Glossy photo prints are a popular type of print surface for all sorts of
uses including family photos, weddings and even some professional
photographers. Glossy photo papers tend to have higher contrast than matte
photo papers and have a very shiny surface. They’re certainly bold. There are
drawbacks to purchasing glossy photo prints for artwork however. With the shiny
surface comes with a significant amount of reflections. Unless you have
gallery-quality lighting and no ambient light in the room the glossy print
surface can be detrimental to the viewer experience in my opinion. The point of
purchasing photographic artwork is to experience the personal vision of the
photographer. Gimmicky effects draw more attention to the gimmick than the
artwork which is unfortunate.
Let’s answer some glossy photo print questions here:
- What are some common glossy photo papers? Kodak Endura
Gloss, Fuji Flex SuperGloss and Epson Premium Glossy among others.
- What is the difference between glossy photo prints and matte
photo prints? Glossy photo prints are highly reflective on the
surface whereas matte photo papers have
minimal to no glare. Glossy photo prints can sometimes have a higher Dmax
rating, which means they can hold more black within the paper that results
in higher contrast, whereas matte papers are a more classy presentation
style and the best type of photo paper surface to print most fine art photo
prints in my opinion. All of my open-edition prints are currently available
for purchase as a matte print.
- Do you print on glossy photo prints? Generally, no. If
you have special requests however I can accommodate you and we will ensure
that your prints are printed on the best glossy photo papers available.
How can I buy a print that looks similar to glossy photo prints but without
the drawbacks?
Browse my
acrylic face mount prints. These
acrylic prints come ready to hang and are printed using cutting-edge Lumachrome HD TruView acrylic technology. There is a ROMA backing frame which makes Lumachrome
prints easy to hang in your home, hotel or office. Lumachrome prints have more
luminance under halogen lighting that glossy photo prints do and do not suffer
from glare issues.
Want to be notified if I change my mind about glossy photo prints
someday?
Sign up for my mailing list. I promise I won’t email more than once a month.
Probably less frequently than that.
Fine art photography prints by Richard Wong. This online gallery features my photography from the past two decades. In addition to showcasing my fine art prints, fineartphotographyprints.com was created as an educational resource to answer common questions for prospective art collectors. I mainly specialize in landscape, nature and travel photography. My photography has been published worldwide and I have publishing credits in many different publications. My fine art photography prints have sold to private collectors, art consultants and business owners. Exclusive limited-edition prints and premium open-edition prints are available for purchase. Please reach out to me via phone or email if I can assist you with your art installation project.