Photographs are like preserving a moment for an eternity so that it can be cherished later. If you are planning to print your perfect shot at home, you can easily do it with the help of an avant-garde printer and a premium quality paper. Photographic photo papers like premium glossy paper or stain paper are exclusively designed to produce an amazing quality image in an effort to better reproduce the photographed object.
Well, the right paper will mark the difference between a good photograph and an exceptional one. The printing paper will dictate the outcome, and not to forget your printer and your skills. At the time of buying a photo printing paper, there are a number of aspects that need to be considered, as the wrong one can completely ruin your beautiful pictures.
The most significant thing here – do you want your images to have texture on the page? Do you want glossy paper or more of a matte feel? Stepping up to true photo-quality artwork needs quality photographic paper, which can be generally categorised into three categories.
- Resin-coated Photo Paper
- Matte Photo Paper
- High-gloss Photo Paper
- High-gloss Photo Paper
It feels more like a sheet of weighty stock matte paper rather than the actual photo paper. Generally speaking, it is a cheaper option than other premium inkjet papers available in the market, but it offers more colour vividness than matte photo sheet. If you are still not sure whether or not it is a good option to print pictures at home, exploring some more information can surely be a great help.
Advantages
- Semi-water resistant due to top coat
- Fast drying because ink settles in top layer
- Relatively cheaper
- Heavier stock makes it easier to handle
- Better brightness than matter photo paper
Disadvantages
- Produces faded pictures
- Not a good option for pigment ink
- Picture may lose sharpness due to ink bleed
2. Matte Photo Paper
This is one of the most popular papers used by a number of people willing to print pictures at home, but amazing ones. Matte paper is a well-suited option to those who want the widest viewing angles. But, not to miss that lack of glossy finish means that you are not going to get any glare. Hence, it is a perfect choice for white and black pictures or for a newspaper effect. If you want to print photographs for your album, you can go for a 4×6 matte photo paper. The finish of the paper majorly depends on the brand you choose. With that said, you need to understand its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
- Compatible with a variety of printer and large pigment molecules will be directly absorbed into paper.
- Quick-drying because ink absorbed into the paper pulp.
Disadvantages
- Prints will feel light due to a lack of a paper base.
- Paper is easy to tear and crinkle
- Less sharp images
3. Resin-Coated Photo Paper
Do you want to get the best quality photo printed at home? The ultimate solution to this is going for resin-coated photo paper. Perhaps, it is one of the most expensive sheets, but the results that you will fetch are beyond your expectation. This is out of the simplest reason that it offers your pictures a soul with high-quality colour finish and sharpness. That is tough to find in any other printing sheet, and it is better than premium glossy paper. Moreover, it is also waterproof which is like the icing on the cake. Let’s have a look at the advantages and disadvantages of using this paper.
Advantages
- High-quality vividness
- Waterproof
- Almost perfect saturation
- Resistant to tears and kinks
- Brighter white than matte photo paper
- Sharpest detail
Disadvantages
- Expensive in comparison to other paper
The other two types of papers are stain and luster that are quite popular among the professional photographers. But, you can also use them for outstanding printing results. When you talk about premium luster photo paper, it has a satin finish with a textured feel. In simple words, it has a delicate texture that makes your picture more special after printing.
Since photographs something that keep your memories alive, it means you can’t really make a mistake in selecting a premium inkjet paper. You don’t want to mess up with your memories. Do you? So, be a smart buyer, and opt for a reputable online store offering different printing papers, ink cartilages, ink refill tools and accessories, etc. All the best!