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What's the best paper for your ink-jet printer to use to print photographs?
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Dec 10, 2017 02:18:00   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
Some are coated ... others are flat ... which kind offers the best detail and contrast?

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Dec 10, 2017 03:21:50   #
Spiney Loc: Reading, PA
 
My best suggestion is to obtain or buy photo inkjet paper sample packs from the major manufacturers. Here in the U.S. a great bargain is a sample pack from Red River Papers for $12 USD. Similar packs may be available from Canon, Epson, Hammermule (sp?), & others.

You find 3-4 of your favorite photos lay them up all 4 on an 8x10 and print them on the different papers and choose what you think works best for your images. Red River includes Gloss, Semi Gloss, matte, metallic, and several other variations. I'm sure sitting here at 3:20am I'm missing many paper types.

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Dec 10, 2017 03:33:31   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
Spiney wrote:
My best suggestion is to obtain or buy photo inkjet paper sample packs from the major manufacturers. Here in the U.S. a great bargain is a sample pack from Red River Papers for $12 USD. Similar packs may be available from Canon, Epson, Hammermule (sp?), & others.

You find 3-4 of your favorite photos lay them up all 4 on an 8x10 and print them on the different papers and choose what you think works best for your images. Red River includes Gloss, Semi Gloss, matte, metallic, and several other variations. I'm sure sitting here at 3:20am I'm missing many paper types.
My best suggestion is to obtain or buy photo inkje... (show quote)


Never heard of Red River ... thanks, Spiney ... know Hammermill papers, though ... Canon papers probably work best on their BubbleJet Printers ....

I have an Epson ... maybe I'll just get THEIR sample pack ... thanks ... didn't think of that .... I'll look out for Red River, too, of course .... ta!!!

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Dec 10, 2017 03:46:09   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
Spiney wrote:
My best suggestion is to obtain or buy photo inkjet paper sample packs from the major manufacturers. Here in the U.S. a great bargain is a sample pack from Red River Papers for $12 USD. Similar packs may be available from Canon, Epson, Hammermule (sp?), & others.

You find 3-4 of your favorite photos lay them up all 4 on an 8x10 and print them on the different papers and choose what you think works best for your images. Red River includes Gloss, Semi Gloss, matte, metallic, and several other variations. I'm sure sitting here at 3:20am I'm missing many paper types.
My best suggestion is to obtain or buy photo inkje... (show quote)


Metallic sounds interesting ... maybe I'll just buy a ream of that .... thanks, Spiney ....

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Dec 10, 2017 05:02:49   #
Spiney Loc: Reading, PA
 
Redriverpaper.com Is their website.

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Dec 10, 2017 05:13:07   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Chris T wrote:
Some are coated ... others are flat ... which kind offers the best detail and contrast?


You usually get the best results with the least amount of effort using the manufacturer's paper. Epson and Canon offer a very wide range. Baryta paper, with it's barium sulphate layer, is generally considered to be a great choice for detail and contrast. Best detail and contrast is not always a goal. The subject material has a lot to do with what kind of paper you use.

Mfgr's paper usually don't need to be profiled, as long as your display is profiled. The printer driver will pick the right color profile, ink metering etc for the paper choice.

There are too many variables to say that any one paper is better than any other paper.

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Dec 10, 2017 05:50:07   #
Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA
 
I choose the paper type according to the image. Some print better on mat, some on glossy, some on metallic and some on semi-gloss or luster, linen, canvas, or rag. Red River has a beautiful pearl metallic paper. I use both Red River and Epson papers (have an Epson printer). The above suggestion of obtaining a variety of papers to start with is a good one. It took me a while to decide which type of image I prefer on which type of paper.

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Dec 10, 2017 06:03:16   #
tcthome Loc: NJ
 
Wanda Krack wrote:
I choose the paper type according to the image. Some print better on mat, some on glossy, some on metallic and some on semi-gloss or luster, linen, canvas, or rag. Red River has a beautiful pearl metallic paper. I use both Red River and Epson papers (have an Epson printer). The above suggestion of obtaining a variety of papers to start with is a good one. It took me a while to decide which type of image I prefer on which type of paper.


Can you give any examples for image type & the type of paper , say landscape , portrait , night , bright colors , B & W , etc. Thanks in advance!

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Dec 10, 2017 06:27:55   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Chris T wrote:
Some are coated ... others are flat ... which kind offers the best detail and contrast?


Do you mean glossy vs matte? For me, it depends, but I like glossy. As others have said, it's best to use the paper made by the printer maker.

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Dec 10, 2017 07:14:29   #
whwiden
 
Chris T wrote:
Some are coated ... others are flat ... which kind offers the best detail and contrast?


A glossy paper tends to appear sharper than a matte paper. My understanding is a resin coated or "RC" glossy paper is not archival, whereas some of the matte papers are archival, so over a longer time frame the glossy might fade and lose its crisp initial appearance. Some papers use optical brighteners to make the paper have a brighter white look. These are not good for archival properties but give the print more "pop" so perhaps enhance the appearance of contrast.

The glossy and semi glossy papers print with deeper blacks.

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Dec 10, 2017 07:40:18   #
Jrhoffman75 Loc: Conway, New Hampshire
 
Not Hammermill. Hahnemuehle.

Third party papers require downloading and installing ICC profiles to get the best quality. Since you are experimenting I suggest you use the paper from your printer manufacturer first.

You basically have gloss, semigloss and matte surfaces. Canon has a variation on those - there is a Platinum paper that is very glossy compared to some of their other glossy papers. Also a semigloss and Luster, which have slight difference in surface texture.

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Dec 10, 2017 08:06:38   #
JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco
 
Chris T wrote:
Some are coated ... others are flat ... which kind offers the best detail and contrast?


I have an Epson printer, and my favorite paper is their Epson Fiber Exhibition Paper. It has a very similar look and feel to the old air dried B&W double weight glossy fiber darkroom paper I used to use.

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Dec 10, 2017 09:19:50   #
toxdoc42
 
It depends upon what you plan to do with the prints. For my use, family photos in frames in the home, rotated out as new photos are made, in my personal opinion, Costco sells a very inexpensive Photo Glossy, can't beat it!

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Dec 10, 2017 12:24:01   #
rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA
 
I prefer glossy prints for photo album books, matte for wall display.

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Dec 10, 2017 12:44:37   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
Spiney wrote:
Redriverpaper.com Is their website.


Thanks, Spiney ... will check it out ...

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