Speaking of which-matte v glossy

[Steve Cat]

I have always preferred glossy, especially for black and white, primarily because of the belief that they show more detail. In my never ending quest to keep an open mind, and because SAMS CLUB only offers matte (i.e. Cheap). What do people think about this? I haven't been to a gallery for years. Do people print their "fine art" prints on matte?

[frank abramonte]

Steve, I think that matte is probably the last finish you would want to use. The matte finish lacks the depth of color (less contrast) that you get with a coated paper. However, I think that glossy paper shows more flaws and usually plugs the shadow areas. Kodak used to make a "Satin" finish paper which had just enough gloss to give you a nice contrast but didn't plug the shadow areas. They have since substitued a "Semi Gloss" paper which is about 2 times the gloss of the "Satin". It produces nice photos and not as glarry as "Gloss" or "High Gloss". The trick is to get the ink to dry on the surface and not soak into the paper. You should pick 2 or 3 papers and run a test using he same photo, perhaps a test photo from:

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/54671
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/364835/1/14520773

Hope this helps.

[Chuck S.]

Much has been said here in the past about getting better results when using the same brand of paper as one's printer, where applicable (i.e., Epson, HP, and Canon). That's a good recommendation, although I've been a little looser about that, using Kodak and Epson with my little HP 4-in-1 for years with acceptable results.

Matte paper works with some images but, like Frank, I've found satin and glossy to give generally more satisfactory results.

Chuck

[Grant]

I don't think there are any rules on the paper you print on. Of course there are preferences and guide lines. Generally the mechanics is the more detail you want glossier finer the paper, the softer you want the less glossy and more textured the paper should be. Often the choice is obvious, a monkey wrench looks better on glossy ans a baby better on mat. Other times it is not as obvious, a man has a furrowed face and the choice may be do you want to accentuate the harshness of his life or bring out the gentleness of the man.

The choice of paper is like everything else in Elements, an artistic decision.

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[douglas m scott]

The Sams Clubs in the Indianapolis area carry Kodak Premium (75 Sheets per box 8mil) and Kodak Ultima picture Paper (75 Sheets per box10mil) these are 8 1/2x 11in. They work with my HP 8250. The Ultima is said to archive for 100+ years, with HPs Vivera Inks.
doug

[Steve Cat]

Well, I mean't the kind of paper the processor prints on. You know Walgreen prints on Glossy and and SAMS prints on matte. While I'm experimenting with black and white photogrpaphy, and Element 5 does a nice job, I like a cheap service, like 2 8/10 for $5

[frank abramonte]

Grant, your correct in stating that it’s a matter of taste, however most inquiries are about getting better quality and clarity of photos.

In the printing industry the best reproduction is achieved with “ink holdout”. This means that the ink should dry on the paper surface and not be absorbed into the paper. When the ink is absorbed it has a tendency to spread, thereby giving you a softer and less contrasty look. For consistency, this same softness & less contrasty look is better controlled in your photo enhancements.

You also must understand that when you view a photograph or printed picture the last thing you want is to have the paper glare back at you. This back glare distracts from the true contrast of the photo. Your constantly shifting the position of the page to avoid the glare and to get a better view of the photo.

In printing there are 2 matte papers. One is achieved by calandering (burnishing) the paper to get the low luster needed. The other is called “matte coated”, this version actually has a clay coating and then is calandered (burnished) to achieve the low luster.
It is actually almost like a glossy paper except that it is not calandered to the extent of glossy paper. The difference is that in the first the ink can get absorbed into the paper, whereas, in the second the ink dries on the surface therefore it does not have a tendency to spread.

Calendered is a machine through which paper is made smooth and glossy

I don’t know whether the photo papers are just matte papers or if they are coated matte. It they are coated matte then you will get superior results. If not then I would suggest using satin finish and achieving the softness through photo enhancement.

Hope this bring some light to the subject.

[Steve Cat]

Well its also important to be artsy far##y, so when the hip artistic amongst you go to Walgreen or SAMs do you get matte or glossy for the 8x10's you want for display

[Grant]

Well its also important to be artsy far##y, so when the hip artistic amongst you go to Walgreen or SAMs do you get matte or glossy for the 8x10's you want for display

If we had a Walgreen or a SAMs in our area and if I got my prints from them I would get the monkey wrench printed on glossy and the the old man printed on matte. But I print at home and in some cases I even print on water colour paper.

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[Grant]

Grant, your correct in stating that it’s a matter of taste, however most inquiries are about getting better quality and clarity of photos.


Are they now? My mistake, I thought it was about getting better photos!

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[Tom K]

Since we are such an interesting discussion on paper - can anyone
offer a simple explanation of ' bleed ' in reference to paper ?

Tom :confused:

[Wendy]

Hi Tom ...

Bleed is just where the print extends beyond the area that will form the finished image. Its done because you can't print right up to the edge so you "bleed" the image beyound and then trim off :)

Wendy

[Tom K]

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for the explanation of bleed.. What's done with all the tiny slivers
of paper cutoffs... Tom :p

[Ric Cisson]

I can only speak on experience at my lab for Fuji Crystal Archive paper off of the Frontier 370. This opinion is based on years of working with pros, serious photographers and hobbyists alike. It seems, and is quite well documented here, if your intention is to mount, matte, and frame behind glass, then matte, luster, or pearl finish is preferred for display. If however you are entering a print to be juried for a show or display outside of frame or inside frame minus glass, then glossy finish is preferred. This is the way it seems locally. Personally and professionally I prefer matte and luster for framed work behind glass, and prefer gloss finish for general display without glass and presentation and competition.

As for inkjet fine art prints, fine art papers such as Moab Entrada win hands down over generic or branded consumer level gloss finished or semi-gloss or even the Epson Premium Lustre in local exhibits and presentations. More and more we see more demands for canvas fine art printing than in past years up until now. Just my two cents worth...

[Steve Cat]

Is it an optical illision that glossy appears sharper, and even if it is just and illusion isn't that a good thing?