Printing Digital - The right paper can make all the difference.
The drop in price for inkjet printers along with advances in software and digital cameras has opened up a whole new world of printing opportunities. Today, anyone with a bit of software knowledge can print professional looking brochures, business cards, calendars and other useful items.

Printing digital photos has become much easier as well, but many people tend to be disappointed with their photo prints. If you are not getting the results you expect from your inkjet printer, the problem may be with the paper you’re using.

General Guide for Selecting Photo Paper
If you want an image from your printer to look like a true photograph, you need to use photo paper. Unlike standard printer paper, photo paper is made with a polymer based coating to help distribute the ink correctly. Standard printer papers just don’t have the correct design to reproduce properly. You may be able to use plain paper for posters, brochures, and other documents that include photos, but to get photo quality prints, you need paper created just for that purpose.

Photo papers themselves differ greatly
Some photo papers have a matte finish and others have glossy. Some are more white and crisp. Others provide better resolution and longevity. The general rule is that all-purpose photo paper works well for prints that you don’t plan to save. Glossy or premium paper is good for prints you want to put in an album or share with others. And for framed images and art quality prints, it is best to choose fine art or premium plus papers.

If you want your photos to last for many years, choose higher quality, archival papers. Most quality papers include information about durability on the packaging label. As an added precaution, you can spray the print with a preservative spray intended to protect and waterproof the print.

Where to start and what paper to use
If you own one of the standard printers, such as Epson, Canon, or Hewlett Packard, you may find that it will work best when combined with paper made by the same manufacturer as the printer.

Printer manufacturers know their products and have spent time developing paper that produces the best results for their specific printers. There are paper companies that have developed less expensive alternatives to the name brand photo papers. Often their Web sites provide information on compatibility with those top printer brands.

Other factors to consider in selecting the correct paper. It's important to check the printer properties settings to be sure they match the type of paper you are using. These settings change the way the printer distributes ink, based upon the composition and qualities of the paper. Some printers have sensors that can detect different paper types. If the colors on your prints don’t match what you see in the camera or on your computer monitor, you may be able to use the printer setting to make adjustments to tone and color as well.

Those who are even more serious about the quality of printed images may need to consider more advanced techniques, such as establishing a printer profile or purchasing a product to calibrate your printer to your monitor. Many photography magazines provide articles on these topics. Choosing the right paper is an essential part of printing different types of photo images. You may have to invest some time and money to try out several different brands and styles of paper, but in the end the effort will be reflected in the quality of your photos.