Photography students have to print their images for critiques, exhibitions, discussions and for your portfolios. There are a myriad of photography papers available – from the printer companies’ own offerings to unique papers from specialist paper companies. In this article, we’ll share which papers will ensure your photos look their best. Not only can your work stand out on its creative and compositional merits, but the right paper can take your image from “wow” to “WOW!!!!”
Printer manufacturers offer paper under their brand name, but it’s made by other companies. They specialize in hardware and only offer paper as a convenience. Just like you don’t have to use the same brand lens or battery with your camera, you don’t have to use the same brand paper with your printer.
The Pinnacle of Premium Papers
When you want the absolute best of the best, there’s good reason that Hahnemühle Photo Rag® 308 is the one of the world’s most popular fine art papers. This 100% cotton features a white base with a light texture which helps give your work a three-dimensional appearance and more depth than standard matte papers. It’s acid-free, OBA-free and lignin-free – meaning it will maintain those striking colours from your images. The premium inkjet coating leads to prints that feature brilliant colours, deep blacks, strong contrasts and perfect details. Photo Rag® 308 is ideal for both colour and B&W images.
Photo Rag® is available in three weights (188, 308 & 500 gsm) but 308 is the ideal choice as it works in most photo inkjet printers and nicely balances paper feel with weight and cost.
Unique Finishes
Pearl papers offer a unique semi-metallic, iridescent surface. Ilford Galerie Prestige Smooth Pearl has a texture-free surface over it’s acid-free alpha-cellulose base. It offers excellent image sharpness with stunning contrast. Prestige Smooth Pearl adds an extra layer of pizzazz to your B&W images – the iridescence breathes new life into your work. Vivid colour images “pop” just a little bit more, as well.
A less subtle and more dramatic alternative would be Ilford Galerie Metallic Gloss – a highly reflective iridium surface that is perfect for landscapes and colourful images. Metallic Gloss adds depth and three-dimensionality to your prints. For images that deserve a “WOW!” factor, print on Metallic Gloss.
Environmentally Conscious
Photographers love themes and we love the environment. If you’re displaying a series of images on environmental images, why not choose a paper that is truly sustainable. Hahnemühle Natural Line papers begin life with the best intentions of the natural environment. From responsibly sourced fibres to cleaner production, Natural Line papers are special Fine Art papers you can feel good about using.
There are four types: Bamboo, Hemp, Agave and Sugar Cane. Bamboo is a warm, natural tone paper with a smooth surface that works well for monotone images. Hemp, Agave and Sugar Cane are natural bright white papers that work for all images. Hemp is smooth (and looks similar to Photo Rag® 308) whilst Agave is textured and Sugar Cane even more textured. Textured papers work very well on prints that need more dimensionality – shallow depth of field images and those with large blocks of similar tones.
Price Conscious Papers
For those looking for professional quality papers on a student budget, Breathing Color Vibrance line is an excellent choice. Available in Gloss, Luster, Matte and Metallic finishes, these 255gsm (230gsm for Matte) inkjet papers deliver all the performance at a lower price point. Mix and match finishes to suit your work – Vibrance papers share the same white point so they look great together. All offer similar dynamic range and excellent contrast.
Other Print Media
Students often ask if they can display their work on canvas, metal sheets and other media. Most of these options are not preferred for portfolios – instructors and potential clients prefer paper media. Two papers that are often overlooked but can deliver incredible results with the right images are Hahnemühle Rice paper and Awagami Washi papers. These thin (almost translucent) inkjet media can be backlit (natural or artificial light) for dynamic presentations. Images with large areas of solid colour with sharp details take on a new life when presented on Washi and Rice papers.
Cut Sheet or Rolls
If you have a roll feed on your printer, rolls are the way to go. You generally spend less per square metre for roll paper and get more paper per roll than a pack of cut sheets. You can also print odd sizes (as wide as the roll up to the length of the roll, often) for panoramas or make square prints with less waste than cut sheet.
The advantages of cut sheets are they tend to stay flat if stored properly. Sizes also stay consistent – especially important when everyone has to display their work on the same size sheet.
Items Discussed
Author: Will Prentice
A portrait, fine art and commercial photographer for 30 plus years, Will Prentice is not just a contributor to PHOTONews magazine, but also host of PHOTONewsTV, owner of Captura Photography+Imaging and Technical Support/Brand Manager for Amplis Foto, Canada’s largest distributor of photographic equipment.
Will teaches photographers of all skill levels how to improve their craft – from creative photo projects to picking the right gear for their needs to flattering lighting to getting the best expressions to creating final images for screen and print. His unique style of highly detailed images with perfect tonality, wide dynamic range and stunning colour is instantly recognizable. Commercial clients rely on Will’s creative eye and mastery of lighting.
When he’s not behind the camera or in front of a class, you’ll find Will outdoors in any weather – usually on one of his bikes or enjoying time with his grandchildren.
