Pick the Perfect Paper for Inkjet Printing
When it comes to printing your images at home, you want to select paper that accentuates the best features of your work. Not all inkjet printer paper is made the same. ProMaster paper comes in a range of materials, textures, and weight to emphasize the elements of your printed image. Below we review the different ProMaster paper options, from finishes to paper weight, and the best applications for each of them to showcase your art. For prints at home that rival those from a photo lab, choose ProMaster Inkjet Papers.
Understand the Finish Before You Start
It’s important to understand how the different paper finishes and paper weight affect the finished printed product. Paper finishes refers to how the paper appears, and sometimes feels, with or without an image printed.
Glossy finishes generally have a smooth texture, higher glare, and more color vibrancy when compared with other finishes. This finish has no surface texture. Glossy is great for bringing out the contrast in a photograph: the deep blacks and fine details.
Pearl finish, sometimes referred to as luster, has a finely textured surface that lessens the glare of glossy prints, while maintaining a high level of color vibrancy. Papers with this finish are great for situations where a photograph may be viewed from multiple angles.
Matte finishes have the lowest level of brightness. Though it may not show contrast and details as well as other paper finishes, it is an excellent option for showcasing portraits, black and white photographs, and other fine art prints.
Metallic is a finish that lends a unique quality to the finished product and can be very eye-catching. While it’s not a great option for portraits since it struggles to accurately portray skin tone, metallic finishes are a beautiful way to present colorful landscapes and cityscapes.
Printing on ProMaster Pearl Inkjet Paper provides the effect of a true photographic print. The pearl finish of this inkjet media prevents glare and does not show fingerprint marks. The micro-porous design yields unprecedented image permanence and is fast drying. Available in cut sheet sizes of 8.5x11” and 13x19”.
Weight: 270 gsm
Thickness: 10.4 mil
Brightness: 95%
Paper finish: Pearl (luster)
As the name suggests, ProMaster Glossy Photo Inkjet Paper has an ultra high gloss finish that shows the sharpness and detail of your photos, while giving the feel of a true photographic print. The microporous design yields unprecedented image permanence and is fast drying. Available in 4x6”, 5x7”, 8.5x11”, 11x17”, 13x19”, and 17x22” cut sheets.
Weight: 270 gsm
Thickness: 10.4 mil
Brightness: 96%
Paper finish: Glossy
The ProMaster Ultra Premium Matte Inkjet Paper is ideal for making photo lab quality prints on your inkjet printer at home. Enlargements of your favorite images will look and feel just like traditional photos. Even better, the microporous design provides outstanding image permanence and is fast drying. This paper is available in a wide variety of cut sheet sizes: 4x6", 5x7", 8 1/2x11", 11x17", 13x19", and 17x22".
Weight: 270 gsm
Thickness: 10.4mil
Brightness: 93%
Paper finish: Matte
Ultra Premium Glossy Metallic Paper
ProMaster Ultra Premium Metallic Inkjet Paper is a microporous RC Photograde bright white gloss paper with a unique silver metallic layer that yields prints similar to silver halide metal papers. Compatible with dye and pigment inks, instant drying and water-resistant, this metallic photo paper works with all inkjet printers for brilliant photography and general printing. This paper is available in cutsheet sizes of 8 1/2x11", 11x17", and 13x19".
Weight: 270gsm
Thickness: 10.4mil
Brightness: 94%
Paper finish: Glossy
Natural Watercolor Cotton Paper
ProMaster's Natural Watercolor Cotton Paper is a favorite among photographers and artists for creating a unique, museum-quality feel from your inkjet printer at home. This fine art watercolor paper is a 100% cotton rag composition. It is 100% acid free and contains no optical brighteners for maximum longevity. The paper offers a high level of print fidelity, which highlights the rich colors and tones of your printed images. The surface is compatible with dye and pigment inks and dries quickly. Available in cut sheet sizes of 8.5x11”', 11x17" and 13x19".
Dual sided
High-resolution coatings
Museum-quality look and feel
Weight: 210 gsm
Thickness: 9 mil
Brightness: 90%
Paper finish: Matte
ProMaster Matte 65 Paper is a versatile bright white, acid-free matte inkjet paper with a smooth, flat surface. It produces beautiful, saturated colors with excellent shadow and highlight detail, and the smooth surface further accentuates your photograph's sharpness and clarity.
While designed for printing photographs, Matte 65 is also an excellent solution for many other uses, including greeting cards, high-quality reports, and indoor signage. The surface of Matte 65 is compatible with most pens, markers, crayons, and pastels, making it easy to sign photos or create original works of mixed media art.
Material: Alpha cellulose
Weight: 185 gsm
Thickness: 10 mil
Opacity: 95%
Brightness: 105%
Surface finish: flat matte
Archival qualities: acid-free & lignin free
Optical brightening agents (OBAs): yes
Fine Art Cold Press Bright Matte Paper
ProMaster Fine Art Cold Press Bright Matte Paper is a textured, bright white inkjet media for creating brilliant, artistic prints. This cold press paper has a distinct, textured surface reminiscent of premium watercolor papers, which produces a unique character to the printed image. The paper has a matte finish with almost no sheen that complements the textured surface and exudes an artistic quality. Its extra-bright grade of whiteness (95%) makes colors appear vivid with clean, brilliant-looking whites and highlights.
Material: 50/50 cotton/alpha cellulose
Basis weight: 300 gsm
Thickness: 21 mil
Opacity: 97%
Brightness: 95%
Surface finish: Matte
Single or double-sided: single
Archival qualities: acid-free & lignin free
Optical brightening agents (OBAs): Yes
Fine Art Baryta Natural Satin Paper
ProMaster Fine Art Baryta Natural Satin Paper is an acid free, museum-quality media that delivers increased tonal range and sharper details for amazing color prints and magical black and white prints. The density and thickness of this paper give it a luxurious, gallery-quality feel. The paper surface has a smooth, satin finish, which looks amazing framed or unframed.
Let’s dive into the details: the Baryta paper has a barium sulfate coating over the base stock, which produces a wider color gamut, rich blacks, and sharper image details. Its natural grade of whiteness (85%) comes from the beautiful 100% premium alpha-cellulose base stock and without the use of OBAs (Optical Brightening Agents). This means the paper will not suffer from metamerism issues under various types of light, including UV.
Material: 100% Alpha cellulose
Basis weight: 290 gsm
Thickness: 21 mil
Opacity: 98%
Brightness: 85%
Surface finish: Satin
Archival qualities: Acid-free & lignin free
Optical brightening agents (OBAs): No
The Proof is in the Print
Selecting the right paper to showcase your art makes a world of difference. Cut sheet inkjet paper can be loaded into most at-home printers for easy printing at home. Find https://paper.promaster.com/?utm_campaign=inkjet-paper-comparison&utm_medium=blog-link&utm_source=blog&utm_content=ICC-Profiles.
Not sure which paper will work best for your needs? ProMaster offers an Inkjet Paper Sample Pack to try out the different options. You can always visit your local camera store to review the paper in person or chat with a photo expert online.
Photo credits: George Milton
