In a world where digital pictures are everywhere, it’s important to know how to make your own good quality pictures. While choosing photo paper used to be limited to simply checking a box on the local photo store’s order form, the rising popularity of printing-from-home has led to a ridiculous amount of variety in how you print your photos.

However don’t worry because here you’ll discover some tips to choosing the right photo paper so you’ll always know what type of paper is best for you.

The Basics of Photo Paper

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. No matter what brand the paper, there are a few things you can look at that will give you an idea of how your images will turn out.

The first thing you want to look at is the thickness of the photo 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. Additionally, the thickness of a piece of photo paper is directly related to its caliper, which measures its 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.

Finally, you will need to decide on the 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 two main types of finish – glossy or matte. While both types have their relative advantages and disadvantages, which you use is more a matter of personal choice than anything else.

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. Often the paper allows for dual sided printing.

If you’re trying to choose between glossy and matte, the best way is to pick up a couple of 25 sheet packs of paper and try printing on both of them. Since there is no real technical superiority that would put using one over the other, use whatever works best for you.

Choosing a photo paper can seem like quite a challenge. Between the various finishes, qualities, and manufacturers, finding something you like can seem like a real challenge. Don’t be afraid to buy a few small packs of different kinds of paper to experiment; at the end of the day there is no “best” paper, only the one that you like the most.

Author Bio: Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Shop online and see our selection of triple picture frames . Come visit our online selection of quality triple picture frames and classic double picture frames or call 800-780-0699.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: photography paper,photo paper