Depending upon the manufacturer, photo paper is
categorized in to up to five major aspects. It's worth knowing what they mean
as you comparison-shop between papers within a given maker's line.
Paper Weight
Photo paper is heavier and thicker than plain
paper, mainly to offset the tendency to curl that accrues from having one side
of the paper coated. Better photo paper, however, is even thicker, giving it a
solid, substantial look and feel that denotes quality and permanency. Heavy,
double-weight photo paper is what you want for exhibits, framed prints, and
other occasions when only top quality will do.
Paper Surface
While glossy paper is the most popular kind of
surface, producing the sharpest, most contrasty images, you may wish to
consider others. Semi-gloss is less reflective than glossy, and some experts
maintain that papers with this finish allow for a higher dynamic range—better
blacks and whites. The next down the scale, matte, is more subtle and subdued.
Matte paper is not as contrasty as glossy, which makes it good for portraits
and artsy subjects.
You'll run across some other, less-standard
photo-paper finishes. "Luster" typically imparts a feeling of depth
and dimension, "satin" helps create a dreamy, surrealistic image, and
"metallic" gives a brassy, contemporary look. Every photo-paper
surface and texture has its own characteristics, and the only way to discover
which one works best for your images is to experiment with them. The best
surface will sometimes depend on the content and composition of the image, too.
Color or Brightness
Better-quality consumer-grade photo papers tend
to be whiter, producing brighter, livelier colors and contrast. However, in
some brands, the brighteners used in the paper tend to fade to yellow over the
decades, especially if chlorine bleach or similar chemicals were used in the
manufacturing process. (We'll discuss that more in the section on archivability
below.) Professional-grade papers, on the other hand, may have warmer (golden)
or cooler (bluish) colors, which can affect the overall color and feeling of
your printed picture. Other pro-grade papers have a vanilla-like color, which
is the natural color of the paper, without brighteners or dyes.
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