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Printer Paper Tips


Choosing The Right Paper Size For Your Printing Project

Buying the right paper size for your printing project can be an intensive decision-making task. To help make the process a little easier, we’re providing some guidelines for some popular printing projects.

  • For photos, you have a range of choices, depending on whether you want to print for a specific frame, print multiples on one sheet, or create a large sized print. Possible sizes include 4”x6”, 5”x7”, 2”x12”, 8.5”x11”, 11”x17”, and 13”x19”.
  • A special printing project, like creating greeting cards or a calendar, typically works well with two different size types. A 4”x6” paper size or 8.5”x11” paper size will work well. Use the 4”x6” paper size as a postcard-type greeting or fold it in half for a petite thank you card. The 8.5”x11” paper size folded in half makes a great larger-sized greeting card or calendar.
  • Special projects, like newsletters and letter-sized mailings, work well with 8.5”x11” paper. For postcard-sized mailings, you can try a 4”x6” paper size for your printing project.
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All Types Of Epson Inkjet Paper

DataBazaar.com Tip: If you’re trying to decide between the different types of Epson inkjet paper for your home project or business and the choices feel overwhelming. Epson carries a large array of Epson inkjet paper for the home office, business and home user. To help you out, we’ve put together a breakdown of the Epson inkjet paper types.

  • Photo papers fall under the home and home office use category. Choose from glossy, semi-glossy and luster versions with quality that ranges from everyday use to professional looking photos.
  • Business presentation papers are appropriate for everything from professional brochures to matte photographs.
  • For the scrapbook enthusiast, there is an Epson inkjet paper category made just for you. Choose from matte or glossy finishes.
  • Specialty media includes papers for fun projects like iron-on transfers, greeting cards and photo stickers.
  • For a professional finish and feel, choose one of the Epson premium photo papers. They’re available in glossy, semi-glossy, matte and luster.
  • Another professional grade Epson inkjet paper is the coated Epson paper line. These papers are meant for the professional graphics industry. You can choose from glossy, semi-glossy or matte in sheets or a roll.
  • For professional printers, proofing papers offer a solution for pre-press and comping. Choose from rolls or sheets in semi-matte or glossy.
  • Museum quality archival prints would be perfect for the fine art papers. This line of Epson inkjet paper is completely acid free cotton.
  • For banners and other advertising, choose Epson’s signage media paper which is available as a roll.
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Your Guide To HP Printer Paper For Photos

There are a wide variety of HP printer paper types to choose from. HP printer paper provides categories for home use, home office use and professional quality papers. Here is the breakdown on which HP printer paper might be appropriate for your needs.

HP Premium Plus Photo Paper – If you’re looking for a top of the line coated paper that is fade-resistant and appropriate for album pages, framed photos or scrapbooking, this HP printer paper makes an ideal choice.

HP Premium Photo Paper – A more affordable photo paper, the HP Premium is appropriate for traditional photographs and applications for photo albums, greeting cards and calendars.

HP Advanced Photo Paper – If you’re looking for a heavier weight paper for signage, the HP Advanced photo paper comes in a 10.5 mil thickness and is resistant to water, as well as smudges and smears.

HP Photo Paper – This more economical photo paper is for business or home use and comes thicker than regular bond paper, but is appropriate for printing pictures or graphics for business use or portfolios.

HP Everyday Photo Paper – If you’re looking for an affordable solution for school projects or family newsletters, the HP Everyday Photo Paper is suitable for all of your home projects.
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Three Projects You Can Do At Home With Inkjet Paper

DataBazaar.com Tip: With the number of inkjet paper types out on the market today, you have a lot of options for doing projects yourself at home. Not sure what you can do or where to start? Here are three suggestions for every kind of skill level.

Greeting Cards – You can create your own greeting cards for everything from birthday announcements and baby showers to wedding invitations and thank you cards. The choices of inkjet paper for this project are plentiful. For quality looking greeting cards, choose a premium presentation matte paper. You can print everything from photos to graphics to text on your card. Choose from a double-sided matte or single sided matte version depending on whether you plan on printing on both sides of the paper. You can choose an 8.5”x11” size and then fold the final card in half.

Photo Calendar – For gifts or your own use, it can be fun to design and make your own calendar. Try a premium presentation matte paper that’s double-sided or a matte scrapbook paper will work, as well. Try the 8.5”x11” size paper for your photo calendar project.

Special Occasion Scrapbook – You can create your own special occasion scrapbook for weddings, birthdays and anniversaries. For photos, try the premium presentation matte paper in single-sided or double-sided, depending on how you want to lay out your scrapbook. For graphics and color images, you could use a smooth surface bright white inkjet paper. Specialty scrapbook papers are also available, suitable for printing headlines, graphics, and backgrounds on a high quality archival paper. You might try the 8.5”x11” or 12”x12” sheets, depending on what size you’d like to create for your scrapbook.
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How To Choose The Right Photo Paper Finish

Choosing the right photo paper finish can mean the difference between having a great looking quality photo or dealing with inappropriate image results. With the number of photo paper finish choices out there, it can be hard to make the right decision This handy guide will help point you in the right direction.

  • For projects like scrapbooks, family albums, framed photos and greeting cards, glossy photo paper finish is an appropriate choice if you like the look of a smooth high sheen surface. For better quality results, choose the premium level papers.
  • Printing out photos for personal use from the Internet or an email works well with a semi-glossy photo paper finish. For photos that you’re not sending out, a photo paper meant for everyday use is perfectly fine and more cost effective.
  • Printing out black and white or vintage looking photos? Try a matte finish with one of the everyday photo paper choices for appropriate-looking results.
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The Different Surfaces Of Photo Papers

DataBazaar.com Tip: If you’ve been looking at a variety of different photo papers, you’re well aware that there are many different types to choose from. Photo papers are available in a variety of surfaces, including glossy, semiglossy, matte and luster. Wondering what the difference is?

Glossy or semiglossy papers refer to those photo papers which have a smooth sheen texture in photos. Glossy photo papers tend to have an ultra smooth finish, while semiglossy photo papers have a moderately smooth finish. The higher end premium photo papers tend to have a 10 mil thickness or more. Professional quality papers have a coated surface.

Matte photo papers are the opposite of glossy and semiglossy photo papers in that they lack any sheen whatsoever. These papers are equally suitable for photographs, but give a flat, non-reflective look for photographers and consumers who prefer that type of appearance.

Luster photo papers fall in the middle in glossiness. They don’t quite have the high level of reflectivity of glossy papers and they’re not completely flat like a matte paper. This type of photo paper is popular with wedding photographers and portrait photographers.
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Photo Permanence and Photo Papers

Getting rich, vivid quality prints with photo papers is one thing, but obtaining photo permanence with photo papers is another. If you want your great looking photos to last, you not only have to consider quality inks, but quality photo papers, as well. Quality photo papers are those which are resistant to fading caused by light or heat. Another factor affecting photo permanence on photo papers is water durability. Photo papers can get damaged when subjected to wet hands or moisture. However, quality photo papers have some level of waterproof protection or water resistance built into them. To keep photo papers in good shape after constant handling and use, you also need to get products which are resistant to scuffs from fingernails and the action of stacking papers.
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The Different Types Of Fade Resistance On Photo Printer Paper

Photo printer paper can fade for various reasons. Wilhelm Imaging Research, which conducts tests on the photo permanence of traditional and digital photographs, typically tests for four different types of fade resistance when it comes to photo printer paper. Fade resistance includes light fade, thermal degradation or dark fade, air fade and humidity.

Light fade – Light fade occurs when photo printer paper is exposed to light in normal circumstances.

Thermal degradation – Photo printer paper can show fading even when placed in room temperature over a given time period.

Air fade – Factors like pollution and the deterioration of the ozone layer can cause fading in photo printer paper.

Humidity – The moisture from humid environments can cause a change in the hue of a color or take away the vibrancy of a print.
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How To Preserve The Image On Your Photo Printing Paper

If you’re printing out your memories on photo printing paper, you want to make sure those images not only look good when you print them, but that they’ll look just as good years from now. In order to keep your photo printing paper looking just as good 50 years from now, you need to take a few steps to ensure the longevity of your prints.

  • Start with the right equipment, including a quality printer, ink and photo printing paper. Though premium quality photo paper is costlier, it’s specifically made to control ink absorption, as well as create a moisture barrier to preserve your photos for the long term.
  • You can purchase quick-drying photo printing paper, but it’s still always a good idea to wait until you’re sure the ink is completely dry before stacking the sheets or placing anything on top of them. A good wait time is 24 hours for photo printing paper just to be safe.
  • When your pictures are ready to go on your photo printing paper, store them in a cool, humid-free environment to prolong their life. Also, keep them away from direct sunlight.
  • Photos printed on photo printing paper last longer when you place them in albums as opposed to frames. However, to ensure the longest life, avoid self-stick or PVC coated pages that can cause discolored prints. Instead, go with an acid-free and lignin-free album.
  • The best frames for photo printing paper, should you decide to go that route, are those with an anti-UV coating on the glass. Aluminum frames are best if you live in a humid area because they aren’t affected by the moist environment.
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