A few weeks back, we received a package from Displate containing their new Textra poster. As our first Displate, we weren’t able to immediately make a definitive review of the product. That’s why we also ordered a Displate Matte and Displate Glossy Metal Posters, so we could make a comparison, before we made our Displate Textra Review.
Granted, the Textra already speaks for itself, but having the Matte and Glossy ones placed next to it just made it stand out even more. In our Displate Textra Review, we talk about just how much better the Textra poster is compared not only to your regular poster, but also to the regular glossy and matte finishes that were originally offered.
Displate Textra Review: What is Displate Textra
But before we head to our review proper, it’s worth re-introducing Textra. What is this product anyway?
Let’s start with the basics. Displate is a brand of metal posters that features thousands of artworks across hundreds of video game and entertainment IPs, all officially licensed by the IP owners. From TV shows to sports teams and your favorite video game series, you’ll find a design featuring amazing art. Including user-created designs, there are millions of artworks to choose from.
These posters are naturally much more sturdy than your regular poster, with metal being more resilient than paper. It also means you don’t need to protect it with a frame. You just hang it on the wall, and that’s it.
Speaking of hanging Displate on your wall, installation is also easy and hassle-free. You peel a piece of sticker paper, stick it to your wall, place an accompanying magnet against it, and then place your metal poster over it. It’ll stay put there for as long as the wall is there.
That said, this kind of installation also makes it easy to swap Displates around. If you own multiple posters, you can just replace one with another easily. Just remove the poster and replace it with another one. No need to reapply the sticker to the wall or change the magnet.
Initially, Displate came in both matte and glossy finishes. But now, we also have the new Textra variant for select designs, with over 250 designs to choose from. What’s different with this new variant is its texture and embossed look. The added texture gives the artwork more depth. Light reflects differently, and some shadows cast so faintly at the edge of the designs make the art pop out.
Textra vs. Matte vs. Gloss
When I received the Textra, it was immediately apparent how much more appeal it has compared to your regular poster. It’s shiny, and looking at it up close will reveal how intricate designs and details pop out thanks to the extra texture that the poster has. However, it was hard to discern just how big of an upgrade it was compared to the usual Displate products. So I ordered two more.
The Displate Matte finish was satisfying to look at. The finish is great and is good to the touch, and the quality of the print is spectacular. However, this kind of finish will require a good amount of lighting. It’s easy to get overshadowed, and its appearance isn’t so different from a paper poster when seen from afar.
The Displate Glossy finish was a bit more shiny. I prefer the feel to the touch of the Matte finish, but the quality of the print is equally good. The Glossy poster stands out more compared to the Matte version. Its appearance is similar to a framed poster. That also means having a light source directly pointed at it will introduce glare and reflect light back to the viewer.
Thankfully, the Displate Textra gives you all the best features of both the Matte and Glossy finishes in one. It is shiny, it’s nice to touch, and its texture adds to the depth of the artwork. The excellent print quality makes sure that all the grooves and curves etched unto the metal is accurately placed according to the design.
Currently, the Displate Textra only has two downsides. It’s only available to a few hundred designs and only for the M size, so it’s not applicable to every artwork you’d see in the online store. Second, it’s more expensive compared to the other two variants. The Textra goes for $69, while Matte and Glossy at the same price only go for $49 and $59 respectively.
Is the extra $10 worth it? Absolutely. The extra depth and the superior texture make it an undeniably better product. But, if you’re planning to buy multiple designs, the extra $10 apiece can be a dealbreaker for you.
To conclude this Displate Textra Review, I would have been happy with just the Displate Matte and Glossy had I been using Displate before, and wouldn’t have complained. But now that there’s also the Textra, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to Glossy. I might get the occasional Matte, but the Textra just outclasses the Glossy in every way.
You can order your very own Displate Textra at the Displate store, shipping to 52 countries worldwide. Don’t like the product? Ship the Displate back to them within 100 days and get a 100% refund, no questions asked.
