When it comes to choosing a paper, it can be very overwhelming to decide what paper is the best option for your art, and does it really matter? Well, yes it does! Here we’re going to compare the two categories of inkjet papers. Photo paper vs. fine art papers:
Quality
Best Fine Art papers are 100% cotton rag, meaning they’re constructed of all-natural fibers. Fine art papers are highly sought after by pro photographers and artists to make museum-quality prints.
Photo papers are the ones that have been bleached to make images look bright and they’re coated with resin. Coated papers are multi-purpose and enable us to make good quality prints at an affordable price.
Longevity
All Fine Art papers are acid-free which ensures your print will retain its sharpness for up to 100 years if properly taken care of.
Photo papers contain chemicals that might cause the colors to fade quicker than fine art papers, therefore they are usually recommended for projects with less than 20 years of life expectancy. Although this is a rough estimate, with proper care, they could last many decades.
Weight
Fine Art papers are usually thicker due to the nature of their composition. Fine art paperweights can range from 300 to 400 gsm. Paperweight is a good indication of how thick the paper is, however, it does not always correlate with the paperweight.
Photo papers contain chemicals that might cause the colors to fade quicker than fine art papers, therefore they are usually recommended for projects with less than 20 years of life expectancy. Although this is a rough estimate, with proper care, they could last many decades.
All in all
Fine Art Papers are specifically constructed for archival giclee printing. Photo papers may be fine for photos you want to view periodically, or a short term project but if you are selling your art, we highly recommend using fine art papers.
