Photo Slates

Wholesale photo slate blanks, sold by the case. Slate is the substrate people pick when they want a photo to look like an object rather than a print. Real stone, irregular natural edges, and enough weight that it feels like it cost more than it did.

Eleven sizes and finishes from a 5.85 in square up to 11.7 in, in both matte and glossy.

What's in this collection

• Squares at 5.85 in, 7.2 in and 11.7 in, in matte and glossy
• Rectangles at 7.2 x 5.82, 8.58 x 4.68, 5 x 11, 7.2 x 11.7 and 7.87 x 11.7 in
• 9 to 40 per case depending on size, one case minimum

Matte or glossy slate

Matte is the traditional slate look: soft, absorbent, stone first. Glossy holds more color saturation and reads closer to a photographic print while keeping the stone edge. If you sell memorial and remembrance work, matte tends to suit better. If you sell landscape and travel photography, glossy holds the colors.

Every piece is different

Slate edges are natural, so no two pieces are identical. That is a selling point, not a defect, but say it in your listing before a customer treats it as one.

Read the ORCA Coatings guide.

ORCA Coatings® is a registered trademark of Photo USA Corp, coating sublimation blanks in Fremont, CA since 1992. Ships from our Fremont, CA and Kentucky warehouses.

Frequently asked questions

What sizes of photo slate do you stock?

Squares at 5.85 in, 7.2 in and 11.7 in, and rectangles at 7.2 x 5.82, 8.58 x 4.68, 5 x 11, 7.2 x 11.7 and 7.87 x 11.7 in. Most sizes come in both matte and glossy.

How many slates come in a case?

40 for the small square, 20 for most mid sizes, 28 for the 7.2 x 5.82 and only 9 for the large 11.7 in square. Cases currently run from about $92 to $157.

What is the difference between matte and glossy slate?

Matte is the traditional stone look, soft and absorbent. Glossy holds more color saturation and reads closer to a photographic print while keeping the natural stone edge. Matte suits memorial work, glossy suits landscape and travel imagery.

Will images look darker on slate?

Slightly, on matte especially, because the stone surface absorbs more than a gloss ceramic tile. High contrast images hold up better than subtle low contrast ones. Test one piece from every new case.

Are the edges the same on every piece?

No. Slate edges are natural and irregular, so every piece is slightly different. Say so in your listing, because it is a selling point that gets mistaken for a defect.

Do slates include a stand?

This varies by model and is stated in each product description. Confirm before quoting a finished display piece.