The 21st century has brought the world a lot of advancements in printing technology and the types of print formats that are available.
With so many options available to photographers, it can be difficult to decide which type of print format to use and it’s important to consider your personal needs, as well as factors such as whether you are going to frame or mount the prints.
At PrintWild, we offer 3 main types of paper: Matte Fine Art Prints, Gloss Prints and Semi-Gloss Prints. These high-quality papers each have their own profile that we load onto our rip server because when the fine pigment-based ink hits the paper, the way that the ink dots behave on the paper are different. Let’s take a look at the main differences between these printing formats…
WHAT ARE FINE ART MATTE PRINTS?
Matte Fine Art Paper is our most popular Archival Certified fine art paper here at PrintWild. Unlike glossy prints, these prints do not have a shiny coating and won’t create distracting reflections. This allows even the finest details to really ‘pop’ on the print.
As matte prints give your images a deeper black, it is the ideal choice for printing monochrome photos. This is because the greyscale colour on the Epson printer gamut is very true, which is made possible by the fact that the Epson printer has three dedicated greyscale ink cartridges. Matte prints come in various textures which opens the door for significantly better contrast, making matte paper the first choice for images that are rich in detail and texture.
It is also the best paper for framed photo prints as the light reflection on these prints is very low, resulting in very little reflection when behind glass, and providing a clearer view of the fine details. If your desire is to create an image with a more dramatic tone, then matte print is the way to go.
PROS AND CONS OF MATTE PRINT FORMAT:
Pros:
- More durable than gloss prints
- Least likely to get scratches
- Ideal for framing
- Great for black and white prints
- Fingerprints won’t show
- Minimal reflections will show from overhead lights
Cons:
- The colours are less vibrant
- Reduced image sharpness
- The cost is more expensive than glossy prints
WHAT ARE GLOSS PRINTS?
SEMI-GLOSS:
Semi-gloss prints fall in between a high gloss and matte finish (zero gloss). Though the colour is not as intense as full-gloss finishes, semi-gloss photos balance the benefit of having less light reflection with a good level of colour vibrancy. This is also the best option for those looking for quality at a fair price.
GLOSS PRINTS:
Gloss prints provide the best colour strength, however, they do produce a lot of light reflection. The reflectiveness is a result of the surface layer of the coatings that are applied to the photographic paper, and is the main difference separating gloss prints from matte prints.
Gloss paper enhances the colour vibrancy, and increases the contrast, as the highlights stand out and the blacks are stronger due to the reflective properties of the paper. If you are wanting to display your prints without a frame or glass covering, choosing gloss prints is a good option.
PROS AND CONS OF GLOSS AND SEMI-GLOSS PRINT FORMATS:
Pros:
- Perfect for high contrast and colourful prints
- Takes away the need for glass when framing your image
- Gives your print a premium look
Cons:
- Glossy paper can create a glare that can obscure your image
- Looks cheap if it is not printed properly (No need to worry, we have you covered)
- It is often difficult to write on, so bear this in mind if signatures are needed
When you choose which print format to use, the most important factor to consider is the purpose of the image and the lighting conditions that your final product will be displayed in. For example, matte is always preferable for photographs framed behind glass, however gloss might be better suited to photos that will be displayed without any framing. If ever you’re in doubt though, we’re happy to provide professional advice on what we believe would be best suited to your work.
