A photo paper is a special paper coated with organic compounds to give it a glossy appearance, smoothness and ink absorbency. Once the paper has the required weight and a shiny finish, it is ready to be used in laser or inkjet printers for taking digital prints.
Inkjet photo paper is specially designed to be used with inkjet printers for reproduction of photographs. It is broadly categorized into glossy, semi-matte and matte finishes. The inkjet photo paper quality is determined by factors such as opacity/brightness, weight, caliper and finish. The best inkjet photo paper will have high opacity and brightness (usually in high 90s). The weight and thickness depends upon the photograph’s color content. Full color photos require thicker inkjet photo paper for best results. The inkjet paper should have the right degree of ink absorbency in order to prevent it from smudging.
Inkjet Photo Paper: Sizes And Types
When the inkjet photo paper was introduced in the market, it was only available in a single (8.5x11 inch) size. However, at present many different sizes are offered to suit the needs of the user. The various sizes include:
- 4x6 inkjet photo paper;
- 5x7 inkjet photo paper;
- 13x19 glossy inkjet paper photo etc.
The 5x7 size is well suited for fitting pictures into mat boards and frames at home and the print can easily be taken with a regular home printer. For large sizes like 13x19, wide format printers are used.
Apart from sizes, the inkjet paper is also categorized in different types, few of which include; the light weight glossy photo inkjet paper that produces a vivid result with a shiny finish, unlike the matte photo paper which is used to produce superior text results. The Great White Imaging photo inkjet paper is a lightweight paper that helps in getting high-quality results as it remains sparkling white and gives a perfect neat and clean finish to photos. Due to its light weight it drives itself smoothly through the printer and readily absorbs assorted and deep colors. The salient feature of Swiss inkjet photo paper is that it promises quick drying capability. Another variant is the inkjet photo paper 2b Christmas cards.
Leading Inkjet Photo Paper Brands
A number of inkjet paper photo quality brands are available in the market such as Epson photo quality inkjet paper, HP photo paper, Canon photo paper etc.
Epson has positioned itself very competitively in the market by offering a large variety. Designed specifically for Epson printers, the photo paper is waterproof and is also chemically treated for archival abilities (that is promised to last up to seventy years). Other than glossy, semi-gloss, luster, matte/fine art, Epson also offers scrapbook papers, iron-on-transfer papers, photo stickers and photo quality self-adhesive sheets (for creating signs, labels etc and comes with a cutting grid for easy custom trimming). Epson was also the originator of lightweight glossy photo inkjet paper that eliminated the problem of thicker papers jamming inside printers.
HP offers a fine variety in its photo paper such as varied sizes and thickness, matte, glossy or semi-gloss finish. In its premium plus photo paper HP promises exceptional fade resistance that last for generations. The HP advanced photo paper is suitable for use in humid environments as it is heavy and dries fast. The HP everyday photo paper is thicker than plain paper which prevents the colors from showing through the back side. HP also offers a premium photo card range that provides a professional quality shine and is targeted for wedding announcements, greeting cards etc.
Similar to HP, Canon photo paper also comes in matte, glossy and semi-gloss varieties. Canon also offers a borderless photo paper to be used in printers with borderless printing option. This variant promises the look and feel of professional lab-processed prints right at home.
For making purchases many different photo glossy inkjet paper suppliers listings are available online and can also be looked up in photography magazines. Good quality photo papers give life and color to photographs and convert them into everlasting memories. By choosing skillfully among the different varieties one can obtain professional result while sitting at home.
