It is critically important you use the correct black ink for the paper type for best results - the matte black ink must be used with all matte papers (the key improvement is a vastly improved D-Max), and the photo black ink must be used with gloss and semi-gloss papers.

For top class results, it is also critically important to custom profile, and use the right media settings with each paper.

We've divided the papers into 6 surface types:

• Matte Paper, smooth
• Matte Paper, textured
• Fibre Based Equivalents (papers designed specifically to look like traditional dark room papers)
  
• Semi-Gloss (Lustre)
• High Gloss
• Canvas

Fine-Art Matte Papers (with a smooth surface)

These papers work very well with pigment inks and offer the best archival characteristics, and so are the papers of choice of fine art photographers around the world. They're more subtle than traditional photographic surfaces and, if you're used to things like Cibachrome and the like, may take some getting used to. They are seen by a few to be somehow less 'photographic' than gloss and semi-gloss papers, but this is largely a product of what has been sold out of mini-labs for so long, so people are visually attuned to semi-gloss and gloss surfaces. This is changing, and will likely carry on changing in the years to come - certainly in the art photography world matte papers are very common and growing in popularity all the time.

These papers, combined with pigment inks like the Ultrachrome inks, now offer wide gamuts and strong blacks. It's true the d-maxes are still below gloss papers (matte surfaces will always offer less strong blacks due to their very nature), and the gamuts slightly smaller than gloss papers. But framed work is visually almost identical (and often better due to reduced reflections), and you gain MUCH better archival characteristics, and there are no issues whatsoever with gloss differential or bronzing. So all in all, with pigment inks, they're really the best option if you don't require the initial punch of glossy prints.

Hahnemuehle Photo Rag is traditionally held to be the best fine art inkjet paper in the world. If you're new to fine art papers, or papers other than the standard Epson range, this is a great place to start. It really is quite beautiful, offering the widest gamut and deepest blacks of any fine art paper on the market.

Museo (AKA Crane) Portfolio Rag arrived in 2007. It's chief benefit over Photo Rag is that it has absolutely no optical brightening agents (Photo Rag has a low amount). It's 300 gsm, actually brighter than Photo Rag (despite the lack of OBAs), and a bit smoother as well. It's an excellent paper for gallery quality prints. We use this as our primary matte fine art paper as it is clearly the best matte fine art paper in the world today.

Finally, if you're looking for a really slick and smooth fibre based matte paper, then the new Harman Fibre Based Baryta Matte has a lovely, silky feel. It's a lovely bright white too, so has a very clean look.

Fine-Art Matte Papers (with a textured surface)

Textured papers can really suit some images and applications, and while some photographers get a little precious about photographs trying to imitate paintings, these sorts of papers really can add a whole new element to your work and limiting all your output to smooth papers as a matter of principle is silly - you should always seek to use the best expressive medium for your images.

We carry a number of interesting options, all with superb quality coatings for inkjet printing:

Hahnemuehle Torchon - A classic watercolour Torchon paper with an irregular texture

Hahnemuhle Museum Etching - Absolutely classic etching style paper with a classy texture - expensive but as good as these papers get

Arches Aquarelle - Classic textured paper, great for art reproduction work, with a natural warm tone.

Fibre Based Equivalents

Since 2006, a number of papers have appeared on the market, specifically designed to mimic the traditional air dried fibre based look.  The beauty of these is that the offer very classically photographic results, but for the first time the same papers can be used for black and white AND colour - something never possible with the darkroom equivalents. 

Museo (AKA Crane) Silver Rag - the first to market of this new type of paper and a truly excellent paper for high impact printing. Surface has some texture. Still one of our favourite paper in this category, has the most amazing tonal range and is very strong and easy to work with.

Harman FB AL- Very smooth, air dried fibre look, quite glossy. Launched in late 2007 to great acclaim.

Ilford Fibre Gold Silk - Somewhere between the two above papers and very beautiful indeed.  Silk (i.e. satin) surface.  Also very reasonably priced - probably the most popular of these papers.

Epson Tradition Photo Paper - sold in the US as Epson Exhibition Fibre.  Pretty much the only Epson paper we really recommend, this is a remarkable paper with very clean whites and very deep blacks, and a very nice unobtrusive surface.  For maximum impact images!

Semi-Gloss (Lustre)

Semi-Gloss papers are probably the best option with pigment ink printers if you move away from fine art matte papers. Semi-Gloss offers a robust surface to work with (resistant to fingerprints and the like), but with the good D-Max and large gamut typical of gloss papers. Semi-gloss papers exhibit much less bronzing than high gloss papers with pigment inks.

Canson Infinity PhotoSatin - Beautiful 270 g/m2 Semi-Gloss paper. Instant drying, high weight paper that is resistant to marking, scratches and water! Offers excellent gamut and very high D-Max. Has a less sparkly surface than the Ilford paper below and is the paper I personally use for all our family photos etc - very classy.

Ilford Smooth Pearl - Classic pearl surface with considerable sparkle. Beautiful photographic results and the most popular inkjet paper in the world.

Gloss Paper

Pigment inks and gloss papers are traditionally not the best of friends, with some issues with gloss differential remaining even in 2008.  Probably the best option is Harman FB AL (see fibre alternatives above)

Ilford Smooth Gloss - Classic gloss surface, classic high impact photographic results.

Canson Infinity PhotoGloss - 260 g/m2 High gloss paper. Instant drying, high weight paper that is resistant to marking, scratches and water! Offers excellent gamut and very high D-Max.

Canvas

Our favourite canvas is the new Hahnemuhle Monet canvas.  400 GSM, 100% cotton, exquisite print quality, and stretches beautifully.