Choose The Best Photo Paper For Your Artwork

Choose The Best Photo Paper For Your Artwork

Choosing the right high-quality photo paper for your artwork is important to properly reproduce the colour, dynamic range, and detail in the image. It doesn’t matter how beautifully composed the picture is if the ink and medium onto which it is printed is substandard. It’s in your best interest to use professional photo printing services that use the latest in technology and techniques to reproduce your digital file onto maximum performance and high-end materials. There is a variety of photo papers to choose from to enhance the final presentation of your photo or painting.

A boutique shop like Print Partner handcrafts artisan and archival quality pieces and offers a variety of finishes to suit the subject matter and other characteristics of your work. Fine Art paper is 100% cotton and acid-free and is best used for reproduced or fine art with refined detail and colours. Gloss paper creates gorgeous landscapes and scenery. It’s a popular choice because the coating allows for accurate details. Matte paper is the optimal choice for art reproductions and poster art with zero shine. It’s more affordable and is often used in advertising. Satin or Luster paper is thick, durable, and provides texture. These papers provide true, realistic colours and don’t reflect glare or show smudges or fingerprints. They are a midpoint between matte and glossy. Baryta paper showcases sharp images and black density. Metallic is excellent for commercial displays or portraits with its scratch-resistance, vibrancy, and ease of cleaning. Satin Poster paper produces high quality art at a lower cost.

Some other desirable qualities of photo papers include thickness, weight, and durability. Paper needs the capacity to properly absorb large amounts of ink during printing, so it will not warp or fade over time. The weight of paper is an indicator to keep an eye on. Paper is measured in GSM and a higher GSM doesn’t necessarily mean better quality, but that it weighs more. There is an optimal GSM range for the type of paper you’re using and anything beyond that is a waste of material and could lower performance. Durability is important for long lasting prints. Thicker paper lasts longer and can face wear from the elements as well as from accidental physical damage.

The opacity of paper is also key to represent and maintain a full spectrum of colours. Accuracy, brightness, sharpness, and density is determined by how pure white the paper is. If an extreme white is achieved through cheaper chemical agents, the quality can decrease over time. It’s worth investing in professional, high-grade, archival, gallery or museum quality paper. Ask the staff at the print shop for their expertise in selecting paper to ensure your satisfaction. Professionals have printed many types of images on a full range of mediums repeatedly and they have seen what works and what tends to go wrong.

Look for professional photo printing services that offer guarantees of quality based on their experience and personal expertise as fellow artists and photographers. There might be other materials beyond paper that are even better suited to your masterpiece like metal, acrylic, or canvas. Explore your options with the help of the printing team to get a feel for whether a particular shop is right for your situation and needs.