Help Center - Is Matte, Lustre or Glossy Paper Better for Photos?

Is Matte, Lustre or Glossy Paper Better for Photos?

To make a smarter decision which photo paper to use, here are the pros and cons of matte, lustre, and glossy photo paper.

	Properties
Surface Texture	Flat and textured.
Light Glare	Small to none.
Print Quality	Pictures look softer because the photo paper absorbs more ink. Less vibrant.
Fingerprints, Smudges, Cuffs	Not noticeable.
Commonly Used For	Brochures and handouts.

Is matte photo paper for you? Choose from our collections of Matte Photo Paper.

	Properties
Surface Texture	The middleman between matte photo paper and glossy photo paper.
Light Glare	Less than glossy photo paper. Easier to view in different angles.
Print Quality	Greater color saturation than matte photo paper. Ink dries quicker in it than glossy photo paper.
Fingerprints, Smudges, Cuffs	Not noticeable.
Commonly Used For	Professional photography.

Is lustre photo paper for you? Choose from our collections of Lustre Photo Paper.

	Properties
Surface Texture	Shiny and smooth.
Light Glare	Reflects light the most, can be difficult to view in certain angles.
Print Quality	Colors appear vibrant with sharp contrast, giving small details high definition that photos can appear realistic.
Fingerprints, Smudges, Cuffs	Most noticeable unless carefully handled well. Cannot be framed beneath the glass as it can stick on it.
Commonly Used For	Outdoor photography such as nature photos and outdoor modelling shots.

Is glossy photo paper for you? Choose from our collections of Glossy Photo Paper.