Print Paper Types for Your Ink-Jet Printer

Ink-jet printers use either dyes or pigments as the main ink types. Going to your local office supply or department store to choose a printer paper for your business printing job can be overwhelming: it's difficult to choose from the different kinds with varying weights, sizes, and brightness, especially if you don't know what each type is used for. Nonetheless, don't assume that when you're printing photos, either at home or a printing shop, you have to use a printer paper from the same company that made your printer. Here are a few options of papers you can use for your printer:

Glossy

Unlike ink-jet printers that use pigments, their dye counterparts produce brighter images with a wider range of colours because the dye is absorbed into the paper. Glossy papers provide vibrant and sharp prints because of the glossy finish. If you're planning to print photos, then this is your ideal option because the glossy finish absorbs the ink, creating beautiful pictures.

Nonetheless, you can easily smudge the paper with your fingerprints, and therefore, you need to handle gently to allow the printed item to dry thoroughly. Glossy papers can also stick on pages against the printed sides. For this reason, you should avoid using it in such situations like in scrapbooks.

Matte

Matte paper has some white coating, which allows the dye to dry quickly. The coating absorbs the ink but does not produce shine. Moreover, since it dries quickly, it is less likely to be smudged with fingerprints or smear. This feature makes matte a better choice for proofs.

Resin Coated

Resin coated is comparable to semi-glossy and glossy papers. They are bright white, have a plastic base with either pebbly lustre finishes or high-gloss coatings. When printing colour photos, they will pop off the pages.

Fibre

Fibre-based papers are also another option you can consider for your inkjet printer. These types of printer papers use low-gloss coatings and have no plastic backings. The result of using these papers is deep and rich tones, ideal for black-and-white prints.

Fabric

This type is perfect for quilting. Fabric sheets are used to offer stiff backing. Most of the reliable fabric and quilt stores should have a variety of lines for ink-jet fabrics, including rayon or silk among others. However, reproducing fine details can be quite challenging because even the pigments or dyes could bleed a bit. Nonetheless, this doesn't mean that you can't get excellent results at all. 

  


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