![]() Whereas standard photo papers tend to have a plasticky feel and can be somewhat lacking in character, fine art papers are often based on cotton ‘rag’ and other premium fibers, and are created to the highest standards with specialist manufacturing processes. So-called ‘fine art’ media is available from printer manufacturers like Canon and Epson but also from specialist paper makers like Canson and Hahnemühle, who take papermaking to a more elevated level. The downside is that stability is less good over time, so they’re typically not used in archival and ‘fine art’ media.īecause the results are pretty much guaranteed when using own-brand inks and papers, many photographers don’t venture any further. Indeed, ultra-white papers sometimes include optical brighteners, similar to those used in laundry detergents, which react with UV light to give a super-bright appearance. It’s an important issue because different papers have varying whiteness and react with ink in different ways. ICC (International Color Consortium) profiles ensure that the right mix of inks is used to maximize color fidelity for any given own-brand paper with a particular ink set. The chemistry of the inks and papers are naturally formulated to work together. Using own-brand inks and photo papers from the likes of Canon and Epson, you can be assured of photo prints that should last a lifetime without fading. Are big-brand inks and papers the best for printing photos? However, note that glossy papers attract fingerprints more easily, and suffer more from glare in direct sunlight or bright lighting. Glossy papers work well with photographs with deep, rich colors, while matte paper is usually more suitable for black and white photos. Gloss differential can also be a problem, where areas of the print with a denser covering of ink look less glossy than areas with a relatively light covering. That’s because the pigments generally won’t be fully absorbed beneath the outer layer, which can give rise to ‘bronzing’, where the print looks blank and lifeless when viewed from certain angles. ![]() They’re also suitable for printing on glossy, semi-gloss and lustre photo papers but less ideal than dye-based inks. ![]() The larger molecules of the pigments are more robust and better suited to matte paper. Unlike dye-based inks, the pigments in these inks is suspended in the liquid rather than being dissolved. These are better suited to printers such as the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 and Epson SureColor P700 and SureColor P900, which use pigment-based inks. With matte photo papers, the ink is laid on the top-layer inkjet coating, rather than being absorbed beneath it. The water-based ink is fully absorbed beneath the top layer, enabling excellent uniformity with an entirely smooth finish. These are most ideal for use with photo printers like the Canon PIXMA PRO-200 and even general home printers, which use dye-based inks to generate photo output. The first includes glossy, semi-gloss and lustre papers, which have a protective, shiny top layer. Photo papers fall into two main categories. What are the different types of photo paper? Professional photographers often feel that printing their own images enables them to show their photos in the way they want them to be seen, rather than being at the mercy of random and possibly badly adjusted monitor screens, tablets and even smartphones, owned by their clients. For one thing, you maintain control over the whole process and, with a just little learning and maybe a bit of trial and error, you should be able to get fabulous results that are exactly as you want them. There’s also a lot to be said for creating your own prints with a high-quality photo printer instead of uploading your digital images to a lab. Should you print your own photos or send them to a lab? So whether you're using a regular office multi-function printer or a dedicated photo printer like the Epson XP-970, you will get much better results from selecting good quality photo paper. If you've ever tried to printing your photographs on normal office paper, you'll have seen that the results are quite disappointing. ![]() Photo paper is, quite simply, paper that's specially designed for printing photos on. Not sure what you're looking for when it comes to finding the best photo paper? To give you a better steer, here are some answers to common questions about buying the right photo papers and inks for your photography projects. Thin yet strong, this paper is suitable for photos, scrapbooks, presentations, certificates and other family printing needs. Koala isn't the best-known name in photo printing paper, but they deliver a good value product at an affordable price that's certainly good enough for home use.
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