Choosing the Right Print Media #180

Today's episode is for Vicki in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She's been doing a lot of printing lately because she just finished editing her images from our trip to New Zealand. And she had some great questions about which media to choose for her prints.

Back in the film days, things were simple. You had three choices: glossy, matte, or super matte. That was it. But today, the menu is much bigger. In addition to those three, we've got acrylic, metal, canvas, and even ceramic.

So the big question is, how do you know what to pick? The short answer is, it depends. It depends on your image and the feeling you want it to convey. Personally, I love glossy. Most of my work is about sharpness and contrast, and glossy paper really makes that pop. Since I usually frame my work behind plexiglass anyway, I don't really see a benefit in using a non-gloss surface.

One note here: if you decide to go with non-glare glass for framing, you'll lose some of that glossy punch. So in that case, it might not matter which surface you choose.

If you want that sharp, modern look, you might consider metal prints or prints behind acrylic. I think they really look fantastic, but keep in mind, they lean heavily towards a contemporary style. So before going all in, think about your home decor. Will that sleek, modern vibe fit with your space?

On the other hand, traditional prints on paper—whether matte or glossy—give you more flexibility because you can frame it. And the frame itself—the molding, the matting—becomes part of the overall style. If you missed it, I talked about archival framing in the last episode. So you may want to give that a listen.

Now, a heads up: if you're leaning towards a matte surface, blacks can block up and the overall image can look softer because of the matte surface. That can be exactly the look you want, but it does mean you'll need to be more careful in post-processing.

Canvas is another popular option, but like matte, canvas tends to soften the image and the shadows can get heavy, even on glossy canvas. The upside is that it fits beautifully in a lot of different home styles, and you can frame it like an oil painting, which gives it a classic timeless feel.

On the other hand, metallic prints tend to have the opposite problem—the white areas tend to lose detail. So again, pay attention to that when you're post-processing your images.

One last thing to keep in mind: not all media are created equal when it comes to longevity. Traditionally, archival meant 100 years. Once inkjet printing came along, that number dropped—sometimes 75 years or less. And with newer options like metal and acrylic, it's not always clear what their archival ratings are.

So if longevity is important—if you want your prints to last more than 20 or 30 years—make sure the printer is using archival-rated materials.

Bottom line: glossy, matte, canvas, metal, acrylic—they all have their strengths. The right choice really comes down to the story you want your image to tell and the space where you're displaying it.

All right, Vicki, I hope that helps with your printing decisions. And for everyone else listening, maybe this gave you a few ideas for your next big print project.

And if you're looking for a good printer, try Printique . The link is in the show notes. I have run a couple of tests with them, and I can say that they do some very high-quality printing. The link is in the show notes.

Thanks for tuning in. I hope that was helpful. Until next time, keep on shooting.