Choosing photo paper for your printer

Despite the fact that many of us prefer to view photos electronically, the service of printing images is still in demand. With special equipment, you can print photos from the comfort of your home.

Photo paper for inkjet printers comes in a wide variety. Every customer who has ever bought consumables for equipment was surprised by the multifaceted range of products. Photo paper is different from that used for printing texts. The goods are divided according to different characteristics, including size, composition, density, etc. One of the main characteristics by which all printer paper is distinguished is the type of surface.

• Glossy. Consumables of this type have long been used for printing photographs. On sale you can find two options: semi-gloss and super-gloss. Manufacturers use the Glossy designation to mark papers with a smooth and shiny surface.

• Matte. Unlike the above product, this appearance is characterized by a textured surface. This includes analogs such as satin and silky paper.

• Microporous. It is also paper with a special gel layer. This product differs from the others in its additional protection in the form of a glossy coating and a porous structure that absorbs paint.

Let's consider each of the types in more detail

A distinctive feature of the paper is the presence of a smooth reflective layer. The subtle shine of light on the surface gives the image additional saturation and brightness. Due to the special structure, the material does not need protection, however, fingerprints and dust are strongly visible on the gloss.

The subspecies are as follows.

• Semi-glossy. The golden mean between matte and glossy surfaces. The picture turns out to be colorful, and various defects on the surface are less noticeable.

• Super glossy. A paper with a particularly expressive shine. When light hits, it becomes covered with glare.

Affordable material that consists of three layers. The surface is slightly rough. Due to the waterproof layer, the ink used for printing does not leak. Recently, such a product is rapidly gaining popularity. Both pigment and water-soluble inks can be used for printing on such paper. Because of what it can be used for a laser or inkjet printer.

In appearance, microporous paper is very similar to matte paper. Due to the porous layer, the ink is quickly absorbed and firmly fixed. To protect the photo from fading and paint evaporation, manufacturers use a layer of gloss, which has a protective function. This type of paper is also used for color printing.

This type of consumable is used in professional photo salons. Paper consists of several layers (there are more of them compared to other types) that perform specific tasks. It can also be used at home with special equipment.Otherwise, the money on designer paper will be wasted, and there will be no sense from it. On sale you can find double-sided and self-adhesive paper for printing original products. Double-sided products can have both glossy and matte surfaces.

Typically, paper for printing photographs includes 3 to 10 layers. It all depends on its quality, manufacturer and other characteristics. To prevent paint from seeping through the sheet of paper, a waterproof backing is used as the first layer. This is especially important when working with inkjet printers, as they print on liquid ink.

Next comes the cellulose layer. Its purpose is to absorb and fix the coloring compounds inside. The top layer is the receiving one. This is the standard formulation of three-syllable paper. To find out the exact composition of the paper, you need to carefully study the information about each type of product. The more layers, the denser and heavier the paper will be.

For printing photographs and other images, you need thick and sturdy paper. The thin sheets used for text and graphics can lie and warp under the weight of the paint. Density indicators are as follows.

• For black and white texts - up to 120 g / m2.

• For photographs and color images - from 150 g / m2.

The appropriate sheet size is selected taking into account the technical capabilities of the MFP or printer. You also need to decide what size photos the user wants to get. The most common option is A4, 210x297 mm (landscape sheet.) Professional equipment can print in A3 format, 297x420 mm. Rare models of equipment can print photographs in the size of A6 (10x15 cm), A5 (15x21 centimeters), A12 (13x18 centimeters) and even A13 (9x13 centimeters).

Note: The operating instructions for the printing equipment will tell you what size paper you can use. Also, the necessary information can be found on the manufacturer's website by selecting the appropriate model and reading the technical specifications.

The choice of photo paper can be a real problem for buyers who are not familiar with this type of product. The range of products includes both budget and high value items. To help you choose the right consumable, you should follow the advice of specialists who have been working with both photographic equipment and consumables for several years.

Each printing equipment manufacturer manufactures its own consumables. The main advantage of such products is that they are ideally suited to the equipment of a particular manufacturer. This rule should be followed when choosing paper for both inkjet and laser equipment.

Despite a number of advantages of branded consumables, they have one significant drawback - cost. Many companies produce only luxury grade paper, so it costs much more than conventional products. Also, if a customer wants to buy original paper under a little-known trademark, it may simply not be in the store. In this case, you will have to make an order via the Internet or look for another place of sale.

Also, do not forget that the thicker the paper, the better the picture will look. This characteristic also affects the preservation of the brightness and saturation of colors. The visual effect depends on the texture of the consumable.If you want a shine on the surface of your photo, choose glossy paper or super glossy paper for maximum effect. Otherwise, buy matte.

The printing process is simple, however, it has certain features that must be followed. Otherwise, you can not only waste consumables, but also harm the equipment. The work is carried out as follows.

• If the original document is on your computer, you need to connect a printer or MFP to it. After that, you can connect office equipment to the network and start it.

• Next, you need to take the required amount of paper. If you are using a custom supply option, make sure the printing device supports the size you selected. You can find the information you need in the operating instructions that come with each piece of equipment. You can also get advice from the store by specifying the model of your printer or multifunctional device.

• Check if the sheets are sticking together. To do this, the stack must be carefully loosened and, if necessary, sorted out.

• Straighten the stack and place it in the appropriate tray for the printing equipment. If the sheets are wrinkled and not folded neatly, the printer device will jam them during operation.

• Use special clamps to secure. They should hold the paper as much as possible, while not squeezing or deforming it.

• During the printing process, the technician will ask you to designate the type of paper you are using. Select Photo Paper to print images. You can also set the necessary conditions yourself by opening the driver settings.

• When using a new type of paper, it is recommended to test for the first time. In the print settings there is a function "Print a test page". Run it and evaluate the result. This check will also help determine if the consumable is loaded correctly. If everything is done correctly, you can start printing photos.

For tips on choosing photo paper, see the following video.