What is matte finish photo

What Should You Print Your Pictures On? – Posterjack

“Hey Posterjack! I have a photo I want you to print for me but I don’t know whether to go with a matte or glossy finish. Which is better?”

Ultimately, one isn’t better than the other and choosing between matte or glossy prints comes down to personal preference, but there are a few things you can consider before making a decision.

Matte vs. Glossy Photo Prints

Our Satin Matte Poster Prints and Glossy Poster Prints have a few similar characteristics, such as:

The colours in your photo remain true
The photo paper has a smooth/uniform surface
Details are crisp and vivid
Photos are printed using the giclee (inkjet) method for a gorgeous continuous tone look
Photo prints are fade-resistant for 200+ years
They’re printed using proprietary PJ-PRINT™ software, creating sharp prints at a large scale
They’re made using eco-friendly, water-based, and non-toxic inks

In addition to these similarities, both products are available in over 50 different sizes, are priced the same, and are shipped in a protective tube, so your photos will arrive in perfect condition. That being said, there are times when you may want to choose a matte finish over a glossy finish, or vice versa.

When to Print Your Photo on Glossy Paper

If you love the look of a shiny, high-gloss finish, a Glossy Poster Print is the way to go. The colours in your photo will pop and get the attention it deserves. Nearly all types of photography look great printed on a glossy surface too; black & white images, landscape photos, high-contrast shots, portraitures, and so on. Glossy prints are eye-catching and have an upscale feel to them.

When NOT to Print Your Photo on Glossy Paper

The disadvantage to a high-gloss finish is that it produces a glare, so it’s not the best choice if you plan to display your photo in areas where there’s a lot of bright light. If your print is going to be handled a lot, glossy probably isn’t for you either, as fingerprints and smudges can show up on the surface. And lastly, Glossy Poster Prints are not recommended for low contrast/subtle gradient images or desaturated/pastel photos. The colours will still be true, but due to the glare a glossy print produces, it’s harder to see the transitions in contrast compared to a matte finish.

When to Print Your Photo on Matte Paper

You really can’t go wrong printing your photo on our Satin Matte Poster Prints. Whether you’re printing low contrast or high contrast images, black and white portraits or HDR landscapes, group photos or macros, when printed on the 250 GSM satin matte photo paper with our world-class printers and premium inks, the colours, textures, and details in your photo will look incredible. Choosing a matte finish for your images also means no glare and no fingerprints, so if you want to display your photos in rooms with bright overhead lighting or you think your images will be handled a lot, you will definitely want to choose this over a print with a glossy finish.

When NOT to Print Your Photo on Matte Paper

The main reason you wouldn’t want to print your photo on matte paper is if you’re set on having photo prints that have a shiny, high-gloss finish. Our Satin Matte Poster Prints are very popular and super versatile. The other time you might choose to not print on matte paper is if you want an entirely different photo art product!

Matte & Glossy Photo Art Products (Beyond Poster Prints)

Once you decide whether you want a glossy or matte finish for your photo, you might want to consider printing on something besides classic photo paper. You can check out all of our photo art products to find that perfect piece, but here are a few of our popular options that cater to both Team Glossy and Team Matte.

Team Glossy

Acrylic Prints are a modern and fresh way to display your photos. Of all our photo art products, this is the one that will really make your photo pop. Super-vivid printing and unmatched depth create a stunning effect you just have to see for yourself. There’s a reason this is our top product!

HD Metal Prints are glossy, vibrant, and ready to make a bold statement on your wall. They’re also lightweight, fade-resistant, and extremely durable.

Our Framed Prints are available is a variety of styles, sizes, and colours. They’re made from solid wood, low-glare framers acrylic, and acid-free mat board. And, of course, they're made in Canada.

An Acrylic Block is made from a perfectly clear, one-inch thick piece of premium cast acrylic that beautifully captures and refracts light; it’s s clear, you can look right through it from end to end! If you want a photo art product for your desk, mantel, or shelf that will have people talking, this one’s for you.

For our Metal Minis, we took our ultra-premium HD Metal Prints and shrunk them down to the perfect desk decor size. Loved by professional photographers, these prints will make your best photos look even better!

Team Matte

Our Canvas Prints are hand-stretched, made in Canada, and printed using our proprietary photo enlargement technology and world-class printers. With their style versatility and satin-matte finish, they’re a wonderful way to display your photo in any room, with any type of lighting.

Learn More: The Benefits of Canvas Printing

The Gallery Box is the new black of interior design. Gallery Boxes are extremely versatile, designer-approved, and will look great no matter where you display them.

Like our HD Metal Prints, Classic White Metal Prints are lightweight, fade-resistant, and extremely durable. They’re also glare-free, vibrant, and suitable for indoor and outdoor display! If you’re curious about the different types of Metal Prints we offer, this video will explain everything!

Photoboards are a great alternative to mounting a photo and are the perfect way to display your photos in a clean, modern style. Already wildly popular in Europe, Posterjack was the first photo printing company to bring them to Canada!

Woodstand Prints are uniquely crafted and made from select Canadian Douglas fir and renewably sourced in British Columbia. We print your photo on a durable ¼-inch thick board and combine it with a sturdy wood stand. A Woodstand Print will take your desk décor to a whole new level.

With all the goodness of our award-winning Canvas Prints, our Canvas Minis are perfect for displaying your favourite photos on your desk, shelf, mantle, tabletop, or wall. They look fantastic displayed as a group too! Stack them, layer them, mix sizes, and let your creativity shine.

Matte Vs. Glossy Photos: What It Comes Down To

When you choose Posterjack to print your photos, you can expect nothing but the best, regardless of whether you choose Satin Matte or Glossy Poster Prints. You will get quality prints that are crisp, vibrant, and fade-resistant. It’s simply a matter of preference: do you want a no-glare, matte finish or would you prefer your photos printed on something that’s super sleek and glossy? If you’re still unsure, why not try both and see first-hand which one your photos look best on? Once you’ve decided, leave a comment letting us know which side you’re on in the longstanding debate of glossy vs. matte. We’d love to know!

Matte vs Glossy Photos: Best for Printing Pictures?

Is matte or glossy better for photos? It’s a common question when printing, and we’re here to answer it!

Ultimately, one type isn’t better than the other for your photo prints, but there are a few things you should consider when deciding is glossy or matte better.

In this guide, we’ll teach you about the basic properties of glossy paper and matte paper, as well as the pros and cons of each paper type when printing photos.

Let’s take a closer look!

Table of Contents

What You Should Know About Glossy Paper

What is Glossy Paper?

Glossy paper is a printing product used to print images that have a shiny appearance and reflect a lot of light.

The shininess and light reflection is due to the surface layer of coatings applied to the photographic paper. The gloss paper coating enhances the look of photos, especially when there is a strong use of color.

High gloss photo printing results in a smooth surface with a highly reflective shine that is fundamental to the difference between glossy and matte.

Overall, glossy paper gives images a higher contrast level as highlights ‘pop’ and blacks are strong due to the reflective surface of the paper.

Most photo kiosks where you print your own photos create glossy prints. However, more and more are providing the option of choosing between a matte and glossy photo.

What Are the Pros & Cons of a Glossy Photo Finish?

Using a glossy finish lends itself better to some photo prints than others.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of using glossy photo paper so you can weigh up the matte vs glossy photo debate yourself.

Pros

Great for high contrast and color prints
Reduces the need for glass when framing
Gives prints a premium look

Cons

Emphasized glare from natural light sources
Fingerprints show up
The surface scratches easily

When Would You Use a Glossy Photo Finish?

Deciding to use glossy papers is a no-brainer if you intend to display your prints without a frame or glass cover.

The natural glossy finish provides a strong level of sheen to the print that replaces the gloss finish of glass.

You should choose a high gloss finish if you’re printing a photo with a lot of dominant colors. Glossy photographic papers enhance the vibrancy of colors and add an excellent level of contrast to the photo’s look.

Finally, the best application for glossy prints is with high-definition images – especially if you intend to print them in larger formats.

A glossy print also helps to showcase the stunning image detail captured in high resolution.

What You Should Know About Matte Paper

What is Matte Paper?

Matte paper is the exact same material as that used with glossy prints. However, where a glossy print has an extra layer of coating to give it a shine, matte prints have fewer clear gloss coatings.

While the matte paper doesn’t have the same luxurious gloss appearance, it does often have some reflective qualities for a semi-gloss finish.

Matte paper also delivers a flatter and more classic photo look with a lower level of contrast. As a result, matte photos tend to reveal textures in the paper and the uneven surface that results can create a very appealing look.

What Are the Pros & Cons of a Matte Photo Finish?

Using a matte finish is better for some photo prints than others but not always. Let’s have a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of using a matte coating on your photo paper.

Pros

More durable than glossy prints
Less susceptible to scratches
Ideal for framing
Great for classic photo look and black and white prints
Minimal reflections from natural and overhead lights
Fingerprints don’t show

Cons

The colors are less vibrant
Contrast is less evident
Reduced image sharpness
More expensive than glossy prints

When Would You Use a Matte Photo Finish?

Matte prints are perfect for photos in which you want to achieve a contemporary art look for your imagery.

The matte paper surface of the print results in less contrast as less light reflects from the paper.

Professional photographers opt for matte papers for their fine artworks to control the way the photo appears in different lighting conditions. Also, if you want to frame your photos behind glass, photos printed on matte papers work best.

If you place a print with a glossy surface under glass, both the shiny surface of the print and the glass will reflect light. This can seriously detract from the experience of viewing your photos – especially if there’s a lot of natural light. This is a strong point in favor of matte in the glossy vs matte photos debate.

As the matte texture is less likely to show fingerprints, a matte finish is also the best choice for photos that will be handled a lot – especially sharing your holiday snaps with friends over lunch.

Glossy vs Matte Photos: Which is Best for Framing?

If you intend to frame your favorite shots, you have to decide on glossy or matte photos for framing before you head to the printer.

There are many different options for framing photos, but the print choice will determine the rest of the process.

Many people choose to print and frame their best family or holiday shots to display around the home. In most cases, they opt for a timber or aluminum frame in standard size with a sheet of glass covering the photo.

Quite simply, when framing photos behind glass, matte is the best choice.

A high gloss finish print reflects a lot of light and can cause glare spots on the glossy print if there’s a lot of light in the room (from natural sources and overhead fixtures).

Once you put a glossy photo in a glass frame, the glare effectively doubles and makes viewing the image problematic. As a result, matte prints are the best choice for framing photos behind glass.

The other framing option is to use a frame but no glass – this is often a more cost-effective solution but comes with problems. The main one among these is that the photo can be attacked and warped by humidity. Many people also opt to either laminate their photo to a flat board or simply stick the print to the wall.

In these cases, glossy papers are ideal as they provide a natural level of reflection while enhancing color and contrast in high-definition photos.

The final option is to go the all-digital route and opt for a digital picture frame such as these.

However, we’re big fans of printing photos and the wonderful experience of holding your best prints in your hands, so let’s return to discussing matte vs glossy photos.

Matte vs Glossy Photos FAQs

Do matte or glossy photos last longer?

Glossy photos last the same amount of time as matte photos. The lifespan of glossy or matte finish prints depends on the paper quality and how you look after them.

However, glossy photos attract fingerprints and are more likely to get scratched – especially if they’re unframed. Matte prints are less likely to show scratches and fingerprints.

When framed behind glass, they also have a higher level of protection.

Should I print my wedding pictures glossy or matte?

If you intend to print and frame your wedding photos behind glass, then a matte finish is the best choice.

It also applies if you’re placing your photos in an album with a clear protective cover for each photo.

Keep in mind that the matte finish doesn’t highlight color or contrast as much as glossy photos. There will also be less light reflection with matte finishes.

Let your photographer know you want the photos printed with a matte finish so they can edit the photos to match this print style.

Why is matte more expensive than glossy?

While glossy finish photos have higher color vibrancy, they actually use less ink than matte finish photos.

Photos with a matte finish require more ink to achieve more substantial levels of color and contrast.

What photo paper do professionals use?

Professional photographers use photo paper with a matte finish as it doesn’t reflect light like glossy finishes.

Pros prefer to have the final image viewed without the distraction of glare from the paper. And as many pro photographers frame their photos behind glass, a matte finish is best for this display style.

Should posters be matte or glossy?

Posters tend to be big, vibrant, and visually loud. The best way to showcase a poster is with a glossy finish to enhance the vibrancy of the colors and visual appeal.

What is a deep matte photo finish?

There are print products with a matte finish, and then there’s a deep matte finish! Deep matte photo paper reflects almost no light and is ideal for a high-quality, gallery-quality finish.

It’s well suited to photos with natural light and limited deep black areas as it doesn’t represent true black very well.

Are black and white photos better glossy or matte?

Aside from the matte vs glossy photos advice already provided, it’s best to choose matte as the printing process for black and white photos.

Black and white photos tend to have a classic look and don’t need to emphasize vibrant colors or pop the contrast like glossy finishes do. Many photographers also use matte finishes for photos with sepia tones.

Matte vs Glossy Photos: What Print Type is Best?

The bottom line for glossy vs matte photos is that glossy is better when you won’t be framing behind glass and when your photos have lots of contrast or vibrant colors. Matte is better for classic black and white photos that need to last and might be displayed in a gallery. These however are just general guidelines.

More fundamentally in the debate over glossy vs matte photos, the choice between matte and glossy photos depends on several factors – the first of which is personal preference.

It would help if you also decided how you want to display your precious photos – matte and glossy photos deliver different appearances.

You’ll also need to establish if your photos are to be printed in color or black and white and then how you intend to frame them.

It also depends on where you intend to place your framed photos. The glossy vs matte finish will look different in every room. That look depends on how much natural light there is to reflect from the print.

All of these are key questions you need to first answer before asking yourself is glossy or matte better.

If in doubt about printing with a glossy vs matte finish, use a photo printing kiosk to print a small version of the same photo on each type of paper – then compare the results at home.

What have been your experiences with printing on glossy vs matte finish paper? Have you ever printed your fine art photos, and if so what paper did you choose? Did you get your wedding shots printed in high gloss and regret the final product?

Share your experience, comments, and questions about matte and glossy photo prints below to become part of the conversation.

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Pages in a photobook: glossy or matte? What's the alternative?

Formerly the question "matte or glossy paper?" was familiar: everyone printed photos from film cameras, and you had to constantly choose between glossy and matte surfaces. Now, thanks to the development of services where you can independently design and order a photo book from personal photos, we are again faced with the choice of paper for printing. We offer to consider the features and benefits of different options.

Glossy paper

Photographs printed on glossy paper have a completely smooth, slightly sticky surface. They seem to be brighter and this is what they say when they are asked to “hold photos by the edges” - because fingerprints easily remain on the gloss.

Each shooting type has its own recording paper.

Glossy photo paper features a special layer of gloss and high density. The protective layer keeps the colors of your photos bright and saturated longer. This paper is well suited for printing landscape photos with smooth tonal transitions.

Another feature is the appearance of intense reflections when bright light hits the surface of the image. And as we noted above, glossy paper leaves fingerprints that are quite difficult to remove, and scratches that cannot be removed in principle.

Matte Paper

Photographs printed on matte paper look completely different: they are less dense, slightly rough to the touch, less contrast and less saturated in color.

At high magnification, the matte finish has a distinct relief. Due to this, reflected light is scattered at different angles, providing softness and depth of pure tones. Glare when bright light hits matte paper is minimal, and subtle color gradations in such printing are quite difficult to convey - especially in dark tones. Matte paper is best for detailed images because it brings out images more clearly than glossy prints. At the same time, photographs are not afraid of fingerprints and mechanical impact - visible scratches can be left on them only if you try very hard. Matte paper is good to use in photo books with images of people.

Matte paper is more versatile

Generally speaking, matte paper is more versatile in every way. But glossy printing also has its benefits.

Specification	Glossy paper	Matt paper
Color rendering	Maximum brightness and contrast of images	Less saturation, but more detail in the picture
Glare on surface	Highly glare when exposed to strong light	Glare does not appear
Practicality	Glossy photos are less practical - they scratch, smudge and fade quickly if you don't keep them in an album (or photo book)	Matte photos are more durable. They are not afraid of scratches, they do not get dirty and do not fade.
Cost	Glossy paper is always more expensive	Printing photobooks on matte paper is always more profitable

Compromise

Is it possible to combine the advantages of both options in one solution?

Of course, yes. In the photo service MyPhotoPages for photobooks, we offer you a special photo paper E-Photo Luster with a characteristic soft overflow. Paper with a light mother-of-pearl is well suited for photographs where people are present: wedding stories, family photo shoots, holidays and celebrations. Warm mother-of-pearl enlivens and adds a noble hue to photographs. And - what is important - there are no fingerprints on this paper.

Managers of the photo service for the whole family "MyPhotoPages" will tell you in detail about the features of different printing options, help you decide and create a product that will really please you for many years.

Matte or glossy: finding compromises

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16/02/2021 09:05

To get high-quality photographs, it is important to choose the right paper. Today, disputes about which is better, glossy or matte paper, do not subside. Each type has both its advantages and disadvantages. When choosing paper, quality, density, size, specific gravity, thickness, type, coating, compatibility with different inks and other important parameters must be taken into account.

Should I choose matte or glossy paper?

Photo paper can be matte or glossy. Each species has certain characteristics. Glossy paper has a special glossy layer, thanks to which fading is prevented, ink is not washed off. Therefore, even after a long time, the image remains clear, there is no distortion of the picture. This is ideal if you are inkjetting a photo that has soft undertones and vibrant landscapes. Persistence is high and accuracy, the brightness and saturation of the picture is preserved. Each tone and color is transmitted as clearly as possible, panoramic shots are obtained well. But this kind of paper has a serious drawback; pigment ink is not accepted. Therefore, a photo that has a glossy surface glares strongly in bright light. Matte photo paper has different weights; up to 120 g/sq. m and above. In order for the image transmission to be as accurate as possible and distortion does not appear, it is advisable to use the option with a high density index. Choosing a roll of matte paper, the photo has a higher quality, and all details are transmitted as accurately as possible, even the smallest and almost imperceptible ones. Unlike gloss, this option costs a little less, there is compatibility with different types of ink, the surface is more resistant to scratches, fingerprints and other marks do not remain. At the same time, the accuracy and transmission of all colors is fully preserved.

Selection criteria

When choosing a specific type of paper, it is necessary to take into account:

specific gravity;
approval;
thickness;
what size and format the sheet has;
brightness of colors in the photo;
which ink will be used;
whether panoramas will be printed.

What does paper weight affect?

The weight of the paper determines how durable the image will be. The higher this value, the better the quality of inkjet printing. If the density is within 150-300 g / sq. m, you can get high resolution (more than 5760 dots per inch). A variety with a density index of 180-230 g / sq.m. is also suitable for printing a photo. m. Printing uses a different medium; 90-180gsm m. Before you buy a roll of paper with a high density, you need to be sure that the printer is powerful enough. Otherwise, the printer simply will not cope with the task.

Features of the interaction of paper and ink

This is an important criterion that determines which coating will be chosen; glossy or matte. The sheet can have a very different surface, both glossy and smooth, and matte bumpy. Ultra chromic and water soluble inks will work if a glossy grade is used. If the paper type is matte, it is better to choose sublimation, pigment or water-based inks.

Persistence index

When choosing a specific media size, the tone and color of the image is taken into account. Vibrant colors work best on a glossy finish. Printing allows you to get a durable print due to the interaction of ink and paper.

What is the size of photo paper?

Most varieties have a standard size. The most popular photo paper sizes are; 10x15 cm, 21x29.7 cm (A4 format), 14.85x21 cm (A5 format). It is quite difficult to say exactly which type of paper is better. Therefore, you need to select the media, taking into account specific goals and what exactly will be printed.

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