I have a range of substrate types to choose from, so it's no surprise that one of the most frequent questions from my clients is "which paper should I choose?"
Of course, when choosing the right paper, personal preference is key. It entirely depends on the look and texture you want your poster to have. But in this post, I want to help you understand the important properties for choosing the ideal paper for your poster.
Paper Types
First of all, let's talk about all the types of paper that are available in my shop. I offer three main types of paper for my fine art prints.
Alpha-Cellulose Papers
Alpha-cellulose is a high grade wood pulp made from trees. They are matte papers that have been refined to remove acid and lignin. This paper is usually used for fine art prints. It is often less expensive and has a sturdier feel than cotton rag. Alpha-cellulose provides a sturdy, durable paper.
Cotton Rag Papers
Cotton rag paper are usually higher grade with fantastic strength and durability. It's made from cotton linters or cotton rags, or a combination of the two. They are great for fine art reproductions as the texture really emulates the appearance of an original work. They can also add great depth and character to photographic prints.
Finish
With risk of sounding like a broken record — choosing the finish for your paper is a personal choice and a question of artistic style. There are however a few things to bear in mind with each substrate finish.
Here are your options…
Matte
All of our fine art papers have a matte finish. Matte finish papers have a smooth and natural looking surface without the sheen that comes with a glossy paper. Even matte papers described as 'smooth' will have a slightly grainy texture compared to a gloss paper. A matte finish can help emphasise different colours and tones and offer an authentic look for art reproductions. Generally matte is the best choice if your print will be hanging in glass as there is no glare. However, it may make some images look grainy and colours may not appear as bright.
Paper whiteness
Whiteness refers to the shade of the sheet of paper. Lower or 'natural' white levels are more of a yellow/creamy colour. Higher or 'bright' white levels are seen as bluer whites. Lower or cream whites absorb the blue light. They tend to work better for yellow based and lighter toned images. Softer, lighter tones may be washed out by a high-brightness paper. Images of natural settings also tend to favour warmer paper because colours appear more natural.
Higher or 'bright' white tones reflect blue light and tend to be more vibrant. The whiter the paper, the higher the contrast in colours and therefore you get a richer colour gamut. Colour gamut refers to the entire range of colours and tones achievable by an imaging system. Bright white papers tend to be favored by photographers for their deep blacks and great dynamic range.
Print method
All of our in-house fine art prints are manufactured through "giclée" printing, except for our C-type prints.
Giclée is French for "sprayed ink". Today, the term is used to describe a sophisticated inket printmaking process which creates the highest quality fine art reproductions. Giclée printing offers extra-fine image resolution, helping retain a higher degree of detail from the original fine art.
The archival nature of the print varies according to the type of inks used, as well as the archival properties of your chosen paper and the conditions in which the print is displayed or stored. Current scientific opinion is that our recommended papers and giclée printing process will produce a print that lasts between 100 and 200 years in good conditions.
Weight
Paper weight is measured in gsm which stands for 'grams per square meter'. The weight of the paper isn't something you need to worry about too much. All of our fine art papers and photo print papers are a suitable weight for professional printing.
Generally however, artists prefer a heavier paper as it offers rigidity and a more substantial feel. A heavier gsm is also preferable if you are creating a large print for display as it is easier to mount.
A guide to gsm levels:
- 60-100gsm is standard for most household print paper. This is the weight you would expect to feel for a typical A4 piece of print paper.
- 110-140gsm is the weight typical of most traditional poster papers. It's sturdy enough to withstand a little wear and tear but too thin for a fine art print. Think flyers and posters.
- 170-200gsm is a more weighty and sturdy paper. This is the minimum gsm we'd recommend using for fine art print.
- 210-300gsm is generally the weight for a more premium fine art paper. It is a little more like card with a tactile feel but still has a bend to it.
- 310-400gsm is a much thicker, card-like paper. This is the weight you'd likely feel for greetings cards and wedding invitations. The highest gsm we offer across our photo and fine art paper is 315gsm. This is for a premium, heavyweight paper that offers the look and feel of original artwork.
Texture
Substrate texture, again, is really down to personal preference.
It is however worth considering how your print will be displayed. Generally, smooth textured substrates will look better when exhibited under glass than highly textured papers. Smooth paper also allows for excellent detail and contrast. A print with more texture feels pleasant when handled and can help enhance image depth and reality. Certain textures suite particular art reproductions. For example our Cold Press Watercolour Paper has a look and feel similar to etching paper.
