All about car tuning

Glossy or matte paper - How to choose. Photo paper for printing. Features of selection and use Special photo paper

Available on the market (see article Working with papers). Having covered almost the entire range of these specific paper products, we did not understand the main thing - we did not find out what photo paper different from regular paper. And, really, why can’t you put regular office paper into the printer and get photographic-quality prints? And what is this incomprehensible phrase “special coating”? Let's try to figure it out.

Unlike regular paper, photo paper multi-layered. Make sure that the sheet photo paper not homogeneous You can easily do it yourself - just rub a corner of it with your fingers, and it will separate into several layers. Why did manufacturers need to invent this layer cake? Then, each layer plays its role in the printing process and performs its function.

In the very center of the sheet lying in front of you is the paper layer itself. He is the only thing photo paper similar to plain paper. This layer not only plays the role of a core on which special coatings are layered on both sides, it also gives photo paper snow-white color and the density you need.

Unusual photo paper the fact that the ink during printing is not located on the paper layer. On the contrary, it must be protected from ink, as well as steam and water. This is what the two polyethylene layers on either side of it are designed for. On the reverse side of the sheet photo paper Behind the polyethylene layer there is a lower layer, thanks to which photo paper does not “wrinkle”. And a laying layer made of waterproof polymer is already attached to it.

Wet the back of the sheet with water and you will be convinced that photo paper This side is waterproof. In addition, the polymer layer contains small, rough plastic particles that prevent stacks of newly printed photographs from sticking together and allow the printer to adjust the grip photo paper and don’t make the mistake of “eating” several sheets at a time.

Above the top polyethylene layer photo paper absorbent fixed. It should absorb ink at maximum speed. There are two options for absorbent coatings: simple - works on the principle of a sponge, gel - works on the principle of a sanitary pad. Absorbs ink faster photo paper with a coating of the first type, it does not allow them to be smeared, but it also does not allow them to last long enough, since they are easily susceptible to any external influences (water, sun, oxygen, etc.).

The gel coating absorbs more slowly and dries more slowly (immediately after printing, the image is easy to smudge with your finger), but after drying photo paper With such a coating, it stores ink much longer, “freezing” it inside itself. But the most important thing is still the top layer – the reproducing layer. First of all, it determines how clearly the ink will lie and how long it will retain its unchanged appearance on paper. It is he who controls the speed and volume of ink entering the absorbent layer photo paper, clarity of lying points.

It is worth noting that all of the above applies to high-quality paper brands such as Lomond photo paper And photo paper Avery Zweckform. For flakiness and quality photo paper We cannot answer other brands.

Wherever we are, we always need to buy/order receive a quality product or service . Remember how happy you were when you came home from a store with an excellent phone or computer, when the seller was polite to you and offered you the best deal.

In order to get high-quality printed photographs, it is necessary not only to pay attention to how the photographs were taken (camera, tablet, phone), but also to the choice of paper. Here you need to take into account a large number of different nuances: density, type of coating, compatibility with various types of ink and much more.

So, what should you pay attention to when choosing photo paper?

First of all, pay attention to specific gravity of paper . Typically, weight for inkjet paper is measured in grams per square meter (g/m2). The specific gravity of the carrier is only part of the required information. It is more important to know the thickness of the photo paper, which is not always related to its weight. Paper from different manufacturers with the same weight can have different thicknesses. That is why we choose the most appropriate paper thickness for printing in Nizhny Novgorod. An equally important criterion is paper color . It is worth noting that white paper comes in different shades, which when printed gives one or another shade.

In addition to the features and properties described above, it is also necessary to pay attention to density parameter : it is he who determines what purposes the paper corresponds to. The higher the density, the better the quality of the print you can make. So, for example, with a density of 150 to 300 g/m2 you can get high-resolution photos (from 5760 dpi), and with a density of 130 g/m2 the media is suitable for printing with a resolution of 2880 dpi (brochures, graphics, presentations ). For photo printing, paper with a density of 180 to 230 g/m2 is suitable; for printed products, it is better to choose paper with a density of 90–180 g/m2.

There are two most common types of photo paper: glossy and matte.

Gloss has increased density and the presence of a special glossy layer that prevents fading and washing off the ink from the surface. Due to a special polymer coating, glossy paper is ideal for conveying bright, saturated colors. This paper is best used for printing photographs and images with vibrant landscapes and soft tones.

It is known that matte paper It is characterized by a lack of shine and a matte roughness, which is not difficult to determine by touch. Because matte paper has small pores, ink is absorbed more slowly during printing than on glossy paper. The main advantage of matte paper is its versatility, since it accepts printing with both water-soluble and pigment inks. Moreover, compared to glossy paper, it is more resistant to mechanical damage (fingerprints and scratches). At the same time, it is inferior to glossy paper in its ability to convey subtle gradations of colors. Images look very contrasty and detailed.

Obviously, it is impossible to determine the absolute leader here. Each type of paper is designed for specific printing tasks. For greater clarity, let’s summarize the criteria for types of paper in a table.

When asked which paper to use for printing in Nizhny Novgorod, “matte or glossy”? It is impossible to give a definite answer. Because the The choice of paper for photographs depends on what exactly you prefer.

Which photo paper is best for an Epson printer? Many people are interested in this issue. Of course, this aspect has long been known to photo printing professionals, but for hobbyists who have a printer or MFP at home and would like to try printing photos for themselves at home, it is quite relevant. If you ask their manufacturers about the criteria for selecting photo paper for a printer, the answer will be clear: for high-quality photo printing, the best choice would be “original” photo paper in combination with original ink. But is this really so, because original consumables and photo paper are not always at hand. In addition, many people want to save money and replace these products with cheaper analogues. How will this affect print quality? We will talk about all the nuances of this issue in this article.

What is important for printing photos on an inkjet printer?

To obtain a high-quality image on photographic paper, it is very important, first of all, the quality of the paper and the quality of the ink. Let's look at these items in more detail.

Paper

If plain paper is suitable for printing text documents and simple graphic images, then for printing photographs the requirements are more serious. When you transfer a photo onto regular office paper, you see that the colors blur, the paper becomes wavy, damp, the clarity is blurred, and the colors are distorted. In general, you can’t put such a photo in an album. Plain paper has a small thickness and low density. Ink, especially water-soluble ink, penetrates the fibers of the paper, saturating it to the very bottom.

Important! Even the most expensive coated office paper will not help you get a high-quality photo. On it, graphs and pictures will definitely look more presentable than on a cheap one, but it’s still not suitable for photographs.

Features of photo paper:

  • Photo paper consists of several layers (from 3 to 10), each of which performs its own function (holds pigment, protects from external influences, and so on). Due to its multi-layer nature, photo paper is denser and heavier than plain paper.
  • It can be matte, glossy, semi-glossy, super-glossy, silky-glossy, even satiny and thin.
  • On both sides of the central cellulose layer are the rest:
    1. receiving layer - absorbs ink, prevents it from spreading and mixing;
    2. waterproof backing layer;
    3. top layers - as if sealing the ink inside a sheet of photo paper and protecting it from damage, moisture, and ultraviolet radiation.
  • Typically, the more expensive and high-quality the paper, the more durable, clearer, and more realistic the photographs are.

Important! Manufacturers such as Epson, Canon, HP produce paper for “native” devices, and it is the best photo paper for inkjet printers, as it takes into account all the properties and features of their equipment.

Ink

Ink for an inkjet printer can be of the following types:

  • Water soluble. They are quite realistic, convey color well, but are very unstable to moisture and ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, photos will be less durable. But this ink is the most inexpensive.
  • Pigmented. The dye is solid particles (pigment). Such ink, having penetrated into the central layer of photo paper, remains there for a long time. The pigment is not as susceptible to moisture and ultraviolet radiation as water-soluble ink, so photographs retain their clarity and color for up to 75 years.

Important! Like other items of computer equipment, printers tend to break down and fail when used continuously. If you want to extend the service life of this device, you need to clean it periodically. Read in another article on our site about.

Important! Ultrachrome inks are also produced on a pigment basis (only for professional and wide-format Epson printers, they have a wide palette and convey the original image as accurately as possible). Sublimation ink (for special paper, thermal film) also consists of pigments.

There are Chinese, South Korean, and other companies that produce water-soluble and pigment inks for inkjet printers. They are much cheaper than original consumables and are quite suitable for printing documents, pictures, and graphs. But for high-quality photo printing, ink from the same company as your printer is best suited.

How to choose photo paper for inkjet printers?

To make the right choice, you need to know what criteria to pay attention to when purchasing.

External coating and internal structure

Photographic paper can be of several types based on its outer coating and internal structure. The choice of one or the other depends, by and large, on personal preferences.

Matte

Represents the most budget option:

  • It has three layers:
    1. waterproof backing that prevents ink from bleeding through;
    2. a middle layer of cellulose that holds the ink;
    3. the top rough layer that serves as a protective barrier.
  • On matte photo paper, fine details of the image are quite clearly visible, it does not reflect light, and thanks to optical brighteners (usually titanium dioxide), the colors look brighter. In addition, minor scratches and fingerprints are not very noticeable.
  • This photo paper can be printed with water-soluble and pigment inks.

Important! The disadvantage of the product is that such photos are not very durable, they lose brightness over time, so for additional protection from external influences they need to be laminated or placed under glass or film.

Glossy:

  • This photo paper has an additional protective smooth layer.
  • The advantage is that the photo does not fade so quickly, is not so susceptible to moisture, and reflects light well.
  • The image looks juicy and bright, but all scratches and fingerprints are immediately visible.

Important! There is an intermediate option - semi-gloss photo paper (Semi Glossy). It produces bright, long-lasting images, but does not easily show minor damage or marks.

There is also super glossy photo paper (called Super Glossy) for photo printers. It displays colors the most richly and brightly, but, however, it shines too much in the sun, in addition, it shows the least damage.

Important! Probably everyone has encountered a situation where, while refilling a printer cartridge, ink accidentally got on their hands. In order to remove it without damaging the skin, read our other article.

Microporous

This look is similar to matte:

  • A special feature of microporous paper is that it has a special absorbent porous layer that instantly absorbs ink, and the photograph dries very quickly.
  • The downside is that micropores allow air access to the dye, so in order for the photo not to lose its brightness, it will have to be covered with a protective glossy layer.

Photo paper in the form of a polymer that swells

Inside the paper there is an absorber in the form of a gel or polymer. When ink arrives, this layer receives it and swells. As the liquid evaporates, the thickness of this layer decreases, air access stops, and the ink is sealed inside the paper. Thanks to this technology, the photo does not fade for a long time, although it is afraid of moisture.

Important! Only pigment inks are suitable for this type of photo paper.

Designer photo paper:

  • It differs from other types in that it has the maximum number of functional layers; inside there may be a layer of 100% cotton instead of cellulose.
  • The paper is protected from moisture and gluing.
  • The peculiarity of designer paper is that its surface can imitate canvas, an ancient scroll or the texture of leather.
  • Designer photo paper is the most expensive and is rarely found on store shelves.

Important! There are also other types of photo paper: for double-sided printing (one side can be matte and the other glossy), with an adhesive or magnetic backing, or for thermal printing.

When choosing a particular type of photo paper, do not forget to check the technical capabilities of your printer.

Important! Do you have too many photos that you would like to enjoy every day without having to print them? Modern photo frames will come to your aid. And practical advice on how to avoid making a mistake in your choice will help you.

Photo paper weight

It is measured in g/m2. This parameter usually depends on the number of layers in the sheet. The more there are, the greater the density:

  • In ordinary office paper, the density does not exceed 150 g/m2. In photo paper this figure should be much higher.
  • For good photo quality, the density should be at least 230-300 g/m2.

Important! The lower the paper density, the more the ink mixes and spreads, and accordingly, the clarity of the image is lost.

Size

If ordinary paper for printing text documents is in A4 format, then for photographs everyone is accustomed to using A6 (10x15 cm). Although the sizes may be different, the same A4 (210x297 mm), A3 (48x32 cm), A10 (26x37 mm) and others, less commonly used. There is even photo paper in rolls.

Important! Before you buy a ream of paper, check your printer's manual to see what format might be right for you.

Print Resolution

Measured in dots per inch (dpi or dpi). This parameter depends largely on the paper density:

  • For densities up to 150 g/m2, the printing resolution can be a maximum of 2880 dpi, that is, this, of course, is not suitable for reproducing colorful photos with small details.
  • For thicker photo paper, printing resolution will be 5760 dpi and higher.

Important! The larger this parameter, the better quality photo you will get as a result.

So, we’ve sorted out all the various characteristics of photo paper, now let’s move on to specific examples.

Epson

What is the best photo paper for an Epson printer?

For an Epson printer, according to the manufacturers of this equipment, “native” photo paper is ideally suitable:

  • In the series of matte paper, you can find Matte photo paper Epson in A4 format (167 g/m2, 250 sheets), it provides high quality resolution.
  • There is also matte paper in rolls of 50 meters: Bond paper white (36” and 24”).
  • The line of glossy photo paper is more widely represented - Premium Glossy photo paper (13×18, 500 sheets or 30.5 meter roll), Glossy photo paper (10×15, A4, 13×18 from 50 to 500 sheets), Hi-image glossy and other.
  • Premium Semi glossy photo paper 10×15, 100 sheets or more is also available).

Important! If you use original ink on this paper, you will be pleased with the quality of the photo.

In addition to the original branded paper, for amateur photo printing you can also use paper from Inksystem - Glossy photo paper 10x15. It transfers images well, has a low price and, judging by customer reviews, is perfectly used in Epson printers and MFPs.

  • Photo paper from Lomond. It is presented in different series - from the usual matte and glossy to satin and designer (Art series).
  • You can find inexpensive analogues of the brands Barva, Colorway, BBM and others. For amateur photo printing without any special pretensions, such products are quite suitable.

Canon

What is the best photo paper for Canon? As in the previous case, original paper in combination with “native” ink would be ideal:

  • Photo paper matte in different sizes.
  • Photo paper plus glossy - glossy.
  • Plus semi-gloss - semi-glossy.

Important! There are a variety of sizes, and the number of sheets in a pack may also vary.

Like Epson, these printers are also suitable for universal paper Lomond, Inksystem, Barva, Colorway, BBM and others.

Important! They are not quite suitable for professional photo printing, but just right for amateur ones.

And don't forget to pay attention to the thickness of the paper. As mentioned above, the thicker the paper, the better image quality you will get.

Important! All data can be found on the front of the photo paper package.

HP

HP also produces a line of photo paper for its printers in different formats and with different coatings:

  • Everyday glossy photo paper and Advanced glossy photo paper - glossy.
  • Semi-matte – Premium plus semi-gloss photo paper.

    • So, we have introduced you to all sorts of nuances in different types of paper for printing photographs, so the choice is yours. The most important thing is that before purchasing, study the printing capabilities and requirements of your printer model, carefully read the parameters of the photo paper you are purchasing so that everything fits together. For professional printing of high-quality photographs, purchase only original consumables, and for amateur printing, you can choose from the variety of products presented what suits your wallet and taste.

The printing consumables market today provides us with a huge range of photographic paper of various types. Glossy, matte, silky-matte, semi-gloss, satin, super-glossy - a novice photographer often has difficulty choosing the right paper for printing photographs, illustrations or graphics at home. Each type of photo paper has its own properties and applications. How to avoid mistakes in choosing the right photo paper to ensure high quality printing? To do this, you need to at least know in what cases it is best to use one or another type of paper.

Matte photo paper (Matte)

As you know, matte paper is characterized by a high degree of whiteness, lack of shine and matte roughness, which is well perceived to the touch. Matte paper has small pores; when printing on it, ink is absorbed more slowly and takes longer to dry compared to glossy photo paper. The main advantages of matte paper are that it is very versatile in use, has a relatively low cost, is resistant to mechanical damage such as scratches and fingerprints, and provides printing with both water-soluble and pigment inks. At the same time, it is inferior to glossy photo paper in its ability to convey subtle gradations of colors. Images on matte paper look very contrasty and detailed. Matte photo paper is best suited for printing photos and images that you don't want to strain your eyes.

Application areas of matte photo paper:

  • illustrations or drawings with a predominance of text information (presentations, flyers, booklets, etc.);
  • printing images for subsequent lamination (passport photo or pass);
  • large format posters and calendars;
  • various small-circulation publications.

Glossy photo paper (Glossy)

Glossy photo paper has a shiny, smooth surface. Due to a special polymer coating, glossy paper is ideal for conveying bright, saturated colors and gradations of various shades. This is the best paper for printing bright, realistic photo images that have rich colors and high contrast. For printing on glossy paper, as a rule, only water-soluble inks are used. They absorb and dry quickly, creating a colorful, color-rich image. Pigment ink can simply smudge. Another disadvantage of glossy paper is that it is more susceptible to mechanical stress; the polymer coating of the paper is very easy to damage. However, only when printing on glossy paper at home can you obtain photographs comparable to those obtained in professional darkrooms using chemical methods.

Application areas of glossy photo paper:

  • printing bright illustrated publications;
  • professional and amateur printing of photographs, especially landscapes, portraits and other photographic images where rich color rendition is required;
  • high quality promotional products;
  • printing of posters, posters and playbills;
  • interior graphics and portfolio;
  • photo calendars.

Silky matte photo paper (Silk)

Silky-matte paper, on the one hand, has a silky shine and perfectly conveys color shades, and on the other hand, unlike glossy paper, it does not produce glare and is resistant to mechanical stress. Silky-matte photo paper is often used when you need bright, rich photo images, but at the same time, the paper itself is resistant to scratches and other damage. This type of photo paper is often used in professional photo studios. The silky matte paper is suitable for printing with both water-soluble and pigment inks.

Areas of application for silky matte photo paper:

  • Promotional Products;
  • printing photographs and illustrated publications;
  • business cards;
  • interior and web graphics.

Semi-Glossy Photo Paper

Semi-gloss is one of the most versatile types of photographic paper. Semi-gloss paper is characterized by a soft, subdued shine without harsh glare, resistance to mechanical stress, the ability to convey rich colors, as well as greater density and thickness. Semi-gloss paper combines the benefits of matte and traditional glossy photo papers. At the same time, it is compatible with all inks and boasts a fairly low cost. However, you still need to keep in mind that semi-gloss paper is slightly inferior to glossy paper in terms of color reproduction and paint palette. Although this difference can be very difficult to notice.

Application areas of semi-gloss photo paper:

  • everyday home printing of photos and images with rich colors;
  • semi-professional printing in photo studios;
  • art and interior graphics;
  • printing postcards, booklets and brochures.

Satin photo paper

Satin photo paper also occupies an intermediate position between glossy and matte. It has a texture similar to matte paper, is distinguished by a dull-muted shine without sharp reflections, does not warp from excess ink and is resistant to mechanical stress. Due to its lower cost, satin photo paper often becomes an economical alternative to glossy paper. Moreover, it provides good color rendering quality. Satin photo paper is a versatile and economical medium that allows you to obtain high-quality prints for solving a variety of photo printing problems.

Scope of application of satin photo paper:

  • everyday home photo printing;
  • printing wedding photographs;
  • digital printing in photo studios;
  • interior graphics;
  • advertising printed products.

Super Glossy Paper

Super glossy is premium quality photo paper, which is a kind of improved version of classic glossy paper. Super-gloss photo paper provides even greater shine and smoothness, providing excellent image color and tone reproduction, as well as high detail. This is the choice of those who want to get high-quality photos with a glossy effect at the level of professional darkrooms. Super glossy photo paper can turn even an ordinary image into a colorful photograph.

Application areas of super glossy photo paper:

  • Business Cards;
  • advertising and printing products of the highest quality;
  • printing full-color photographs at home with high resolution and realistic color reproduction;
  • professional digital printing of photographs.

So, one or more types of photo paper are suitable for each specific task. In particular, matte paper is ideal for printing illustrations with text information and light-colored photographs. In turn, glossy and high-gloss photo paper are indispensable when you need to get photographs that are rich in color and have a vibrant artistic effect. Thus, it is always worth keeping in mind the properties and applications of different types of photo paper in order to choose the type of paper that will provide the best printing results.

Photography is probably one of the most amazing things in the world. After all, the photographs record not just events, they preserve for many years the memory of the warmest, joyful and pleasant moments of our lives. Thanks to the advent of digital photography, we no longer need to worry about saving frames or the hassle of developing and printing images, and the digital camera, whether it be a tiny amateur point-and-shoot camera or a professional SLR camera, has become our constant companion wherever we go. And, despite the fact that footage can be stored in huge quantities on digital media, nothing can replace the magic of a printed photograph.

Today, if you have a photo printer at home, you can print a wide variety of images yourself: from color graphs and illustrations to reproductions of paintings printed directly on canvas, and, of course, photographs - amateur and professional, in any quantity, format and quality. Inkjet printers are best suited for creating photographic images; laser printers are best for printing. However, nothing will stop you from printing business cards on an inkjet printer, or a highly artistic photograph of your favorite cat on a laser printer, if you choose the right paper.

At the time of chemical development of photographs, only a few dozen types of photographic paper were available to the average user, but now only one brand can offer up to 300 types of paper, differing in price, density, type of coating, and much more. Therefore, making a choice is not so easy.

First, let's figure out what photo paper is and what its features are.

The main function of inkjet photo paper is to quickly absorb and securely fix ink, protecting the image from external influences. That is why such paper, unlike ordinary paper, consists of different layers - receiving, fixing, protective, etc.

The number of layers determines the density, which is measured in grams per square meter. The thicker the paper, the better its quality and the higher the price. Thick photo paper, firstly, will not allow ink to bleed through from the back side, and secondly, it does not lose its shape, getting “wet” during printing.

Conventionally, photo paper can be divided into two classes based on density. Inexpensive paper with low density (90-150 g/m²) is designed to print images with a maximum resolution of 2880 dpi. It is great for making graphic materials such as booklets, leaflets, labels, memos and the like, but is practically not used for photographs. To create high-quality photographic images, you need more expensive and high-tech paper with a density of 160-300 g/m², which allows you to print pictures with a resolution of 5760 dpi.

Select the density depending on where and how you will store these photographs in the future. If carefully glued into an album or inserted into a frame under glass, you can limit yourself to paper with a density of 160-170 g/m². If you plan to take photographs with you, say, to show them to friends, you should choose thicker (and therefore reliable) paper (from 230 g/m²). To print high-quality color images on a laser printer, the paper weight must exceed 100 g/m².

Gloss, matte, satin?

The second important point that you should pay attention to when choosing photo paper is the type of coating. Basically, paper is divided into glossy and matte. There are also subtypes: super-gloss, semi-gloss (also called satin), silky-matte, and so on. Photo paper can also be double-sided - matte on one side and glossy on the other, or matte on both.

So what should you choose? Glossy papers better convey color saturation and soft tones. Due to this, gloss is often used for printing landscape and portrait photographs. A glossy coating better protects a photo from moisture, but all other damage is much more noticeable on it - scratches, fingerprints, etc. In addition, regular glossy paper is not suitable for printing with pigment ink (for this it is better to take super gloss, equipped with a special protective layer) .

Unlike glossy paper, all types of inks are suitable for matte paper. It is good to use for printing pictures, where it is more important to convey not colors and shades, but small details, for example, family or group photographs that show a lot of people. On matte photo paper, various damage and creases are less noticeable; it can be handled without any problems and even rolled into rolls.


Different types of photo paper coating:
matte, semi glossy and premium glossy

There are also various specialized types of photo paper. These include: self-adhesive, thermal transfer, textured and art paper, as well as film for advertising printing.

Self-adhesive photo paper has a special protected adhesive layer and low density. Suitable mainly for printing various promotional materials such as directional stickers, as well as for photographs that are pasted directly into an album.

Using thermal transfer paper, images are transferred to different items, such as T-shirts or mugs.

If you are planning to print a real artistic masterpiece, pay attention to textured and art paper. The first gives a very interesting effect due to embossing - in the recesses the color intensity is greater. True, you need to choose such paper with great care, since some textures may not be suitable for printing, for example, portraits or linear images. Art paper is mainly used to convey images made in various painting techniques - it resembles watercolor paper or canvas.

The quality of printed images also depends on other factors. For example, grain and whiteness affect light reflection (glare) and color fidelity. The porosity of the paper affects how the ink will be absorbed and how long the photo will last.

More, even more...

Let's talk about sizes. The choice is more than wide: from very small leaves to hefty canvases used for printing artistic photographs and posters. The most common format for printing photographs is A6, that is, the familiar 10x15 centimeters. It's perfect for printing pictures for family albums, and it's supported by all printers. But the A4 format is considered the most profitable, especially in packs of 100 sheets or more. If there is no need to print such large photographs, the images can be printed two on one sheet and then cut. Textures, canvases and other special papers are produced in the same formats.

The brand of photo paper plays an important role in choosing photo paper. The fact is that, based on the manufacturer, all photographic paper can be divided into two large groups: universal paper (, Zweckform, Emtec, etc.) and original paper, produced by leading printer manufacturers (, HP). The difference between them is quality and price. Universal photo paper is more affordable, but not always of high quality. However, it is perfect for printing amateur photographs, various booklets, invitations, and leaflets. The main disadvantage is that over time the image noticeably fades, especially if it is constantly exposed to sunlight.

To print artistic photographs, it is better to use original photo paper. Thanks to its high quality and reliability, pictures printed on it will retain their original appearance for several years. Naturally, if you use only high-quality, or better yet, original ink designed for this specific printer model. In addition, to obtain the maximum effect, it is desirable that the paper matches the brand of your printer, then the quality of color rendition will be optimal. True, you will have to fork out for such paper.

It is better to store photo paper in a tight sealed bag in order to protect it from moisture and various mechanical damage. It also doesn’t hurt to protect it from direct sunlight. When printing, whenever possible, load one sheet of paper into the printer tray at a time, this way you will avoid deformation during picking.