Photo Printing Paper

There was a time when printing paper was not an item we had to give much consideration. With advancements in what and how we can print today, the purchase of paper for printers takes more consideration and careful shopping. This is especially true with photo printing paper. It is usually easiest to stick with the manufacturer of the photo printer to obtain the surest coordinating supplies such as ink and paper.

Hewlett-Packard and Canon, who produce the leading supply of photo printers, produce the paper to be used with their models. The wide array of supplies to fulfill the growing capabilities of printers often makes purchasing from these manufacturers a more expensive proposition and it is not always possible. There are many other manufacturers and types of products to shop through which requires the shopper to be familiar with the considerations necessary to make successful purchasing decisions. There are four factors you want to keep in mind when shopping for photo printing paper:

1. Paper Size

Although you need to take into account the size photo prints your particular printer can accommodate, the choice of printer paper size depends on what you want to produce. Standard photo printing measurements still apply: 8×10, 4×6 or 3×5. We now also have the ability to print panoramic size photos as well as ID sized.

2. Paper Weight

Aside from the feel of the paper in the hand, the reason for heavier weight photo printing paper is that it is more opaque or harder to see through which is a consideration when printing photos. The weight of the paper will be described in “mils” or “pounds” on the packaging. Lighter weight paper is more pliable and may be more appropriate for use in photo albums. You may want a heavier weight paper for photos that will be displayed out in the open or with a lot of light around them. Heavier paper is also thicker and harder to bend, crease or tear.

3. Paper Finish

There are several types of finish the photo printing paper is available in. These basically range between matte and high gloss. The choice among the variations is a matter of taste and desired result. Be sure to look at a sample of the paper to see how reflective it is and which finish will suit your purposes. Most manufacturers distinguish between 3 main types of finishes:

* Premium Gloss – Highest contrast offering the richest colors
* Satin or Semi-Gloss
* Matte – Least amount of contrast; softer looking photos

4. Paper Use

Although we are discussing paper for the use of printing photos, it is important to decide whether you will use the paper chosen for other purposes. Some types of paper can optimize the digital camera capabilities in other applications such as printing brochures, tattoos, iron-on transfers or stickers.