Types of paper
Are you looking for more information about our paper types? Check out our frequently asked questions.
Which paper types are available for photo prints and wall art?
For your photo prints, you can choose from a wide range of paper types, including: Fujifilm Lustre (semi-matte), Fujifilm Glossy (high gloss), Fujifilm Matte (all-round matte), Fujifilm Maxima Glossy (high gloss), Fujifilm Pearl (gloss with a metallic effect), Fujifilm Velvet (deep matte), Inkjet Black & White Lustre (matte), Inkjet Lustre Colour (matte), Fine Art (matte), K4 Ultrachrome (matte), Ilford Lustre (semi-matte) and Ilford Glossy (glossy).
You can also opt for high-quality Fine Art / Giclée prints on Hahnemühle paper. Choose from Hahnemühle Photo Rag, Hahnemühle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth, Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta and Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl.
For wall art, you can choose from up to ten different paper types (depending on the wall art product), including: Fujifilm Lustre (semi-matte), Fujifilm Glossy (high gloss), Fujifilm Matte (all-round matte), Fujifilm Maxima Glossy (high gloss), Fujifilm Pearl (gloss with a metallic effect), Fujifilm Velvet (deep matte), Inkjet Black & White Lustre (matte), Inkjet Lustre (matte), Fine Art (matte) and K4 Ultrachrome (matte).
Your photos are always produced on the highest-quality photo paper. This ensures razor-sharp results with intense colours and no visible screening. Your prints are also made to last a lifetime.
You can read more about the characteristics of each paper type and the effect they have on your photos in this blog.
What are the differences between Fujifilm Glossy, Fujifilm Maxima Glossy and Fujifilm Pearl?
At first glance, Fujifilm Glossy, Maxima Glossy and Pearl look very similar, as all three have a glossy finish. However, there are clear differences between these paper types.
Fujifilm Glossy
Ideal for prints with a beautiful gloss and brilliant colour reproduction on Fujifilm Digital Professional DP II paper. The striking glossy finish adds vibrancy and depth to your photos. This is the most well-known and commonly used glossy paper.Fujifilm Maxima Glossy
Designed for stunning glossy prints with extra deep blacks and an extended colour gamut on Fujifilm Crystal Archive Professional paper. The deeper black tones make shadows richer and colours appear even more vibrant and impactful.Fujifilm Pearl
Offers extra intense colour reproduction with a glossy, pearlescent or metallic effect on Fujifilm Digital Professional DP II paper. Especially in highlights and skin tones, colours shimmer with a subtle metallic look. This paper is particularly suited for fashion, architecture and portrait photography, as well as images where depth and spatial effect play an important role. When combined with ambient light, it adds an extra dimension to the photo.Which paper types are available for photo books?
When creating your photo book, you can choose from three different paper types: Fujifilm Lustre (semi-matte), Fujifilm Glossy (high gloss) and Fujifilm Velvet (deep matte). For Professional photo books, you can choose Lustre Professional DP II, a more luxurious version of standard Lustre photo paper.
Your photos are always exposed on professional Fujifilm Album paper. This specially developed photo paper for photo books ensures razor-sharp images without visible screening, intense colours and prints that last a lifetime.
You can read more about the characteristics of each paper type and the effect they have on your photos in this blog.
Should I choose glossy or matte for my exhibition?
The finish you choose is largely a matter of personal preference: which option best supports the subject of your image? However, the location where the work will be displayed is just as important.
In museums and galleries, lighting conditions are usually carefully controlled. In other spaces, such as an industrial hall or office, large windows can strongly influence your choice of finish. You’ll want to avoid your image being overwhelmed by reflections of trees or daylight from outside.
Our advice: visit the exhibition space beforehand and pay close attention to the lighting conditions when deciding between glossy and matte.
Which paper type offers the right quality for an exhibition or show?
Just like many museums and galleries, we set the highest standards for our products. This includes colour accuracy, UV resistance and overall finish. All of our photochemical prints and inkjet prints on paper meet these top-level standards.
The choice of paper therefore comes down to personal preference, the subject of the image and the environment where it will be displayed.
What is the back print on photo prints?
Our prints on Fujifilm and Ilford paper include a small back print with order information and the sender’s name. This information is essential for identifying which photo belongs to which order and ensuring it’s sent to the correct customer. The back print is discreet and printed small on the reverse side.
If you prefer to remove it, you can easily do so using a small amount of turpentine or acetone (for example, nail polish remover). Afterwards, wipe the area clean with a slightly damp cloth and allow it to dry thoroughly.
Large prints on Fine Art paper or Inkjet Lustre do not have a back print, as these prints are trimmed after production.
Which paper types and photo frames are available?
If you’re planning to frame a photo, it’s important to consider both the paper surface and the type of glass used in the frame. We’re often asked about photos sticking to the glass inside a frame. This can happen when both the photo print and the glass have very smooth surfaces.
If the photo is glossy (glossy or glossy pearl) and the glass has no texture, the two surfaces can stick together, sometimes causing visible rings on the front of the photo. There are two ways to prevent this:
1. Change the surface
Choose glass with a subtle texture, or opt for matte (lustre) photo paper. When either the glass or the print has a fine surface structure, a thin layer of air remains between them, preventing sticking.2. Prevent direct contact between the surfaces
Use a mount (passe-partout). This creates an air gap between the glass and the photo, so they don’t touch and the photo stays in perfect condition.How does black & white photo printing work?
At Profotonet, you have the option to print your black & white images on true black & white paper. By using printing methods that reproduce only greyscale tones — such as Ilford, Inkjet and Ultrachrome — we prevent unwanted colour casts.
Ilford Galerie paper is available in sizes 13 × 19 cm and 20 × 30 cm. These prints are produced using the traditional black & white silver halide technique and are available in Glossy and Lustre finishes.
For sizes from 30 × 30 cm and larger, we use K4 Ultrachrome, which is also guaranteed to be free from colour casts.
Interested? Visit our black & white page for more information about the available paper types, printing techniques and prices.
What is the thickness / weight of the (photo) paper?
The term “...grams” is commonly used for paper and is often associated with a certain paper thickness. Photo paper, however, is a combination of paper and a plastic coating (emulsion), and the plastic component is heavier than regular paper. As a result, a photochemical print of, for example, 220 g/m² is actually thinner than a sheet of standard paper with the same weight.
We can therefore indicate the weight of our photo paper (approximately 220 g/m²), but this doesn’t correspond to the thickness people are used to with regular paper. Mentioning a gram weight alone could lead to unrealistic expectations, which is why this is not commonly used for photochemical prints.