Matte Paper - Matte Photo Paper - Glossy Photo Paper

In the world of photo paper, matte paper has a very specific form and function. Matt paper is generally used for displaying photos that are not going to be put into glass frames or behind plastic. Matte paper is fantastic when it comes to eliminating potential lighting problems such as reflections. For this reason, Matte paper is often used in large billboards. These large billboards along the side of the road are meant to be seen from many different angles. Glossy paper above the traditional type would reflect the light and make visibility an issue. Because Matte paper is not glossy, it is the perfect fit for these types of projects.

While light reflection or glare is the primary reason to use Matte paper, there are other uses as well. Many people use Matte photo paper as a cheaper alternative to glossy photo paper in their personal pictures. While the majority of people use the glossy photo paper, Matte photo paper is much less expensive. If the pictures are going to be displayed at a distance, then Matte photo paper usually is just fine.

Another key point with Matte photo paper is that it often is less durable than glossy paper or even semi-glossy paper. If you are going to handle your photos a good bit, then Matte photo paper is not a good choice. When fingers touched the surface of Matte photo paper, you often get damage to the surface. With glossy photo paper you do not have the same problem. Glossy photo paper is usually will leave a fingerprint instead.

Matte photo paper also does not do well in the area of contrast. Semi gloss and glossy photo paper is much more likely to give you rich, vibrant colors. Math paper will generally have a duller appearance and much less contrast. This is yet another reason why Matte photo paper is generally not used for photos that are intended to last.

While Matte paper is generally only preferred in situations where it will not be covered by glass or plastic, this does not necessarily mean that Matte paper photos cannot be improved by doing this. Sometimes when you cover the Matte photo paper pictures with glass it can improve the appearance a great deal. This is one reason why great many people decide upon Matte photo paper for day-to-day photos. While certainly the picture quality will suffer a bit in comparison to glossy photo paper, Matte photo paper can still produce some decent pictures for your photo album at a cheaper price.

Micro-detail was another area in which you are likely to see a big difference between Matte photo paper and glossy options. Glossy photo paper produces prints that have much more micro-detail. This means that when you observe the picture up close, minor imperfections will be more obvious on Matte photo paper. One of the reasons for this is because Matte photo paper tends to soak up the ink from the printer. This can sometimes cause bleeding of the colors, particularly where fine detail is needed. Glossy photo paper is much better if you're trying to use fine detail in your photos.

On a professional level, Matte photo paper is pretty much relegated only to the larger prints such as might be used on billboards and advertising. Matte photo paper is perfect for these large projects. On a personal level, Matte photo paper has some use in personal photos as well as long as you are willing to accept the shortcomings in comparison to glossy photo paper.

One other important point is that not all Matte photo paper is created equally. What may be a poor picture on one brand of Matte photo paper may be incredibly beautiful on another brand. Just like with glossy photo paper, Matte photo paper comes in many different quality levels. This is definitely a situation where you get exactly what you pay for. If you are willing to spend a little bit more money on your matte paper, then your pictures will show a clear and marked difference.

Matte photo paper may end up one day being a great option for any kind of photos. With the advances in technology today, virtually everything can be improved upon. For now, Matte photo paper is an inexpensive alternative to the glossy and semi glossy photo paper on the market. It also stands as the perfect solution for large signs and billboards.