Printer Paper Styles

Specialty and photo printer paper terms

Printer paper styles have been much in the news in the computer and camera world lately. As digital cameras have become commonplace, a number of different photo printer papers have appeared on the market, many of them claiming to last one hundred years or more.

To get the best image, invitation, or greeting card possible, taking the time to know the many photo printer papers styles available has become a necessity for the modern consumer.

Know your printer paper terms

Printer paper needs vary greatly depending on the project. The specialty printer paper you want for a friend's surprise birthday party invitation may not be the same as the photo printer paper you'd use for pictures of a grandparent's 80th birthday party.

If quality and endurance matter to you, here's what to look for in your printer paper:

Brightness

Check to see if there's a brightness number on your printer paper's wrapping. A number in the low 80s is copy-quality. A number in the 90s is presentation quality. The higher the brightness number, the whiter the printer paper will be, and the better the images on it.

Weight

The weight of your printer paper is important to know because different printers respond to sheet thickness in different ways. A rear loading printer will probably accept heavier weights easier than a front loading printer, which may jam if paper weight is too high.

The heavier a paper, the higher its quality. Printer paper used for general office work will start out around twenty pounds. Higher quality office printer paper will be around thirty pounds, and photo printer paper weights begin at about fifty pounds.

Photo printer paper tips

OEM is a term you may see while shopping for photo printer paper. OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer and refers to paper produced by companies such as Epson, Canon, and HP. OEM paper will often respond best when used in conjunction with its own printers, giving you a better quality and longer lasting image.

If you're tempted to save a bit of money by using a non-OEM brand such as Kodak printer paper, be sure to first investigate how it will react with your printer. You may find that spending a bit more for OEM paper will be worthwhile. An excellent third-party source for printer paper news and ratings is www.wilhelm-research.com.

Some non-OEM tips

If you do settle on non-OEM printer paper, keep these things in mind:

Archival, museum grade, and acid free are all good qualities for photo printer paper.

Recycled printer paper is a great idea for your home or office, but for photos it's not the wisest choice. The chemicals in recycled printer paper will not respond well to the photo printing process.

Check to see if the paper coating is porous or non-porous. Porous coatings mean your print will dry quickly. Non-porous coatings are more atmosphere-resistant and take longer to dry. For photo images, non-porous printer paper is going to last longer. Just be careful how you handle the paper as it's drying.

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