All About Photo Paper

In this modern world of digital cameras, digital photo albums, and digital everything else, it's easy to forget about the subtleties of printing hard copies of your photographs. While it used to be simple choosing the type of photo paper we wanted while getting our prints developed, now, we have a enormous selection of photo papers to choose from that can quickly become overwhelming.

Not to worry, for we've compiled a quick guide to some of the more popular paper types so that the next time you buy photo paper you'll know you're making the right choice.

Paper Basics

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. So regardless of what paper brand you choose, there are a few things you can look at that will help you determine how your prints will look in the end.

First, consider the thickness of the paper. A thicker paper will usually last longer and look better and will create less ink to bleed through to the back of the paper. In addition, the photo paper thickness is directly related to its caliper which is a measure of the paper's 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.

And lastly, you'll need to decide on the level of brightness of your photo paper. The brightness of a paper refers to how close a paper comes to "true white" and is measured on a scale from 1-100. The higher the brightness number, the more white the paper. But the best way to compare the brightness of different photo papers is to look at a few of them side by side.

Paper Finish

Photo paper comes in to finishes, glossy and matte. Although both glossy and matte have their pros and cons, it really comes down to personal choice.

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 usually thicker than glossy paper and dries more quickly, however some photographers feel that it shows lower contrast values. 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. This way you can see which one you personally prefer since there is no real technical reason for choosing one over the other.

Choosing a photo paper can be quite an ordeal. Between the various finishes, qualities, and manufacturers, finding something you like can seem like a real challenge. However, the best solution is to try out a couple of different kinds and see which one you like the best.

Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Shop online and see our selection of scrapbook picture frames in a variety of colors and sizes. Visit our website and see our selection of stained wood scrapbook picture frames online or call 1-800-780-0699.

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