Paper Types

This is information on paper types that I found on this website.

Paper Types

There are two general types of paper as well. The first is fiber-based paper (often shortened to FB). Fiber paper is known to produce really good tones and be very stable after processing. Museums and exhibitions often use this paper for prints due to the quality and archival nature. On the downside, due to the porous nature of the material, it takes a longer time for chemicals to saturate the paper fully. Fiber paper is also very fragile when wet, so it has to air dry as opposed to being dried in a machine.

The other type of paper is resin-coated paper (often shortened to RC). RC paper is quick to process, but slightly less stable after development. Because the chemicals only affect the outer layer of the paper, the developing and fixing process is quicker. It’s also much sturdier, so the paper can be dried in a matter of minutes using a rolling drying machine instead of hours or days hang drying or screen drying.

Paper Finishes

Glossy

Glossy Paper

A glossy finish has a high reflectivity and smooth texture. It gives the impression of richer contrast and emphasizes the details and sharpness of an image. Even slightly out of focus images can look really bad on glossy paper. High contrast images also often look too surreal or odd on glossy paper. When displaying your prints, glossy paper needs to be positioned carefully in relation to light sources or glare will make viewing the image difficult.

Matte

Matte paper has a rougher texture and low reflectivity. It tends to mask imperfections and provide a softer look. In contrast to glossy papers, if an image is driven by sharp details, it will look significantly less dramatic on matte paper. Sharp images tend to look a tiny bit soft when printed on matte paper. It looks absolutely great behind the glass of a frame since the texture allows a microscopic bit of space between much of the surface and the glass itself.

Matte Paper

Semi-Matte, Luster, Pearl

Semi-Matte Paper

There are a number of finishes that fall in between glossy and matte: not totally shiny, but not totally rough. Depending on the brand and the type of paper, these finishes may be called semi-matte, luster, pearl or satin. For the vast majority of images, these in-between finishes work wonderfully. Of course, your final choice of finish will be based on your personal preference. Most darkroom-savvy photography have one or two favorites. You’ll rarely see a museum exhibition where each photo is printed on a different paper, so the choice isn’t normally based on the content of the images. Once you start printing for yourself, you’re sure to find one that fits your style.