Many printers are designed to accept an array of photo papers.
Printing photos from home is a great advantage to many photographers, as it allows them to see their proofs immediately rather than sending them out to a lab and awaiting the final product to return. Printing from home does require two main things to achieve professional-quality photos: a good printer and even better photo paper.
Fade Resistant
Fading is a commonly overlooked problem that many printers and photographers ignore. Fading occurs when your photograph is exposed to light as well as air for extended periods. These elements wear away the color and radiance of an image. Photo paper that is fade resistant is a crucial aspect when choosing the best photo paper. Most professional-grade photo papers are fade resistant, but it is always good practice to check and make sure.
Instant Drying
Many photo papers are marketed as instant drying; these type of papers are great if you want to touch the image immediately and not worry about smearing. However, this paper is also very porous, comprised of particulates that are loosely glued together, creating holes. When printing on this type of photo paper, the ink seeps into these holes and quickly evaporates leaving the dye behind. Since this type of paper is porous, it tends to be effected by fading even faster than paper that is not instantly dry. Unless you only need a quick print, this type of photo paper should be avoided.
Swellable
Unlike other photo papers, swellable (non-porous) paper does not contain tiny holes. Swellable paper absorbs the ink that is printed on it, swelling to two or three times the size of the original paper. As the paper drys, it maintains a firm hold on the ink, not allowing it to escape nor allowing air to enter. This type of paper is very resistant to fading caused by particles in the air, maintaining its colors far longer than most papers.
Considerations
The needs and budget of the consumer aside, as a general rule, photo paper from the manufacturer of the printer that is both swellable and fade resistant is the best option. This is because the manufacturers design their printers and papers to work together. If you want the absolute best photo paper available, you will need a printer that not only allows it but complements it.
Tags: photo papers, photo paper, best photo, best photo paper, fade resistant
