Whether you've just received your gallery photos or created something beautiful, chances are you'll want to share it with the world! Having professional prints is the best way for others to see and admire your artwork. Prints allow us to relive fond memories - birthdays, holidays, family vacations, and our favorite fur babies. In an increasingly digital world, they have so much more to offer us than digitally stored images. Why should you print from a professional photo lab? Their product is more professional than drugstores and most home or box store printers. They use the best paper, ink and process to achieve the most true to colors, tones, and sharpness of your image. Always consistent, professional print labs continue to deliver high quality products that will last.. leaving your most precious moments protected and preserved.
When it comes time to order your images, it's important to choose the paper and mounting that is going to work best for you. I'll take you through all you need to know...
Gloss
Best for printing high definition photos, glossy paper offers the most vibrant colors and realistic saturation. This makes it a great choice for high contrast images. Its finish is ultra smooth with a reflective glossy finish.
Probably the most common finish, it's important to consider how you will be displaying your photos so they'll be viewed in their full potential. The gloss finish produces glares so keep that in mind if you plan on placing your images in glass frames, or in areas of bright light. They're also susceptible to fingerprints and smudges, and are less resilient than a matte, lustre or metallic print. If you feel your images will be handled often then this probably isn't the proper finish for you.
Lustre
Also referred to as semi-gloss, satin and pearl. Lustre prints deliver sharp details, natural skin tones and vibrant colors. Although it's a semi-gloss finish, it has a soft texture which helps to reduce fingerprints. They're less affected by stronger light conditions due to the low glare and light reflection. The balance between gloss and matte make lustre a very popular choice for prints. Great mounted in frames or photo albums.
Matte
Great for skin tones and soft images. Black and white images also look great since the attention is kept on the composition instead of a glossy finish. You can expect rich colors and pure whites for a great visual impact. It's non-reflective with a smooth and soft to the touch feel.
Matte paper is so incredibly versatile due to it's lack of a glossy finish. It looks great behind glass frames with zero glare. The nice texture allows you to handle your photos without the constant fear of leaving fingerprints. However, the surface tends to deliver a subtly muted look which should be considered depending on what look you're going for when it comes to your images.
Metallic
Metallic base paper uses a patented combination of film and laminate layers giving it a unique pearlescent surface. A hint of silver adds shimmer with ultra-bright backgrounds adding a three-dimensional feel to your photos. It has saturated colors, sharp details and natural skin tones. Ultra smooth, reflective and pearly finish that is extremely durable. Metallic paper is especially unique in its ability to absorb light making your entire image pop. Sharp images with lots of tones and details will look best such as cityscapes and landscapes .
Styrene
Styrene is a smooth plastic mounting substrate. It's rigid structure is not affected by humidity or moisture making it unsusceptible to warping. Usually available in both white and black this mounting option is perfect for framed prints.
Matboard
Made from high-end cardboard, matboard is lightweight and wrinkle resistant. Choose from single weight (1/16th inches) or double weight (1/8th inches) matboard. Both are cost effective, durable and add great stability to your print.
Masonite
Made from steam-cooked and pressure-molded wood fibers, Masonite is a high-end material. It's smooth but rigid and heavy-duty. Thus long lasting substrate is durable and adds weight to your print. Masonite looks best in frames. Try displaying on a wooden easel for smaller sizes.
Foamboard
A foam core material encased in a plastic shell. Rigid with a smooth surface. Often available in both black and white. Both lightweight and durable making in the perfect lightweight solution to insert in frames.
Gatorboard
Made up of dense polystyrene material, gatorboard is rigid and durable. Much stronger than foamboard with the same light weight. This mounting option is moisture resistant protecting your prints from any unwanted warping.
Standout
A plastic edging encasing lightweight foam core material. Standout mounted prints have no need for a frame. Durable and sleek making your photos eye catching. Add dimension to your wall with this contemporary look.
For tips on how to decorate your home with your new prints, check out my blog post on 15 ways to use photos in home décor.
xx Melissa
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