painted drywall) but can be removed cleanly without peeling paint or leaving residue. This makes them an ideal solution for renters.
Which is better for a traditional home?
Printage is the clear choice for a traditional home. Its wide selection of canvas wraps and classic wood or metal frames will blend much more seamlessly with traditional, classic, or eclectic decor than the modern, uniform look of Mixtiles.
Do I need tools to hang Mixtiles?
No, and that's their biggest selling point. Mixtiles are designed to be hung tool-free. Each tile has adhesive on the back, you just peel the protective paper off and press the tile to the wall.
Can I order different frame styles with Mixtiles?
No, Mixtiles are frameless by design to achieve their signature minimalist look. If you want framing options, Printage provides a variety of styles and materials to choose from.
Can I mix and match different sizes with Mixtiles?
Generally, Mixtiles come in uniform square sizes to maintain a clean, grid-like appearance for gallery walls. If your goal is to mix and match various print sizes and shapes, Printage's customizable sizing makes it the better option.
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