Different types of print media

Fine Art Printing is fairly new to most photographers in India, even some of those who have been shooting for more than a decade or two and have been getting their pictures printed and framed for an equal amount of time.

We get a lot of queries regarding the same and a couple of the most commonly asked questions are about

• different types of print media for Fine Art Prints
• how to get the same colours from the monitor on the print

Let’s talk about the different types of media for now.

There is so much of a choice when it comes to selecting a Fine Art Paper to create those life-long-lasting prints, that most times you get confused as to what to go for. Let’s see the main differentiators between them, and what choosing those papers mean.

1. Pearl/Lustre Paper

• Its a fairly glossy paper
• Shows fine details
• Works well with both glass and lamination
• Most popular surface today
• Most common surface that the regular print labs use

2. Smooth Gloss

• Highly reflective paper
• Best for deeply saturated colors
• Commonly used for commercial work and portfolios

3. Matte

• Non-reflective paper
• Comes in both smooth and textured surface
• Works well under glass and lamination
• Less contrast than gloss
• Shadows are bit lighter
• Ideal for smooth pastel colors and Black&White prints

4. High Gloss and Metallic

• Extremely reflective paper
• Highly saturated
• Vibrant colors
• Not too good for laminates
• Great for display prints

5. Canvas

• Similar to the painter’s canvas
• Similar weave pattern
• Gives a painterly effect
• Can be sprayed or coated with varnish
• Frames well
• Texture hides imperfections in the skin
• Works well for images not requiring the finest details, such as portraits

Going through the broad spectrum of Fine Art Print media, you should now have a basic understanding as to what to look for in the media, when sending your pictures for a print – depending on what you are getting printed.