As a photographer your work should be seen as ART as everything that you do to create an image from the correct focal point, framing and the time of day all morph together to create the final work. Whilst it often comes down to personal preference, selecting the right paper to reproduce the image for printing ranks just as importantly as the paper can and does have a significant impact on the final result of your masterpiece.

Our role is to explain, guide and advise on paper texture, weight, and brightness and the technologies of giclée printing, C-Type printing, and CMYK proofing with your aims paramount, it’s your artwork after all!

The texture of fine art paper

Fine art papers are not all the same; each has its own unique texture that can alter the aesthetic of your photography. Papers range from ultra-smooth to heavily textured, each serving a different purpose.

Smooth papers, such as gloss and satin, can offer a high degree of sharpness and colour vibrancy, ideally suited for highly detailed work or bold, saturated photography.

Textured papers, such as watercolour rag provide a tactile quality that can add a feeling of luxuriousness to your photography. The grains and fibres of these papers add depth and character to your prints, introducing a whole new dimension to your art. The choice of texture can alter the perception of your work, making the selection process crucial. By understanding these, you can navigate the textural landscape of fine art paper with some confidence and select a paper that works with your unique aesthetic vision.

Paper weight

The weight of the paper can significantly influence both the feel and durability of your printed photography. Measured in gsm (grams per square meter), this directly relates to the thickness and stiffness of the paper.

Heavier papers, upwards of 300gsm, offer enhanced durability and a luxurious feel, making them ideal for prints meant to last for generations. They can give your work some gravitas, transforming it from a simple print to an artefact worth cherishing.

However, the use of heavier paper isn’t always the answer; lighter papers, typically range from 150 to 200gsm and can be more suitable for smaller prints or those intended for temporary display. These papers can provide a delicate and lightweight feel, but still provide reasonable durability.

Understanding paper weight is essential to ensure the longevity of your art and its suitability for a particular use, while also giving it a tactile quality.

Paper brightness

Paper brightness significantly affects the perceived colour and contrast of your photography. The brightness of a piece of paper is typically expressed on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the very brightest.

High-brightness papers (with brightness values over 90) provide an intense base for vibrant, rich colours and deep contrasts, ideally suited for colourful or high-contrast photography. They can make your image vivid, accentuating colours to their fullest potential, helping to make your prints stand out with their luminosity.

On the other hand, lower-brightness papers can offer a more subtle, nuanced range of tones, which are ideal for black and white or vintage photography. These papers show the subtleties of tonal range, highlighting the depth and details in every shadow and mid-tone. Understanding the role of paper brightness can help your photography in ways you may not have previously thought of and add something extra to your printed artwork, capturing the lighting and mood intended in your original shot.

Understanding printing: giclée inks, CMYK Proofing

In digital printing, the choice of technology is instrumental in shaping the final output.

Giclée Printing with our Canon professional inkjet printers we are able to reproduce photography with extreme accuracy. The process provides exceptional colour accuracy and detail. Our giclée prints are highly durable, with the potential to remain vibrant for over a 100 years.

CMYK Proofing is important for photographers seeking an exact colour match, as it uses the industry standard colour model in printing – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). CMYK Proofing ensures that what you see on the screen matches the final print. We calibrate our monitors on a weekly basis to ensure they are accurate.