There are some precious moments in life that we want to recall over and over again to feel that exact happiness from time to time. That’s why we click pictures of our special occasions and want to save some selected ones for future nostalgia. But, when it comes to saving or preserving a photo for long, none other than photo printing is the best choice to make.
Digital pictures can get deleted at any time, hard discs may crash, and you might lose your best memories for life. But a picture printed on photo paper will save your memory for ages if you can preserve the right way.
A photo paper is a special kind of paper that is used to recreate an image with the best possible quality. There are multiple types of papers available for photo printing in the market, such as Glossy, Matte, Satin, Lustre, etc. Each one of them has its own pros and cons, and it’s important to know the right kind of photo paper for different photo printing needs.
The paper type, density, weight, coating, and finish all can affect the production of the final image. So, if you don’t know what kind of paper you need for your specific photo, then you might end up choosing the wrong one and your photos may get damaged within no time!
In this blog post, we will give you a comprehensive idea about different types of photo papers, so that you can choose the right one to print your special photos and save your memory for life without worries.
Types of Photo Printing Paper
1. Glossy Photo Paper
If you want to print sharp, colorful, and vibrant photos with attention to detail, glossy photo paper would be the best option. Glossy papers are coated with smooth and shiny surface in order to provide such expected results. Due to the glossy layer of the paper, it can easily reflect light and thus the color looks more popped up and saturated. The glossy coating is usually made from silica-type compounds or resin. This coating protects the printed photo from moisture, fading, and fingerprints.
Glossy photo papers usually come in a variety of sizes including regular A4. For a better understanding, the size details are given below-
| Paper Size (inch) | Dimensions (cm) |
| A4 (8.27 x 11.69) | 21.0 x 29.7 cm |
| A6 (4.13 x 5.83) | 10.5 x 14.8 cm |
| 10×12 in | 25.4 x 30.48 cm |
| 8×10 in | 20.32 x 25.4 cm |
| 5×7 in | 12.7 x 17.78 cm |
| 4×6 in | 10.2 x 15.2 cm |
| 3.94 x 5.91 in | 10 x 15 cm |
Larger sizes are also available; you just need to find out the right printing shop to get your desired size.
Another striking feature of glossy photo paper is its ability to provide high contrast between dark and light areas. So, if you are going to print an image that requires the necessity of maintaining high contrast, glossy papers are perfect for it.
The smooth surface of the glossy photo paper allows proper ink placement, textures, fine lines, and intricate patterns to produce sharp pictures with clear details. Also, due to the quick drying feature, the risk of smearing or smudging of the ink is pretty less in glossy photo paper printing. Overall, glossy photo papers can provide you with durable, colorful, shiny, sharp, professionally polished-looking photos to save your memories for years.
Despite all these good features, there are some drawbacks of glossy photo paper that you should consider as well. The shiny surface of the glossy photo paper makes it difficult to see the picture from all angles under direct sunlight or bright light. These papers are also prone to fingerprints and scratches, if handled frequently. So, you have to keep these things in mind before selecting glossy photo paper for your photo printing needs.
There are a good number of brands that manufacture high quality Glossy photo paper like Kodak, HP, Freedom paper, Inova, etc. Just remember, to maintain print quality and durability, it’s recommended to store glossy printed photos away from direct sunlight and moisture.
Finally, a quick look to Glossy photo paper’s pros and cons in brief-
Pros:
– Produces vibrant colours and sharp images.
– Offers a high level of contrast.
– Ideal for displaying photos in albums or frames.
Cons:
– Prone to fingerprints and glare.
– Not suitable for every lighting condition.
2. Matte Photo Paper:
If your photo printing requirement doesn’t include shining glare and reflection, you better go with matte photo paper. Especially when you need to put your photo under bright light or sunlight, and you need some sort of aesthetic dull finish to your picture, it’s more preferable to choose matte paper for printing.
Matte photo paper is a kind of photo printing paper that is specially designed to produce high quality photos with matte finish. Unlike glossy papers, matte photo papers provide more of a flat, soft, textured finish to your pictures. When you need to print landscapes, portraits, or black and white photos, it’s best to go with matte photo paper due to its soft, subtle finish.
Compared to glossy photo paper, matte photo paper is less likely to be affected by smudges and fingerprints. So, it’s much easier to handle and display your printed photos without the risk of getting damaged. That’s why, these papers are mostly used to print album or book photos. While glossy papers recreates more popped up and saturated photos, matte photo paper produces more natural looking photos with enhanced texture.
Since it doesn’t have reflection or glare, printed photos on matter paper can be viewed from a wide range of angles without any difficulty. There is a thin layer of coating on matte paper that allows the paper to receive and hold each drop of inkjet perfectly. This is why, these photo papers are compatible with laser printers and inkjet.
Matte photo papers are also available in a variety of sizes including A4, A3, and A2. The size details are given below-
| Paper Size | Dimensions (inches) | Dimensions (centimeters) |
| 4 x 6 in | 4 x 6 | 10.2 x 15.2 |
| 5 x 7 in | 5 x 7 | 12.7 x 17.8 |
| 8 x 10 in | 8 x 10 | 20.3 x 25.4 |
| 8.5 x 11 in (A4) | 8.5 x 11 | 21.6 x 27.9 |
| A2 | 16.5 x 23.4 | 42.0 x 59.4 |
| A3 | 11.7 x 16.5 | 29.7 x 42.0 |
| A3+ | 13 x 19 | 32.9 x 48.3 |
| A4 | 8.27 x 11.69 | 21.0 x 29.7 |
There are some brands who manufacture bigger roll sizes from 13 to even 60 inches. Kodak, ParmaJet, HP are well known brands who offer high quality matte photo paper. And in high quality matte paper, there is a protective coating that protects the image from moisture, fading, and environmental effects.
However, compared to glossy photo paper, matte ones require more drying time. You will also find less contrast and details in the picture due to its non-reflective feature. And if you are a fan of shiny, colorful images, then it won’t fulfill your requirements. So, you better remember these shortcomings of matte photo paper.
Finally, the main pros and cons in brief-
Pros:
– Provides a non-reflective surface, making it suitable for various lighting conditions.
– Offers a professional look and feel.
– Reduces glare and fingerprints.
Cons:
– Colours may appear less vibrant compared to glossy paper.
– Images may lack the depth and contrast found in glossy prints.
3. Lustre Photo Paper:
Now, if you want something in between glossy and matte paper to print your photos, there is a solution. Lustre photo paper is exactly what you need in this case. Lustre photo paper is a kind of photographic paper that gives your photos a semi-gloss finish with a balance of colour and sharpness. This is actually a combination of the skin tone & rich colour of glossy paper and the fingerprint resistance & subtle texture of the matte paper. Luster paper is also great poster printing.
Due to the feature of repeated textured surface, lustre photo paper is less prone to minor scratches and scuffs. Lustre papers are best for printing portrait, landscape, black and white photographs for personal and also professional needs.
One of the best things about lustre paper is that it can provide excellent colour saturation. This means, you will get colourful pictures without the issues of reflection or glare. So, you will be able to see the photos from a wide range of angles, even under different lighting conditions.
If you want your pictures to be printed with sharp details and clarity, lustre photo paper would be a great choice. This makes it a preferable choice for both colourful and black & white images.
You don’t have to worry about handling your printed photos on lustre paper, since it’s less prone nature to be damaged by fingerprint and smudges. Overall, lustre photo paper is a balance between reduced glare, vibrant colour, and versatile application.
Lustre photo papers are available in a wide range of sizes. The size chart is given below-
| Paper Size | Dimensions (inches) | Dimensions (centimeters) |
| 6 x 4 in | 4 x 6 | 10.2 x 15.2 |
| 7 x 5 in | 5 x 7 | 12.7 x 17.8 |
| 10 x 8 in | 8 x 10 | 20.3 x 25.4 |
| A4 | 8.27 x 11.69 | 21.0 x 29.7 |
| A3 | 11.7 x 16.5 | 29.7 x 42.0 |
| A3+ | 13 x 19 | 32.9 x 48.3 |
| A2 | 16.5 x 23.4 | 42.0 x 59.4 |
You can also find some bigger roll sizes from 13 to 80 inches in some printing shops as well. Some big brand names who manufacture high quality lustre photo paper- Canon Photo Paper Pro Platinum, Kodak Professional EnduraLustre, Photo Lustre 310gsm, Canson Infinity Photo Lustre, PermaJet Titanium Lustre 280, etc.
However, you should also keep in mind that if you won’t get shiny, vibrant colours like glossy papers, and also you have to pay more than matte paper if you want to go with lustre photo paper.
Finally, the pros and cons of Lustre photo paper in short-
Pros:
– Strikes a balance between glossy and matte finishes.
– Resistant to fingerprints and scratches.
– Offers vibrant colours with reduced glare.
Cons:
– Slightly less contrast compared to glossy paper.
– May not be as suitable for high-end professional prints.
4. Satin Photo Paper:
Satin is also a kind of semi-gloss paper that has a lustrous, soft finish with low glare. Satin is quite identical to lustre photo paper and you won’t be able to mark the differences easily if you don’t have subtle clear idea about it.
Compared to lustre, satin paper has a bit smoother surface. Though both offer fine texture, satin photo paper’s texture is less silky and pronounced. Even the glossiness of the satin paper is a bit lower than the lustre paper. The final image would look softer, a bit less glossy and color saturation.
Satin photo paper is a more preferable choice when you need smoother surface, lower gloss, softer color, and a balanced output. This makes it suitable for wide range of photo printing projects including portraits, commercial prints, presentation photos, etc.
Another good thing about satin paper is that it’s less likely to be damaged by frequent handling and fingerprints compared to lustre. However, satin is not as durable as lustre; so you need to decide based on your specific requirements.
When it comes to available sizes, you will usually find a variety of options including A3, letter, and A4. Here’s the chart for better understanding-
| Paper Size | Dimensions (inches) | Dimensions (centimeters) |
| 4 x 6 in | 4 x 6 | 10.2 x 15.2 |
| 5 x 7 in | 5 x 7 | 12.7 x 17.8 |
| A4 | 8.3 x 11.7 | 21 x 29.7 |
| Letter | 8.5 x 11 | 21.6 x 27.9 |
| A3 | 11.7 x 16.5 | 29.7 x 42 |
Bigger roll sizes are also available up to 60 inches in many printing shops. Some well know manufacturers of satin papers are- HP, Ilford, LexJet, Yasen, etc.
Compared to other 3 options, satin papers are not commonly available in most printing shops. So, if you want to print on satin photo paper, make sure your printing shop has them available already.
Now, it’s time to summarize the pros and cons in short-
Pros:
– Similar to lustre paper but with a smoother finish.
– Produces vibrant colours and sharp images.
– Offers good resistance to fingerprints and scratches.
Cons:
– May have slightly less contrast compared to glossy paper.
– Limited availability compared to other types of photo paper.
Conclusion
Whether you want to print photos to preserve your special memory or for professional purpose, make sure you choose the right kind of photo paper. In this blog post we have talked about 4 most commonly used photo papers with detailed features, their specific uses, and pros & cons.
Glossy photo papers are best for producing shiny, colourful, vibrant images. Matte photo papers would be best for printing images with matte finish where you require less glare and reflection. Lustre photo papers should be used when you want a balance between the results of glossy paper and matte paper. And finally, satin paper is more preferable when you need a bit smoother finish than lustre.
Each one of them has their own pros and cons and you can experiment with all these options as well to figure out the right one that meets your specific photo printing needs.
If you want to print your photos on any of these papers in the UK, Print in London is there to fulfill your printing needs. We provide the best photo printing service in the UK at the most affordable prices. Contact us and get your printing job done exactly the way you want.