[I tried printing] The charm of PICTORICO semi-gloss paper

The PICTORICO semi-gloss paper that we are introducing this time is a glossy paper sold by Diamic Co., Ltd.

The "PICTORICO" series, which means "painting-like" in Spanish, is used by many photographers, both professional and amateur.

Semi-gloss paper is particularly popular among the Pictrico series, as it has an elegant semi-gloss finish that makes it easy for users to use.

The Pictrico series is a brand that develops unique photo papers with a wide variety of glossy papers, but many people may not know about it yet.

“What are the characteristics of semi-gloss paper?”

“What kind of photos and illustrations is it suitable for?”

I am writing this for those who have similar problems.

<Handling paper>

• [PICTORICO] Semi-gloss paper <Go to product page>

[PICTORICO] Selection of semi-gloss paper

Features of the Pictolico series

The Pictolico series is proposed by Diamic Co., Ltd., located in Sumida-ku, Tokyo.

One of its major features is that the paper is thicker than, for example, the glossy paper that EPSON handles.

The thickness of the popular paper EPSON thick grain is 0.27mm, but the thickness of semi-gloss paper is 0.295mm.

It may seem like there is only a difference of 0.025mm, but when you hold the paper, you notice that the thickness and weight are quite different.

This thickness is an important point that is directly connected to the physical "easiness of handling" when creating works.

If the size is A3 or larger, you have to be careful when putting the work in a frame, and considering the risk of bending or folding it , the fact that the paper itself is durable is a big advantage. .

In addition, the type of ink used is compatible with both dyes and pigments , so it is easy to use for those who enjoy printing at home.

PHOTOPRI uses pigment ink for output, but it always looks beautiful after printing.

One of the most user-friendly in the series

Semi-gloss paper is particularly easy to use in the Pictrico series.

When it comes to printing photos, beginners will first find out what kind of glossy paper it is.

I'm sure you'll find out by reading reviews from many people that "it seems like glossy paper is better."

Crispia High Gloss and Profoto Thick Gloss, both available at PHOTOPRI, are also popular, and I'm sure other printing companies are ordering these papers in large numbers.

At PHOTOPRI, "semi-gloss" paper is as popular as the high-gloss paper mentioned above.

This "semi-gloss" feeling is why semi-gloss paper is easy to use .

When you print it out, you will be impressed by how easy it is to view the data.

High gloss paper has an unrivaled ``beauty'' that is a major weapon, but semi-gloss paper has the advantage of ``easiness to read'' .

It has a slight and beautiful reflection, so it is not difficult to watch for a long time.

Semi-gloss paper is a typical paper that is often used at photo exhibitions .

You can display it without being affected by the lighting in the venue, so I think the simple element of ``easy viewing'' will differentiate it from other papers.

Also, the reason why it is "easy to see" is that it has a fine grain surface .

Fine-grained paper is paper that has a slightly textured surface.

Simply put, it has a textured surface .

(↑It's a little hard to see, but can you see that the surface is uneven?)

The uneven surface prevents light reflection from becoming monotonous, giving the photo a three-dimensional effect .

In other words, photographs printed on semi-gloss paper can be expressed as ``easy-to-read'' works by combining the two characteristics of semi-gloss and fine-grained surfaces.

By the way, we have recently written an article about the difference between silky and fine-grained surfaces, which we have been receiving a lot of inquiries about from our customers. We have written an article about EPSON's thick silky texture and Canon's fine-grained raster, so if you have time, please take a look!

[What is the difference between silky and fine-grained surfaces? ]

What kind of photos/illustrations are suitable?

You can print any subject. But what I recommend...

If you look at the works of people who order semi-gloss paper, you will find that there is no bias towards the genre of the subject, and that the paper can be used for general purposes in creating works .

Whether it's a landscape photo, a snapshot, or a black and white photo, it won't look weird when printed.

(↑In this photo, the light source is taken from a close position, so the lighting is extreme, but what I want you to see is the strength of the reflection.The reflection is not too harsh.)

Now, when it comes to the amount of reflection caused by this semi-gloss effect and the fine-grained surface...I definitely recommend portrait photography .

Portraits and silk-grain paper are a perfect match, making them perfect for when you want to express the fine details of human skin .

There may be some models who don't want that much expression (lol), but semi-gloss paper perfectly expresses the skin tone of the person in the photo.

This can be said for the series as a whole, but Pictrico's technology allows for a wide color density and color gamut, allowing for high-quality printing, and the fine grain surface also allows portraits to have a three-dimensional effect.

You can see why silk paper is so popular.

The semi-gloss finish makes it easy to see, and the fine-grained surface allows for three-dimensional, high-quality printing .

It's great to have such easy-to-use paper.

Points to note when ordering

Due to stock availability, order sizes for semi-gloss paper are limited.

Please note that it is available in 4 sizes : 2L, A4, A3, and A3 Nobi .

bonus

In this article, we talked about semi-gloss paper, but the Pictrico series also has a wide variety of paper types.

If you would like to learn more about paper that is not handled by PHOTOPRI, there is also a directly managed store called ``Pictorico Shop & Gallery'' .

There, you can actually see and touch the various papers, and the staff will also be happy to advise you on paper selection and creating your own artwork, so if you have time, please come and visit us.

Would you like to try printing on semi-gloss paper?

Just like you take a test drive when you buy a car, we want you to use the trial print service and experience the paper for yourself before printing.

You can't really understand the texture, texture, color reproduction, etc. of a wide variety of papers, such as glossy paper, matte paper, fine art paper, and Japanese paper, until you actually hold the printed material in your hands.

Even if you try to choose the best one from a large number of papers, it may be difficult. There are many people who don't know which one to choose.

You can print a trial print using your own photo data .

We have a trial set that suits your preferences, so please take advantage of it!