Glossy Paper is one of the most demanded photo papers available worldwide.
There is one the characteristic you should consider in selecting a photo paper; it's the finish! A glossy paper is a kind of paper that has been coated with a compound to give it characteristics like improved weight, surface gloss and smoothness.
For high quality printing used in packaging industry and magazines, Kaolinite or calcium carbonate are used to coat papers.
Now if there is a paper, there's also a semi gloss photo paper and premium grade.
There are points to consider if you are buying paper.
We all know most of us are instantly attracted to images printed on photo paper as it seems really alive and vibrant in colour.
After all, glossy papers were designed to make prints look sharp and vibrant.
Glossy photo prints look shiny and are more appealing to the eye compared to the traditional photo paper.
The traditional images, however, look dull as compared to the glossy ones.
From the viewer's eyes, prints on a glossy photo paper look rich and deep in colours.
But be wary, you should be properly and carefully handling your paper prints as your fingerprints can easily get registered into the prints.
Also, viewing glossy photos in a location with strong lighting will be troublesome as light reflected from the glossy photo can be a hindrance and annoying giving you a hard time looking at them.
Besides your fingerprints, dust can also be a problem.
It is known that glossy papers are more likely to attract dust making it even more dirty added to your fingerprints.
You should also take note of your purpose in printing.
If you'll be placing the print in a frame then do not use the glossy one as reflection from the glossy paper will add up to the reflection from the glass of the frame.
But if you are just about to distribute hand outs for viewing then you may likely use the paper to raise the viewer's interest.
There are a variety of glossy photo papers you can choose from manufactured by the leading companies in digital printing.
The things you should consider while buying such a paper include your purpose, the quality and the cost.