Photo Paper - The Basics You Should Know
However don"t worry because here you"ll discover some tips to choosing the right photo paper so you"ll always know what type of paper is best for you.The Basics of Photo Paper
When buying photo paper, the first thing you should consider is how you want your pictures to look. Various manufacturers make paper that is specifically created for inkjet photo printers, but they vary in quality, material, and price. No matter what brand the paper, there are a few things you can look at that will give you an idea of how your images will turn out.
First, consider the thickness of the paper. Thick paper will show less bleed-through and will generally lend itself to longer lasting and better looking prints. Additionally, the thickness of a piece of photo paper is directly related to its caliper, which measures its ability to absorb ink. Because photos require lots of ink, a higher caliper will be necessary to ensure the image is completely absorbed.
Another important note that the "quick dry" papers that are highly porous are more convenient to use however, the composition of the paper will cause your pictures to fade faster over time. Try to use non-porous photo paper whenever possible if you want your photographs to last years into the future.
Finally, you will need to decide on the brightness of your photo paper. Brightness describes how close to true white a paper comes, and is measured on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the brightness number, the more white the paper. Of course, the best way to compare the brightness of photo papers is to look at a few of them on a table together.
The Type of Photo Paper Finish
Photo paper comes in two main types of finish ð€“ glossy or matte. While both types have their relative advantages and disadvantages, which you use is more a matter of personal choice than anything else.
Glossy paper is what most people are used to see from their local photo shop. This paper will be highly reflective and shiny and may take longer to dry than matte prints due to its glossy coating. Glossy paper will normally have one printable side, and one side without a coating.
Matte paper will make photographs look smooth and doesn"t reflect light. Matte paper is normally thicker than glossy and dries faster. This paper will also frequently feature dual-sided printing capabilities.
The best way to choose between glossy and matte paper is to pick up a couple of 25 sheet packs from your local photo supply store and try printing on both. Since there is no real technical superiority that would put using one over the other, use whatever works best for you.
Choosing a photo paper can seem like quite a challenge. Deciding between the different finishes, qualities and manufacturers can seem hard to do with so many choices. However, the best solution is to try out a couple of different kinds and see which one you like the best.