Understanding of photo paper

Photo paper is a special paper used for printing photos or images, with good ink absorption and high degree of reduction. According to the use, surface effect and material, photographic paper can be divided into the following types and specifications:

I. Types of Composition of Photographic Paper

1. Categories by Surface Effect

· Glossy Photo Paper
Smooth and shiny, bright, suitable for showing a high degree of saturation of the picture, but easy to reflect light and leave fingerprints.
· Muted Photo Paper (Suede / Matte)
The surface is matte or less glossy, feels delicate, not easy to reflect, suitable for showing photos of soft colors.
· Silk Pattern Photo Paper
The surface has a subtle texture and a high-end look and feel, which is often used in art works or wedding photography.
· Pearl Face Photo Paper
The surface is between the smooth surface and the matt surface, with a slight pearl luster, color reproduction and anti-fingerprint is better.

2. Classification by Material and Use

· RC photo paper (resin coated)
The use of resin coating, water resistance and good preservation, common in home printing and professional photo output.
· Fine Art Paper
For high-end printing, such as art exhibitions, it usually uses cotton fiber or other natural materials with unique texture.
· Ordinary Inkjet Paper
The surface is treated with a simple coating, suitable for daily low-cost printing.
· Sublimation Photo Paper
Suitable for sublimation printer, the printing effect is durable and waterproof.

II. Common Specifications of Photo Paper

1. Classification by size (mm / mm)

· Family Frequently Used
 · 4R (102 × 152 mm)
 · 5R (127 × 178 mm)
 · 6R (152 × 203 mm)
· Professional Photography
· A4 (210 × 297 mm)
· A3 (297 × 420 mm)
 · A2 (420 × 594 mm)
· Large Format Printing
 · A1 (594 × 841 mm)
· A0 (841 × 1189 mm)

2. Reclassified by gram

The thickness and weight of photo paper is often measured by "gram weight":
· Thin photographic paper: 150-200 g / m2, suitable for general printing.
· Medium and Thick Paper: 200-260 g / m2, commonly used for high-quality photo output.
· Thick photo paper: 260 g / m2 or more, for high-end production display.

If there are specific application scenarios, I can help you recommend the appropriate photo paper type and specifications!