Enhancing Your Photos

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Choosing paper is an experience, one that may not seem like anything important. And if I am being honest who would really care about what type of paper your photos are printed on. Would it make much of a difference, and does it really matter? And I can confidently say it does. Taking a picture is more than just having a nice image that is only part of it. When it comes to printing it that is whole second part of it. 

There are several different types of paper, and they all have different textures, coatings, shines, and feels. Each of these qualities play an important role in the final outcome of your image. There are two different types of fine art paper RC or resin coated, or fiber. Typical RC papers have an ink-receptive coating or plastic layer on its surface where the fiber paper has no coating, and the ink is directly placed on the fiber. The best way to describe the difference between the paper is RC papers are smoother in texture and fibers have texture. Standard RC Coated papers are glossy, luster, metallic, and pearl to just name a few. Some examples fiber papers are matte, baryta, rag a rice paper.

Each present photos are different way. The RC papers retain details in the shadow areas, have very dark blacks. They also provide a transition between tones and color values. Some even can enhance the depth of the image, in my opinion, creating an almost three-dimensional feel to the photo. But because of the coating on these papers, there is the risk of glare because with these papers, light bounces of the surface. And for some this maybe a distraction and can take away from the beauty of the print. RC Papers can be associated to commercial and portrait subject.

Whereas Fiber Based paper has the visible texture and can often times do not retain the details in the shadows and obscure the smaller details. I personally find that the edges to be softer and have less definition between the subjects in the scene. The shadows in these images do not always retain the details resulting in a larger dark mass. Because there is no coating on the paper light is absorbed therefor reducing the shadow areas. Fiber based papers are sometimes used for fine-art and portraits.  

Other aspects of choosing your paper are the brightness and this is how white your paper is or for those who are visual is the paper warmer or cooler. Brighter papers tend to be cooler. Another is the Dmax of the paper or how dark or dense can the darkest value in your image go. Finally, what is the paper weight and thickness, thicker paper is used for more artistic approach, but they tend to be more expensive. A thinner paper can be used for more a more commercial approach and thinner paper is respectively more affordable.   

If you are still asking yourself why paper should make a difference, give it a try, if you have access to an inkjet printer like Canon or Epson that has the ability to print various papers buy a sample pack from a paper company and try it out. I can safely say you will be amazed!


Different Paper Manufactures:

Moab: Moab Paper

Canson: Photo papers - Digital & Technical | Canson

Ilford: ILFORD PHOTO | The home of B&W film photography

Hahnemuele: Paper „Made in Germany“ since 1584 – HAHNEMÜHLE – Official Website

Canon: Canon Printing Paper: Multipurpose, Photo, & More | Canon U.S.A, Inc.

Epson: Paper | Epson US


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