Printing Images: I am about to print some photos from my last evening adventure. Question is do I print the images on glossy photo paper or a semi gloss type paper. I know this may be...

Keith S Loc: Federal Way, Wa

I am about to print some photos from my last evening adventure. Question is do I print the images on glossy photo paper or a semi gloss type paper. I know this may be an open ended question. So just looking for experiences from fellow UH members and thoughts.

I am new to this and for now just using an HP all in one printer. So I have pretty low expectations on quality of the print. Any and all honest comments welcome. I know I need to purchase a better printer down the road and that is in my plan.

Thanks in advance 😀😀😀😀

Keith

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I have always preferred glossy. Now, just as much as in film days. But it really is a matter of personal preference and taste.
Andy

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

I print a lot of photos on my old HP ENVY 5530. It gives my great 8X10 prints. It prints, scans, copies any anything off the web. So far it never let me down. If I need anything larger I can go to Walmart. They have printers you can use.

PeterBergh

Keith S wrote:

... using an HP all in one printer. ...

My experience with one HP all-in-one printer (Color LaserJet M476dn) is that it cannot handle paper that is considerably thicker than normal copier paper. (All-in-one printers are not designed to be photo printers; all-in-ones are meant for general office use.) Thus, I suggest you start by using your normal paper and then, possibly, buy a sampler package of different photo papers and see a) if they feed properly and b) which paper you like best for your images.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

PeterBergh wrote:

My experience with one HP all-in-one printer (Color LaserJet M476dn) is that it cannot handle paper that is considerably thicker than normal copier paper. (All-in-one printers are not designed to be photo printers; all-in-ones are meant for general office use.) Thus, I suggest you start by using your normal paper and then, possibly, buy a sampler package of different photo papers and see a) if they feed properly and b) which paper you like best for your images.

I use glossy mostly, sometimes matte.
My Canon All-in-One handles 4x6 and 8x10(12) in two trays just fine.
Maybe it's just HP?

TBerwick Loc: Houston, Texas

Peter, on your all-in-one comment, the laserjets do not handle heavy duty paper and generally produce very poor photo reproductions, but, the ink-jet all-in-ones do an excellent (as much as can be expected) job with photo papers.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I recently tried printing on my 4-cartridge Epson low-cost all-in-one (Walmart) printer. Printed several 4x6 size images on semi-gloss photo paper, which was all I had at that moment. Was pleasantly surprised at the results. Like the OP, I will consider buying a better ink- or laser-jet printer better designed for photo printing. Have been sending larger images out to commercial labs.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Very generally speaking, I've found images with lots of fine detail do best with glossy, while images that don't are good candidates for semi-gloss or matt paper.

JR45 Loc: Montgomery County, TX

Somewhere on the Red River paper web site, I remember reading something about the best type
of paper to use for different types of photos. Maybe this will help.

https://www.redrivercatalog.com/

Keith S Loc: Federal Way, Wa

Thank you all for your input. I can print with photo paper on this printer and I am encouraged that for now I may get good prints. I will need to check on the max size print possible for this printer.
Thank you for the website reference. That always helps 😀😀😀

Thanks

Keith

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

If you want to experiment before using higher quality paper, I print basic photos on standard 28# paper, at least 94 brightness, and at 720 dpi minimum. For best quality, I go to 28# or (32# if I can find it) glossy photo paper that is at least, again in 94 bright, or 98 if I can find it. I do have a HP standard quality inkjet (don't print that many photos) and it does a decent job. Never used an all-in-one so don't know what the difference would be.

mflowe Loc: Port Deposit, MD

Keith S wrote:

I am about to print some photos from my last eveni... (show quote)

No one can give you an answer to this question except yourself. Different photos often require different papers. You have to experiment and see what YOU prefer.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Keith S wrote:

I am about to print some photos from my last eveni... (show quote)

Print one picture on both paper types. I think you'll get the best answer after you see which one you like better. Every image is different and some may look better on high gloss, and others on semi- or matte paper.

Don't spend a fortune on an all-in-one printer - keep some $$ aside for a good photo printer. Samy's camera has a Canon Pixma Pro 100 for $120 after rebates. It is a full-blown high quality photo printer with 8 dye based inks. Ok, so the prints won't last 100 yrs, but with any luck, neither will any of us. But they generally will last around 25 yrs if you stick to Canon paper and ink. If you want better print life, then you'd have to get a pigment-based printer, which will cost more $$$.

Tronjo Loc: Canada, BC

Keith S wrote:

I am about to print some photos from my last eveni... (show quote)

Try both, see which you like more

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

PeterBergh wrote:

My experience with one HP all-in-one printer (Color LaserJet M476dn) is that it cannot handle paper that is considerably thicker than normal copier paper. (All-in-one printers are not designed to be photo printers; all-in-ones are meant for general office use.) Thus, I suggest you start by using your normal paper and then, possibly, buy a sampler package of different photo papers and see a) if they feed properly and b) which paper you like best for your images.

It's a laser printer - not at all suitable for photo printing.