[Comparison of all papers] Learn about the differences between papers!

In this article,

"I want to know the difference in paper color."

"I want to know the basic characteristics of the paper itself."

"I'm wondering, is this paper for photos? Or illustrations?"

I am writing this for people who have concerns such as:

table of contents

glossy paper

	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)
Paper	ProPhoto Thick gloss	ProPhoto Silk	Pro Photo Sub-Gloss	Crispia	Canon Raster	Monosilk
Surface Finish	gloss	Silky texture	gloss	gloss	Fine grain gloss	Slight gloss
paper thickness	0.27mm	0.27mm	0.27mm	0.3mm	0.26mm	0.23mm
Base Material	RC paper	RC paper	RC paper	RC paper		RC Base
Color reproducibility	〇	〇	〇	〇	〇	〇

 

	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)
Paper	Semi-gloss	Bureau paper	Fine Art Pearl	Photo Rag Baryta	Photo Lug Metallic
Surface Finish	Fine grain gloss		Pearl tone	High Gloss	metallic high gloss
paper thickness	0.295mm	0.43mm	0.4mm	0.39mm	0.47mm
Base Material					cotton
Color reproducibility	〇	〇	〇	〇	〇

<Matte paper>

	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)
Paper	Premium Matte Paper	Art paper	Velvet Fine Art Paper	Photo Rag	Torsion	German etching
Surface Finish	mat	Texture Matte	mat	mat	mat	mat
paper thickness	0.25mm	0.29mm	0.48mm	0.3mm	0.50mm	0.50mm
Base Material		Paper (not cotton-based)	100% cotton		α-cellulose	α-cellulose
Color reproducibility	〇	〇	◎	◎	〇	〇

<Japanese paper>

	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)
Paper	Kozo thick white paper	Unryu Light White	Ibe Light White
Surface Finish
paper thickness	0.23mm	0.13mm	0.15mm
Base Material	Kozo (paper mulberry)	Kozo (paper mulberry)	Kozo, hemp
Color reproducibility	〇	〇	〇

<canvas>

	Photo (color wheel)	Photo (color wheel)
Paper	Matte Canvas	satin canvas
Surface Finish	mat	gloss
paper thickness	0.475mm	0.5mm
Base Material	Cotton/Polyester	Cotton/Polyester
Color reproducibility	〇	〇

Comment Paper Review

PHOTOPRI staff, who are in regular contact with paper, will review each paper!

If you would like to know more, please check out our article that covers the characteristics of each paper!

<Glossy paper>

[EPSON] Prophoto Thick Glossy Paper

Profoto Heavyweight Glossy is the most glossy paper in the Profoto series.

The not-too-strong reflection gives photos and illustrations a brighter impression than when viewed as image data!

It's perfect for adding a bright and vibrant touch to photos of children or wedding photos.

Read the blog here

[EPSON] Pro Photo Heavyweight Silk

A very popular paper with a striking surface texture.

If you print a portrait on Profoto Heavyweight Silk, you'll be amazed at how smooth the skin is.

This paper can be used in a variety of situations, including landscape and black-and-white photography, so it's extremely versatile!

[EPSON] Prophoto Thick, Slightly Glossy

The gloss is exquisite.

If you're looking for a subdued finish, we recommend Profoto Thick Sub-Gloss!

Works printed on matte paper also have the advantage of being easier to see when exhibited.

[EPSON] Crispia High Gloss Photo Paper

High gloss paper with a beautiful sheen.

The blue color will be rendered slightly more purple, so care should be taken when printing photos or illustrations that feature blue as the main color, such as the sea or blue sky.

It is often used to print commemorative photos with children, such as black and white photos, wedding photos, and shrine visit photos.

[Canon] Fine-grain glossy raster

Luster's texture is finer than Profoto Heavyweight Silk, resulting in smoother reflections.

It is popular for printing portraits because it excels at expressing red. It creates a wonderful "warm" look!

[ILFORD] Mono Silk Warmtone

The title is "warm tone," so this one also has a warm color finish.

When printing monochrome works, I am impressed by how smoothly the contrast between light and dark is expressed.

Because it provides warmth, it may not be suitable for photos or illustrations that require a crisp, cool look.

[PICTRICO] Semi-gloss paper

Semi-gloss paper from the Pictorico series.

I like the blue expression on this paper.

Not only does it make blues appear whiter than other glossy papers, but it also makes whites appear "whiter" than other glossy papers, making it extremely useful when you want to convey the whiteness of snowy scenes, etc.

A popular paper that can be used for general purposes!

[Pictran] Local newspaper

The characteristics of the paper itself are different from other types of paper.

Perhaps this paper is what we mean by unique.

The paper is a slightly cream color, so it is not suitable for accurately reproducing the colors of the data, but each color of ink adheres well to the paper, and the glossy finish creates a unique glossy finish.

The acid illustration printing also makes it look cool, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out!

[Hahnemuhle] FineArt Pearl

Bright white paper works well with both color and black and white photographs.

It is not often used for illustrations, but if the work is in a painting style, it will go well with the paper!

The clear white paper and the elegant pearlescent luster that gives the colors a vibrant look are perhaps the secrets to its popularity.

[Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag Baryta

Photo Rag BR has paper strengths comparable to Fine Art Pearl.

The texture and gloss of the Photo Rag BR paper surface create a rich and expressive work. The most common requests for this paper are portraits and landscapes.

He excels at expressing deep contrast, so there are almost no photos that don't suit him... (My personal favorite)

[Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag Metallic

This is another unique type of paper.

There are other manufacturers that produce paper with a silver metallic shine, but Hahnemuhle is the only company that can produce paper with such a dazzling finish.

All of the papers in the Hahnemuhle series give off a bright impression, but with Photo Rug Met, your eyes are drawn to the paper itself .

In terms of tonal expression, Fine Art Pearl and Photo Rag BR are at a higher level, but why not give it a try?

<Matte paper>

[EPSON] PX Premium Matte Paper

This is one of the most popular matte papers available at PHOTOPRI.

The smooth surface of the paper makes photos and illustrations look neat and tidy.

Although it has the drawback of being easily worn, the tight black color makes it very popular!

[EPSON] MC Art Paper

This is another very popular paper.

Unlike the smooth surface of premium matte paper, art paper is characterized by its texture.

Although the red color is slightly faded, other colors are highly reproducible, and the paper is thicker than premium matte paper, making it easy to handle.

[EPSON] Velvet Fine Art Paper

If you're worried that the colors will come out too dark when you print illustrations, we recommend you try this paper.

This is an amazing product that has all three great qualities: good color reproduction, high color reproduction, and is easy to obtain because it is a domestic product.

Due to the size sold by the manufacturer, the printable area is up to A2, but this paper is also very popular!

[Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag

This paper meets the demand for expressing the colors of the data as faithfully as possible.

Matte paper tends to have a tendency to change color, but it's reassuring that this doesn't happen.

The tight black color also allows for good expression of shades.

I have never felt dissatisfied and thought, "I wish it was a little more like this."

When printing a photo on matte paper, fine details such as the windows of a building or the trunks of trees can be lost and the image can appear crushed, but Photo Lag keeps the details relatively well.

[Hahnemuhle] Torchon

Paper that gives the impression of watercolor paper.

I feel that the wavy texture is well suited to soft pastel tones.

Also, when printed, green tends to turn darker, but Torsion maintains its brightness, so why not try using it in works that feature green as the main color?

【Hahnemuhle】German Etching

German etching gives a bright and vivid impression.

It is rare among matte papers that the colors remain vibrant without fading.

I recommend printing illustrations rather than photographs.

The paper is 0.50mm thick , so it won't warp or bend, which is a nice feature!

<Japanese paper>

Washi paper is made from natural plant-derived materials such as kozo, gampi, and mitsumata.

There are many washi paper manufacturers in Japan, but the inkjet washi paper sold at PHOTOPRI uses Awa washi paper.

[Awa Washi] Kozo, thick, white

This is the most frequently ordered paper in our washi paper series.

Compared to other matte papers, Japanese paper tends to have a tendency to fade, but I think kozo is relatively easy to use.

Photographs of light shining through the glass are very beautiful, as they create a dreamy, soft look.

Because it is a thick paper, it is not only used to print exhibition works, but also for menus in restaurants.

[Awa Washi] Cloud style thin white

Unryu is a paper that intentionally leaves the plant fibers of the kozo plant in long, thin stripes, giving it a distinctive, visible character.

This paper, which emphasizes the characteristics of Japanese paper, is perfect for Japanese-style illustrations and photographs.

The photographs and illustrations of commonly seen Japanese flowering trees (cherry blossoms and plum blossoms) are printed, and the paleness of the pink color stands out.

Because the paper is thin, it tends to crease easily when printing in large format, making it somewhat difficult to operate.

[Awa Washi] Ibe Thin White

This is an inexpensive and easy-to-use type of washi paper.

The main raw materials used are hemp and wood pulp, and it is characterized by its subtle mesh.

It is also recommended to display the works through light, so an exhibition using washi paper will create an even more fantastical space.

<canvas>

[EPSON] Premium Matte Canvas

A medium that makes use of the unique texture of canvas.

Recommended for those who are particular about image quality, such as those creating replicas of photographs, oil paintings, and paintings!

The matte texture allows for deep, subdued color expression.

[EPSON] Premium Satin Canvas

This is a thick, soft, glossy canvas media made from a cotton and polyester blend.

In particular, when printing oil paintings, it gives a glossy finish similar to that of an applied layer of oil paint.

I'm captivated by the sheen without feeling overpowering.

<Handling paper>

• [Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] German Etching <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] Torchon <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] FineArt Pearl <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag Baryta <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag Metallic <Go to product page>

Would you like to try a test print?

Just like taking a test drive before buying a car, we would like you to try out our trial printing service and experience the paper with your own eyes before printing.

There are a wide variety of papers available, including glossy paper, matte paper, fine art paper, and Japanese paper, and you can't really understand the texture, feel, and color transfer that each one has until you actually hold the printed material in your hands.

It can be difficult to choose the best paper from the many available options right away. There are many people who don't know which one to choose.

You can use your own photo data to print the test print.

We have trial sets available to suit your tastes, so please feel free to try them out!