Showing posts with label Photo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Photo. Show all posts

Friday, July 22, 2011

Finding the Right 36 Photo Paper


There are a lot of different paper types out there to choose from, and it can make a significant difference to your project what type of paper you use. Similarly, the type of paper you use will largely determine the quality of your finished project.

Now, I know what most of you out there are thinking. You're thinking, "Paper? Really? Can it possibly matter what kind of paper I'm using?" And the answer is, absolutely. The type of paper you're using can completely change your end result.

Take photography, for example. If you're using a nice satin photo paper to print off your grandchild's graduation pictures, you're going to come out with a nice, glossy finish that looks professional. It'll last longer, because the paper is made acid-free, and a good satin photo paper will also be water and smudge resistant. In short, your photo will look professional, provided your camera is capable of producing high-quality pictures.

If you're using a simple copy paper, however, those same graduation pictures won't look the same. Yes, you'll still be able to see your granddaughter's huge smile (and goofy-looking graduation robes,) but the colors will be faded, and the lines will be a little blurry. That's because copy paper simply isn't designed to hold ink like photo paper is. When you're using photo paper, you're using a product that's designed to have photos printed onto it. You're using the best medium you can. But if you're just using copy paper, it'll be saturated with ink and the colors will bleed together. The colors won't be as vibrant, and you won't get a glossy finish. In fact, because of how ink-soaked the paper will be, it won't last very long at all until that sheet of paper smudges, smears, and fades.

Work projects can be another time when your choice of paper is important. 36 paper, for instance, is useful in the workplace because it's sold in a long roll. 36 photo paper is a roll of photo paper 36 inches across, usually sold in rolls of 100 feet. This makes 36 paper especially useful in printing banners and signs. While this does mean your company is going to need the equipment necessary in order to use this type of paper, it can make things much easier for a big company or corporation, because it allows you to print off its own signs and banners, without having to outsource that to another company. While satin photo paper helps you print personal photos at a high quality, 36 photo paper helps your company to stay a little more self-reliant by allowing you to do your own quality printing.




Finding the right type of Old Paper can be difficult. Find free tips and advice on all paper products including Satin Photo Paper right here.





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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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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

How to Choose Photo Paper For Your Business


Office supply and in particular photo paper is considered a significant expense for many businesses. Therefore it is important to choose the right photo paper, avoid selection mistakes and save where possible. When choosing this product for your business, here is what to look for.

1. Look at printer compatibilities - The first and most basic compatibility check is based on the technology of the printer. Laser-jet printers require laser paper, whereas Ink-jet printers requires Inkjet papers. Next you would need to ensure that the paper is compatible with your brand of printer. For example, HP printers work with HP papers, but will also work with other types of paper manufactures. Check that the paper will work with your brand of printer, specific model, and do not worry about buying generic papers if you found a good deal.

2. Pay attention to weight - Inkjet photo papers in particular are normally measured in GSM which is Grammes per Square Metre. You will not be able to see this measurement when looking at the paper, instead you can feel different in GSM by sensing the thickness and/or the stiffness of the paper. Make sure the weight of the paper is suitable for your printing needs. It is true that higher weight normally suggests better quality, but as you will read further down, you need to consider what the paper will be used for.

3. Consider its uses - As you already now, Inkjet papers are measured in GSM. The higher the GSM is, the heavier the paper is and its orientation becomes more professional. If the paper will be used to print office charts, it is likely that you will only need a low GSM weight paper, perhaps just a coated paper. However, if you are looking to print documents and photos which you would like to keep for many years (due to legal requirements for example), you will need a high weight GSM paper with archival properties.

4. Buy smart and save - Now that you found the type of paper most suitable for your needs and compatible with your printer, let's look at where you could save. Photo paper is a type of product which you could safely purchase online where the prices are normally more competitive compared to your local store. You can save even further if you purchase in bulk. Buying more than one pack at a time will reduce the price of each pack and will also help ensure you have it when you need it. Lastly, look at generic photo paper brands as well as the major brands. For example, Archival photo paper is available from major brands, but also as a generic paper at a much lower cost.




Photo Paper Direct offers high quality archival photo paper and many more types of paper.





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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Revolution of Epson Photo Glossy Papers


There are a wide range of photo papers available out there but nothing is more unique and valuable than Epson at all because they are one of the most innovatory products in the international market in most recent times. They are very vibrant, dazzling, supple and long-lasting sheets. When it comes to the prices, these are very reasonably priced. The matte papers from Epson are available in many unique colors, designs, sizes and shapes, catching your eyes beyond your imaginations. Generally glossy Epson papers are the blend of four distinctive colors i.e. cyan, magenta, yellow and black. More stunningly, glossy papers from Epson are ideal products for digital photography and fine art prints. Company offers the best matte Epson paper solutions to its valued customers worldwide in a most efficient and dedicated manner.

Usually matte papers from Epson are made from unique tools and techniques innovatively. That is why this quality of sheets is time and again called as uniform glossy paper. They are very sizzling, spotless, dynamic and compelling matte papers. When it comes to their sizes, your own Epson photo papers are as elegant and graceful papers as ever you wished. That is why they would absolutely suit to all your needs and styles for all time. Talking about purchasing of your own Epson glossy photo papers, you can buy them from your own professional glossy papers shop at bulk quantity within most inexpensive price rates. Owing to its matte nature, this matte paper has therefore made its own worth renowned globally. Company offers full color Epson glossy papers to its most valuable customers worldwide.

Plenty of businesses as well as corporate industries have been bound to make use of Epson photo papers for fulfilling their own needs and desires practically. It involves many actors like corporate organizations, NGOs, fashion industry, music industry, sports companies, film industries, publishing industry, books market, photo shops, advertising agencies, printing industry, and so on. So if you want to pay money for your own Epson roll, you have to make a good research on it on the internet so that you may be efficiently able to fulfill your modern day needs and desires in style. Secondly you should read various articles on Epson photo paper glossy on the internet so that you may be capably able to get the best matte papers from your own papers company online.

Finally glossy Epson photo papers are very stunning looking papers since they are the combination of full color CMYK/PMS (Pantone Matching System) printing process. More stunningly, cheap Epson photo papersare very useful papers as they boost up your business image promptly. Therefore if you need any assistance regarding theEpson photo matte papers, please feel free to contact us online. We shall provide you the best Epson photo paper solutions worldwide in a most professional and dedicated manner.

Certainly Epson photo paper is your most affordable quality paper which can help you to increase your business identity on the dot. That is why company offers you cheap Epson photo papers service globally.




Fatima Ali is a professional content writer who writes content for ValueShop, a top rated online provider of Epson Photo Paper and other supplies. Nowadays, Fatima is busy in writing fresh content about inkjet paper.





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Sunday, July 17, 2011

When to Use Matte Photo Paper


When I first started to do printing I did not know whether to use matte photo paper or another style. It seems like there used to be easy choice with only a couple different paper choices to pick from. These days there is a wide range of photo paper but let us take a moment to look at Matte photo paper and see how it can be.

If the goal of your printing is to take the photos from your digital camera and print them out in a high quality manner, then you do not want to use matte paper. Matte is good for a lot of different things but printing for photos is not one of them. Typically you are going to want to use a glossy or high gloss photo paper to print photography pictures.

Matte paper is more suitable for printing that is text related. This means if you are printing off a short story or essay for school, that matte photo paper would be ideal. The reason it is so good for tax is that matte paper is less shiny and produces much less glare then glossy paper. This means it is much easier to read text and graphics, but is not very suitable printing pictures.

There is an in between style of paper called semi matte which is also referred to often as silk photo paper. This can be a great choice if your goal is to buy one style of paper in bulk and try to get a better value for your money. Silk paper has the ability to be used for printing photos as well as looking good for text. It will never produce as high quality of a photo image as the glossy paper would, but you will still be able to create a good look with your photos. Similarly, silk photo paper does have a little gloss to it which means there is a little bit more glare in shininess and text will be not quite as easy to read as it would be with full matte paper.

Overall it really depends on your printing needs and your budget for photo paper. It is always a good idea to use the sample paper that came with your printer to understand how the different styles of paper affect the final product. This way you can get a great idea of how glossy paper and matte paper differ in their look, and be able to make a better decision as to what kind of paper fits your personal needs.

One interesting tidbit to keep in mind is that am glossy prints while looking and feeling different will display a similar result if they are placed under glass. This means you can use either style of paper to get the same result, so it is worthwhile to find out what is the least expensive style of paper if you know that the end result is going to be placed under glass.

As you can see matte photo paper has an important use when it comes to your printing needs. Make sure to print a few different examples on the various styles of paper to find out what works best for you.




James provides information about matte photo paper through his website on photo paper.



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Saturday, July 16, 2011

Photo Paper - Glossy Versus Matte


How do you figure out which type of photo paper to use when printing your photographs? The differences between glossy and non-glossy, or matte, photo paper may appear to be obvious. But, there are some less obvious differences to consider when choosing your paper. And, there is a less known photo paper choice available to you which is known as semi-gloss, or satin finish, photographic paper.

Glossy photographic paper is the type we see most often in modern times. Usually, this kind of paper appears to be higher in quality and the photographs are more appealing to the eye. This is due to several reasons.

First, glossy photographic paper looks shiny. Matte paper does not have a shiny surface. Second, the glossy version has a vibrant color quality whereas on matte paper colors appear dull. Finally, the glossy reflects light well while matte paper doesn't reflect light.

As you can see, it is generally better to use glossy paper for your photos rather than non-glossy paper. However, be aware that there are some problems that may occur when using glossy paper. For example, photos tend to accumulate dirt and fingerprints more readily on glossy paper than on matte photo paper.

One other problem that arises with glossy photos is that they are difficult to view properly under strong light. In contrast, photos printed on non-glossy paper are easy to see in almost all light conditions.

One other thing to consider when choosing paper is whether you are printing color or black and white photographs. Often black and white photos will look better on matte photo paper because it captures that old world feel.

As noted above, there is one final photo paper choice known as semi-gloss or satin finish paper. It provides a sort of middle ground between glossy and matte paper. The paper surface is not as shiny as glossy paper but isn't quite as dull as matte paper. Colors are rich, vibrant, and very appealing to the viewer. Unlike the glossy type, the semi-gloss paper is easier to see under strong light. It also doesn't picking up as much dirt as the glossy version.




Learn more about Glossy Photo Paper at Photo Paper Pro.



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Thursday, July 14, 2011

Getting Technical With Inkjet Photo Papers


There has always been some confusion as what can be called inkjet photo papers. At times we hear that from our customers and we often read it online. Some papers are described as photo quality papers others as photo papers and some as premium photo paper etc. In this article we intend to get technical and highlight the different qualities of the papers with the distinguishing characteristics. Once you have this information at hand, the choice of which paper to buy should be easier.

There are 4 main types of papers: 

The Very Basic Bond Papers: This paper is normally packed in reams of 500 sheets in a paper wrapping. The paper is normally between 80-100 gsm (grams per square metre). This type of paper is universal for both laser and inkjet printing and not suitable for inkjet quality image printing, however for letters and other office document printing it makes a wise economical choice.

Matt Coated Paper: This paper is a bond paper with a top matt coating (normally on one side only) to accommodate the ink droplet and to enhance the colour of the image.  Inkjet Matt Coated papers are between 90-200gsm and in some cases even more which may cause some problems in feeding with some desktop inkjet printers. The matt coated papers will result in a nice matt image, however still not up to standard when a photographic image is required. Coated papers are mainly used for low cost printing of images, graphics, charts and are ideal for economical professional presentations.

Photo Gloss Instant Dry (Cast Coated): The most common photo paper in the market and being sold in all  the major high street chains and websites. The instant dry (or some will skip the word; instant) is a paper with a gloss coating which is normally coated with a technology called; Cast Coating. This technology which initially started in Japan spread quickly to Europe, China, Korea and Taiwan. There are different qualities of cast coated papers and it is due to the based paper, however more due to the coating. This can be measured by vibrancy of colours, colour gamut (the ability to have all tones and sub tones of colour shown clearly on the paper) and bleeding (amount of ink the paper can handle with out colours bleeding one into the other). Because of the paper properties, Instant Dry with its low glare is ideal for outstanding photo prints and high quality presentations

Photo Microporous Premium Paper: This paper can produced in gloss or satin (semi-gloss) finish.  Normally, produced in high grad based paper of around 250gsm and more. The Microporous coating known to be the highest quality coating and use a base paper which is coated with a polypropylene resin on both sides to create stability and act as a barrier for the ink not to be absorbed into the paper. By that, preventing cockling (waves) and increase the longevity of the image. This paper, as well as, having a better image and colour definition is ideal for high quality professional photo prints. It is important to mention that there are many different types of Microporous photo papers in the market and they vary qualities.                     




Joseph is the founder of Photo Paper Direct, an inkjet consumables store selling photo paper and Inkjet Ink Cartridges.



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Saturday, July 9, 2011

How Photo Paper Works


A piece of paper is a rolled-out mix of wood pulp and cloth, right? And photo paper is wood pulp and cloth with varnish on top. Yet, printer and ink makers try and tell us ink and paper form a 'technology system' which governs the look and quality of our photos. Surely they're just trying to justify the prices they charge?

Actually, having been around paper plants and into ink research labs, a lot of what they say is true. Inks and papers are developed together, so that a particular ink, which may work reasonably on a wide range of different papers, will work best on the paper it was designed to be used with.

Better means:


brighter colours
less spread of ink dots
faster drying time
better light resistance
better ozone resistance


Just about all the things you and I value in a photo. Inks look as if they might have a fair amount of chemistry involved in making them, but it's often harder to appreciate the role the paper plays. We're used to reading and using all kinds of paper day-to-day, so the idea of one which is a composite of lots of different materials and built up in layers to try and get the best of all worlds may need some explanation.

Plain paper

Plain paper used for office printing is generally made from straight wood pulp. If you look at a sheet of plain paper under a magnifying glass, even under a low magnification loupe, you can see the minute fibres of which it's made. Any liquid ink, such as most inkjet inks, is likely to soak in between and along these fibres.

It's important to realize that inkjet inks are composed of two parts: the colourant and the carrier. The colourant is the particles of dye or pigment which make up the text or picture you're printing, while the carrier is the liquid in which the colourant is suspended. These days the carrier is usually water, but it can be a solvent for specialist applications.

The key characteristics of dyes and pigments make them suitable for different uses. Dye molecules are normally around 2nm in size, so small they can easily fall between the fibres of the paper and soak into it, along with the carrier. Pigments are around 50nm to 150nm and are more likely to sit on the surface of the paper. Because of their size, pigments are also more resistant to ultraviolet light attack, the main mechanism by which inks fade over time. So why don't all ink makers use pigments?

Pigments don't normally give such vibrant colours as dyes, and this has to be balanced against their robustness. Using pigments on plain paper, though, where most people will be printing black text, makes a lot of sense. That's why many inkjet printer makers now include two black inks: a pigmented ink for printing black text on plain paper and a dye-based one for mixing with the coloured inks when printing photos. You can't easily mix dye and pigment inks in the same print.

Coated paper

The main reason for applying coatings to papers is to improve the way the ink settles on them and to help it resist fading. It also reduces drying time, when printing images which take a lot of ink. Even so, the simplest of coatings still produces paper poorly suited for photographic images.

Many 'inkjet' papers have a simple coating which makes them better than photocopier stock for printing day-to-day text and graphics, because there's less chance of the ink soaking into the paper fibres and giving a fuzzy or 'feathered' look. These papers often have improved brightness, too, which gives higher contrast with black ink.

Photo papers

To get the best out of an inkjet photo print, you need to increase the number of layers and introduce specialist coatings to handle particular aspects of the printing process. A modern photo paper may well have seven or more different layers to provide, among other things: a gloss finish, protection from UV and ozone, absorption of the carrier, improved drying time and resistance to sticking, one sheet on another.

Within the general category of photo papers, there are two distinct types: swellable and porous. Swellable coatings do actually swell. The surface coating gets thicker as the carrier and the ink soaks into it.

The idea is that the ink is sucked into the paper, which gives it extra protection from light and gas attack. As you might guess, if you took in the difference between dyes and pigments, swellable paper is best suited to dye-based inks, but even with dyes, you shouldn't expect prints to be dry enough to handle safely until about an hour after printing. They can take over a day to dry completely.

Porous paper, on the other hand, works better with pigmented ink, as it's designed to let the ink carrier soak into the paper and leave its payload of pigment on the surface. Because most of the liquid carrier soaks away fast into the porous sub-layers, images printed on porous paper are usually touch dry within a second or so and completely dry in a few hours.

Some photo papers also have deliberately rough back-coatings. This is so that when you're printing several photographs in a batch, each new print to leave the printer doesn't stick to the one below in the output tray, which may not have finished drying.

As with most technologies, things are not cut and dried and by varying the constituents of the different layers in a photo paper you can make a sheet which is supremely good at working with dye-based inks or one which is ideal for pigments.

In between, it's possible to make a paper which is better than reasonable for both and this is why you'll find papers which claim to be suitable for all the major brands of inkjet printer, even when some traditionally use dyes, while others rely on pigments. It doesn't invalidate what the ink and paper makers tell you, but simply proves that compromise still has benefits.




John Sollars is the Owner and Managing Director of http://www.Stinkyink.Com a website specializing in Printer Consumables. Having been selling online since 2002 he brings a wealth of online experience to internet sales and marketing.



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