How to Choose the Right Paper for Your Prints

At Pictureframes.com, your image deserves more than just ink and a frame, it deserves the perfect foundation. That is why we offer ten professional paperoptions to elevate everything from snapshots to fine art reproductions. Whether you are a photographer, artist, or simply printing a cherished moment, here is how to choose the right paper for your custom print.

PHOTO PAPER OPTIONS

Best for photography, personal prints, and high-contrast imagery

Premium Glossy Photo: This paper delivers a high-shine finish with bold contrast and strikingly vibrant color. Perfect for bright landscapes, travel photography, and any image with rich, saturated tones, this paper brings photos to life with a crisp, polished look. Its reflective surface creates a sleek presentation but may produce glare under acrylic, making it ideal for display in well-lit spaces where you want your colors to truly pop.

Premium Luster Photo: This paper offers a semi-gloss finish with a subtle texture, giving images a refined and professional look. It reduces glare without sacrificing deep, vibrant color or detail, making it a favorite among portrait and wedding photographers. The gentle sheen adds depth while keeping focus on the subject, creating timeless prints ready for framing or gifting.

Economy Photo: Economy Photo paper is a budget-friendly option with a smooth satin finish, providing solid color output for everyday images or proofing prints. While lighter in weight than premium papers, it still offers dependable quality for casual photography projects, décor updates, or testing image layouts before committing to higher-end media.

Premium Semi-Matte Photo: Premium Semi-Matte Photo paper strikes a perfect balance between richness and subtlety, with a smooth finish and soft, low sheen. Its minimal reflection and clean surface make it a top choice for editorial-style images, black-and-white photography, or moody, atmospheric shots. This versatile paper creates a refined presentation that enhances detail without overwhelming the viewer.

MATTE & FINE ART PAPERS

Best for artwork and archival prints

Premium Archival Matte Photo: Premium Archival Matte Photo paper features a bright white, smooth, non-glare surface that is perfect for highlighting fine art photography, graphic designs, or precise line illustrations. Made from acid-free materials and designed for pigment inks, it offers exceptional fade resistance, ensuring your prints remain vibrant and gallery-ready for years to come.

Artistic Velvet:

Artistic Velvet paper provides a soft, textured finish reminiscent of traditional art media, adding warmth and depth to both illustrations and watercolor reproductions. This paper’s rich surface texture gives images a painterly feel, making it an excellent choice for artists who want to elevate their work with tactile, museum-quality presentation.

Artistic Watercolor: Artistic Watercolor paper is heavily textured to mimic cold-press watercolor paper, delivering the authentic look and feel of traditional painting surfaces. It is ideal for high-end art prints, especially those replicating hand-drawn or painted works, adding an artisanal touch to digital designs, and ensuring each print feels like an original.

COTTON RAG & ECO OPTIONS

Top-tier papers for gallery work, collectors, and sustainable art lovers.

Artist Cool Tone Rag Photo: Artist Cool Tone Rag Photo paperis crafted from 100% cotton with a crisp, cool-toned white base that enhances clarity and contrast. It's fine texture produces brilliant detail, making it especially well-suited for black-and-white photography or minimalist color palettes where precision and clean tonal separation are key.

Hahnemühle Rag Photo: Hahnemühle Rag Photo is a world-renowned fine art paper celebrated for its luxurious feel and exceptional image reproduction. It offers a rich tonal range and outstanding color accuracy, making it a preferred choice for gallery photographers, museum-quality archival prints, and collectors seeking uncompromising quality.

Hahnemühle Bamboo Eco: Hahnemühle Bamboo Eco combines sustainability with premium artistry, made from 90% bamboo and 10% cotton for a soft texture and natural white tone. Its eco-conscious composition makes it ideal for earthy color palettes, environmental artwork, or creators who value sustainable materials without sacrificing print excellence.

Try It Before You Print Upload your image with our Print & Frame Tool to preview how it looks on each papertype. Combine it with our handcrafted frames and mats for a custom, professional result.

Whether you're framing a family photo or preparing an art exhibit, the paper you choose transforms your print into a true keepsake. With ten exceptional papers to choose from, Pictureframes.com has something for every creative vision and budget.

Start designing your custom print today at Pictureframes.com.