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Which Photo Inkjet Paper should I use?
Choosing the correct Photo Inkjet Paper is central to achieving the best quality print results. There are many factors, and ultimately it comes down to personal preference, but here are some points to consider.
Inkjet Printer.
It is important to consider your inkjet printers capabilities. Photo printers are capable of producing images that rival those made in a photo lab. But even if you have a top-notch printer, output can be disappointing if you don't use the correct paper and ink or fail to set the printer to it's highest quality setting to match the paper.
Most moderate to high priced all-purpose inkjet printers excel at producing sharp, crisp looking black text. Though they are not specifically designed for photo printing, many will be satisfied with the photos they produce.
If you're looking for lab-quality prints, a photo inkjet printer is a requirement. Most photo printers make borderless prints in a variety of standard print sizes.
Photo inkjet printers that use individual colour ink cartridges save money because you don't need to buy an entire multi-colour cartridge when a colour runs out, only a tank for a specific colour. If you want print directly from your camera, completely bypassing a computer, both camera and printer must be PictBridge compatible.
Good Paper Means Great Pics.
So often, high quality images printed with good quality inks produce average results due to the poor quality photo inkjet paper used. All the photo papers offered from CartridgeMonkey.com have been selected to give great results for a wide range of applications. We supply original manufacturers photo inkjet papers including Epson, Canon and Hewlett Packard, these will usually give the best results when used with their corresponding printer and ink. However, we also offer a range of premium compatible paper from Inkrite, which is a superb cost effective alternative that does not compromise on quality.
Surface Finish.
This is really personal preference. Our range includes premium gloss, gloss, semi-gloss / semi-matt and matt inkjet papers. Traditionally, your holiday snaps would be printed on gloss paper but today you can experiment with different finishes and find your ideal result. However, if you want to print black and white images, quite often a matt finish will look better.
Paper Weight.
In most cases photo inkjet paper is measured by weight rather than thickness, but as a general rule a heavier photo paper will be thicker than a lighter paper. Weight is measured in grams and our range of papers starts at 120gsm and continues up to 280gsm. Using holiday snaps again as an example, the paper the traditional photo lab would use would be around 230gsm, so using 200gsm - 270gsm for 6 x 4 prints is a good guide. When printing A4 prints, the weight of the paper required is dependant on the exact application, but the more ink coverage you have, a heavier photo paper is more likely to stay flat.
Print Resolution.
Any digital camera less than three years old can capture at least 1 megapixel of data with each shot. This is sufficient to print a good-quality 4-by-6-inch photo; a 2-megapixel image holds enough information to output a higher-quality print of the same dimensions. To generate an 8-by-10-inch print worth framing, you'll need a resolution of at least 3 megapixels. You're in a good position if you have a new camera.
How to Get the Best Prints.
While memories can fade with time, no one wants the same thing to happen to their photographs. With a few precautions, you can ensure that your prints are the best they can possibly be.
For starters, in addition to choosing the photo inkjet paper that is suitable for your application, configure your print software to use the settings for that paper when you print. To do that, click the Properties button next to the name of your printer in the Print dialog box and choose the paper you've loaded into your printer from the list. Obviously, this is a good reason to use the printer manufacturer's paper for high-quality printing, since other brands will not be listed here. Some printers don't require you to do this, however, because they have a sensor that detects the paper type.
When using high quality, coated, or photo quality inkjet paper, we recommend that you avoid handling it for 12 hours to prevent finger smudges or even 24 hours to allow the ink to set permanently. And don't try to print on both sides unless the paper is specifically marked for two-sided printing. Every printer manufacturer sells at least one kind of two-sided paper. Epson offers A Double-Sided Matte Paper, for instance, while HP sells papers optimised for two-sided projects, like the Premium Photo Card and Premium Note Card stock.
Once your print is totally dry, put the print under glass or plastic. Exposure to common gasses and particles in the air can dull or fade your photo quickly. Finally, for the longest life, keep the picture out of direct sunlight and in a cool, dry environment. That means no matter what other precautions you take, photos that are stored in an album will last longer than ones hung on the wall.
Oh, and one last tip: Keep your original digital photo files around even after you print. That way you can reprint them in ten years when you notice the colours start to fade.
But dont just take our word for it, here's what Epson have to say on the subject:
Would you consider a photograph to be one of the most precious items in your home? With 23 billion digital images printed or stored in Western Europe in 2005 and a prediction of a staggering 53 billion images[1] by 2009, there is little doubt that most of us like to record our memories. The rise in sales of digital cameras and improved inkjet printer technology[2] means it is now easier than ever, to print your own photos from home.
But how can you ensure that by doing-it-yourself, those memories will be of the quality they deserve and that you can enjoy them for many years to come?
It’s simple. There are three elements that you need to be able to print your own premium-quality photos at home – a photo printer, ink and photo paper. The latter is often forgotten, and it is important if you want high-quality results.
As a pioneer in the development of inkjet photo printing, Epson recognises that choosing the right paper can be a confusing process. That’s why we are providing you with some tips to help you choose the right paper for you.
Understanding paper
Photo paper undergoes rigorous research and development to ensure that it works in harmony with your printer and ink, giving you a perfect photo that is durable and lightfast. Using the right type of paper will leave you with a detailed and accurate photo that is smooth, bright, glossy and won’t fade over time.
There are four key measures that you need to consider when choosing photo paper:
1. Finish of your photo. Glossy or matte?
2. Sturdiness of your photo. How dense do you want your paper to be?
3. Size of your photo. 10x15cm, 13x18cm, A4 or even larger?
4. Photo life. Is your paper fade resistant?
The most widely used paper type is plain paper; while it is ideal for document printing it won’t show your photos to their true potential. When you print a photo onto plain paper from an inkjet printer you may see cockling and a blurry effect. This happens because the ink soaks into the paper. For the best results you need a premium photo paper that has been specially designed to absorb the ink and dry quickly without smudging or bleeding, so you get crisp, clear images.
The finish of your photo
Many photo papers come with a glossy finish or ‘resin’ coating. This gives your photos a smooth and shiny appearance. It is a great way to show off your holiday snaps. Epson Premium Glossy Photo paper is a popular choice; its bright white layer and resin coating ensure it produces glossy high-quality photos to rival traditional photo-lab prints.
Matte paper does not have a glossy layer so it is ideal if you want a smooth velvety effect. Matte paper adds more texture to a photograph and many types of the paper are widely used in the fine-art or professional photography industry. Why not be adventurous and print your favourite pictures on a matte paper, such as Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight to see what different effect it can give?
Matte and glossy are the two extremes of paper finishes, so for a finish in-between choose semi-gloss paper. It has a less obvious shine than glossy paper which makes it great for photos that might be displayed in a frame or for landscape shots. A semi-gloss finish is also a popular choice for wedding photos because it does not show finger prints.
The sturdiness of your photo
The weight of paper is measured by grams per square metre (gsm.) If you want your photo to be just like the ones you used to get from the photo lab you will need a heavier paper. Epson Ultra Glossy Photo paper is one of the heaviest papers available weighing in at 300gsm. It will give a luxurious and superior feel to your photos and it is sturdy so it won’t curl or rip easily. If you want a smooth photo finish on a budget there are also other options available, for example, at 194gsm there is the Epson Photo Paper.
Paper sizes
Photo paper comes in an array of sizes starting from the traditional 10x15cm. It is the most common size used throughout Europe[3] ; however digital camera users are also experimenting with different paper sizes, such as multiples on an A4 sheet or enlargements on 13x18cm paper[4] . 10x15cm photo paper is a common fit for many photo albums and is the size that you expect to receive from many high street photo labs. 13x18cm photo paper is ideal if you want to share or frame a selection of your photos to show the pictures in more crisp detail. A4 paper is ideal if you want to make enlargements, build a collage or fit several photos onto one page. Paper sizes also go beyond A4, e.g. A3, A2, B0; it is usually professional photographers and artists who print to these larger sizes.
When choosing your paper size, ensure you check that your Epson printer can accommodate it. It is easy for you to see which printers are compatible with which paper thanks to an easy-to-follow table on the side of the Epson paper packaging.
Photo life
When you have printed your favourite photos, you’ll want them to look bright and vibrant for a long time. Epson, one of the first manufacturers to promote print life, recognises the importance of fade resistance. When the three essential photo printing elements; photo printer, genuine ink and photo paper are combined Epson photos offer up to 200 years lightfastness[5] , exceeding the life expectancy of traditional photo lab prints.
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[1] Understanding and Solutions 2006
[2] IDC Research 2005
[3] Epson survey on media 2005
[4] IDC research 2005
[5] Refer to product specifications for lightfastness of individual products.
Lightfastness test conditions
*Under fluorescent light (indoor display condition) with glass mount
*The data is calculated by Epson’s accelerated test and it does not mean Epson guarantees periods
*The estimated longevity does not indicate the colour changing and the durability of the paper itself.
Lightfastness test criteria (Indoor Display Condition)
Light Source: Fluorescent Light
Intensity: 70,000 lux
Temperature: 24°C
Humidity: 60%RH
Glass mount: 2mm, soda lime
Fade criteria: Pure YMC 30% loss at OD = 1
Display-life calculation: Total illuminance/ (500lux x 10hours x 365days = 1year)
This lightfastness test is a simulation of colour fading in an indoor preservation condition under fluorescent light with glass mount. The display life may vary depending on the conditions that you display your prints. Factors, other than light, such as ozone, temperature and humidity can affect the print life.
What next?
If you want your precious photos to look, feel and last like professional quality prints, remember the three essential elements, photo printer, ink and photo paper. You will see that printing photos is fun and with minimal effort you can experiment with different looks for your photos to find out what you like the best. Will you choose the high-gloss photographic finish or the more artistic look and feel with matte photo paper?
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