Inkjet Photo Paper Buying Guide | Tips to Buy Inkjet Canvas Paper

Ranked #6,542 in Arts & Design, #109,109 overall

How to Buy the Best Inkjet Photo Paper?

The question is which inkjet paper to buy? If salesmen are asked to make a choice for you then they will give you the most fanciest and expensive paper. Instead of asking the salesmen, you should ask yourself "What do I want to achieve with my inkjet paper"? when buying the paper keep in mind that wants and needs are two different things; you might want to buy the more expensive paper although your need might be the plain paper available.

Things To Know Before You Buy Inkjet Photo Paper

Inkjet Photo Paper
There is a wide variety of photo quality inkjet papers available which can be a tad bit overwhelming. However, there are six major differences in all these papers amongst which four play a crucial role: brightness, caliper, weight and finish. Choosing the right paper is very important and if these tips are followed, it can be easily done.
  • 1Opacity basically refers to the murkiness or dullness of the paper, so the higher the opacity the less would the printed text and image bleed through to the other side. This is particularly significant for double sided printing. Inkjet photo papers have a comparatively high opacity (falling between the range of 94-97 usually) compared to ordinary inkjet or laser paper thus the problem of bleed through is curtailed and minimized.
  • 2Paper weight is commonly expressed in pounds or as grams per square meter. Various types of paper have their own weight scale. The bond paper lies between the range of 24 to 270 g/m2). Terms such as heavyweight do not essentially signify a heavier paper than other comparable papers.
  • 3The other factor is the brightness level. In terms of paper, there are varying levels of whiteness or brightness. It is usually expressed as a number from 1 to 100. Photo papers are usually in the high 90s. However not all papers are marked with their brightness level therefore the best way to figure that out is to compare two papers side by side!
  • 4Photo papers are heavier and thicker than the normal multipurpose papers. This thickness is commonly referred to as caliper. It is imperative to adjust the greater ink coverage typically found in photos. The conventional inkjet paper caliper lies between the range of 4.3 mil to a thick 10.4 mil paper. However the photo paper on the other hand lies between 7 to 10 mils.
  • 5Images that are printed on matte photo papers are not shiny or glossy. They are not the same as the normal inkjet finish papers. Matte finish photo papers are thicker and particularly made for photos. Most of the matte finish papers are printable on both the sides.
  • 6The end coating on the photo papers gives the printed photos the glossy feel and look of photographic prints. Because the coating keeps the paper from absorbing the ink readily, there are some glossy papers which take time to dry out. However quick dry gloss finishes are the latest trend and fad. The finish may be referred to as high gloss, soft gloss or semi gloss, each signifying the amount and level of shine. Satin gives a matte look and is less shiny.

Types of Photo Paper?

There is a variety of photo printing papers to choose from, but generally photo papers can be categorized into two; porous and non-porous papers. The difference between the two types of papers is how fast the ink dries.

Best Selling Inkjet Photo Papers

Loading

Tips for Buying Quality Inkjet Photo Paper - Inkjet Printing Paper Guide

Inkjet Canvas Paper

Usually people, who print pictures at home on photo printing paper, especially the first time, do not know what type of printing paper would actually give the required professional results. The problem is that a variety of printing papers are available so it becomes very hard to choose the right paper. It can be highly disappointing to buy wrong inkjet paper because it is expensive. The following discussion provides a guide to buying the required quality inkjet printing paper.

Tip # 1: Before going to the office supply store, it is important to note the manufacturer and model of the printer. This information might help in choosing the right printing paper as many manufacturers make printing paper for specific models. This is advantageous as manufacturers know their products best hence they have the knowledge of what type of paper would give the best result in their specific model printer.

Tip # 2: The second tip is to but inkjet paper of right size. This type of paper is available in various sizes hence its best to make a decision based on the usage of the prints, for example size of family photograph would be different than that of a report cover. Photo inkjet paper is available from four by six inch papers for traditional photo printing, to standard letter size for bigger work, to rolls for large format printing.

Tip # 3: Another tip is to consider the thickness and brightness of photo inkjet paper. These characteristics of paper have most affect on professional look of the print. Thicker paper will be able to absorb more ink and brighter paper produces stunning prints as the paper reflects light.

Tip # 4: Inkjet papers are available between glossy and matte finish. Glossy finish give straight-from-the-studio quality look, but matte photo paper looks equally professional with its softer and less reflective characteristics. Samples can be seen before choosing between the types of finish preferred. If glossy paper is chosen then it should be made sure that the printer works with glossy paper and then the type of printing paper that your printer works best with should be found out.

Tip # 5: Photo inkjet papers can also be order online in order to avoid the hassle of going to a store, but it should be made sure that it is bought from a reputable online supplier. Online purchase is also convenient because a person can read reviews about the product before purchasing it.

Let Me Ask You Something

Do You Prefer Matte or Glossy Finish?

Loading

Matte is My Favorite

AlleyCatLane says:

I prefer matte.

scarlettohairy says:

Matte for me, for most uses.

I Like Glossy

 

Inkjet Papers are Available in Different Sizes

Inkjet Papers are available in various sizes hence its best to make a decision based on the usage of the prints, for example size of family photograph would be different than that of a report cover.

Important!

What is The Difference Between Glossy and Matte Finish?

Inkjet papers are available between glossy and matte finish. Glossy papers are shiny with vibrant color quality while matte finish does not have a shiny surface and colors appear dull. Secondly glossy paper reflects more light then matte finish.

What is your Favorite Photo Paper?

Photo paper
Loading poll. Please Wait...

Nominate This Lens For Lens of the Day

Nominate It Here
If you like this lens and think it should be Lens Of The Day, just nominate it by using the above link. Thanks!

Please Dont Forget to Vote If You Enjoyed This Lens!

This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.

Add this to your lens »

Best Canvas Paper for Printing

Use High Quality Paper for Quality Prints

Loading

What do you think about this lens? Leave us a comment!

Did You Find the Above Mentioned Photo Paper Buying Tips Useful?

  • AlleyCatLane Sep 9, 2011 @ 6:45 pm | delete
    Good information to know.
  • scarlettohairy Sep 8, 2011 @ 3:43 pm | delete
    Great info about paper!
  • JziE Sep 7, 2011 @ 9:39 pm | delete
    I didnt knew that
  • traveller27 Sep 7, 2011 @ 6:11 pm | delete
    Very well-presented lens.

by

JennySui

Hi, My name is Katrina. I love to write since it allows me to express my feelings and thoughts. I have greatly enjoyed writing here and If you want to... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Epson Matte Photo Paper 

Epson Glossy Photo Paper (100 Sheets)