Printer Photo Paper

For home photo printing, one of the most important choices you can make is the type of photo paper to use. The media on which you print makes a huge difference to the quality of the final output, and if you’ve only ever tried printing out photos on cheap, standard A4 or similar, you’ll likely be quite shocked when you first see the difference.

There are quite a few technical terms around printer paper for photos, but none of it is too complicated. The two main types of paper for photography are matte and glossy, and the differences are what you’d expect from the names. Glossy paper has a shiny finish, and is best used for prints you want to have plenty of pop, with punchy and vivid colours.

Photo Paper

There are also different types of glossy paper – you’ll see some referred to as lustre or semi-glossy papers, which have a slightly less reflective finish. While you don’t quite get the same pop and vibrancy as you do from glossy paper, lustre is very resistant to fingerprints, and is also good for recreating natural skin tones.

Matte paper is non-reflective, with a flatter look, and is best for making naturalistic-looking prints with a more muted colour palette. Matte papers are also great for printing monochrome images for this reason. Producing a more understated look with reduced glare, matte prints are great for hanging in a room with overhead lighting.

Matte papers are also more suited to printers that use pigment-based inks, while glossy papers will do best with printers that use dye-based inks. Check with your printer manufacturer if you’re unsure which you have.

You’ll see some photo papers referred to by their “GSM” value. This stands for grams per square metre, and refers to the thickness and weight of the paper. Choosing lighter weight paper with a GSM of around 120 to 150 is a good idea if you’re going to be printing in large volumes, as this stock will be more affordable. However, if you are printing with an eye to maximising image quality, it’s a good idea to get a thicker paper with a GSM of more than 200, or even more than 300. This will make for a durable print that will stand the test of time – though it is worth checking before you buy that your printer is capable of handling paper of this thickness (the manual should tell you).

Some photo paper is resin-coated, which means it’s been covered with a thin layer of plastic resin on either side. This makes the paper much more resistant to water damage and generally more durable – some are also treated to be UV-resistant, which can help to prevent fade over time.

While prints made on real photo paper tend to be long-lasting, there are a few things you can do to ensure your prints look great for years to come. Storing prints out of direct sunlight is a good way to combat fade, and keeping them cool and dry is also highly recommended. It’s best to avoid touching the surface of your print as much as possible to prevent fingerprints and other undesirable marks.

View Our Awards »