subject: Points To Keep In Mind Before Using Glossy Photo Paper [print this page] The glossy photo paper is preferred by many people who would like to take printouts of their photographs at home without professional assistance. Since most of the homes use inkjet printers instead of laser printers, this type of paper is the preferred choice. Though the photos printed on this type of paper are beautiful, there are certain things that you need to keep in mind before using them. Unlike the matte photo paper, the glossy photo paper is a lot more delicate and needs to be handled with care if you intend to get the best from it.
First of all, you have to understand that the surface of the glossy photo paper is extremely smooth. While this is advantageous in most situations, there are a few drawbacks associated with it as well. You have to ensure that you hold these photographs at the corners. Touching them with your fingers in the middle will leave behind large unpleasant stains and fingerprints that will mar the look of the photograph. Also, the time needed for the printer ink to dry when you print using this paper is higher than the drying time needed for matte paper. Therefore, it is imperative that you do not place it in any album or photo frame until a few hours after printing it. Overlooking this aspect will lead to smudged photographs that fade quickly over a period of time.
Glossy photo paper can be used to take prints of photographs that you intend to place in photo albums. However, if you would like to frame a particular photograph, it is recommended that you do not use this type of photo paper. Thanks to the smooth texture, the glossy paper reflects a lot of light. Therefore, viewing the prints of photos taken on this paper can be difficult from certain angles. When you take printouts on glossy paper and place such photos is glass photo frames, viewing them clearly becomes nearly impossible since the paper as well as the frame reflect light.
The glossy photo paper is slightly expensive as compared to the other types of photo paper. This is because the photos that are printed on this are of the highest quality. If you have certain photos that you hold close to your heart and would like to bring them to life, then getting them printed on glossy paper is ideal since it adds a three dimensional effect to the picture, making it look as close to reality as possible. The colors are also rich and vibrant and it adds a certain sharpness and clarity to the picture that enhances its appeal.
Glossy photo paper has a very thin layer of plastic coating on the top. Therefore, this type of paper is not recommended for taking printouts using the laser printers. The printing technology used in these printers generates a lot of heat during the process which can melt the thin protective layer of plastic and damage the printer as well as the paper.
