That would be very helpful. Also, some of us use commercial printers, especially for large format. I use Costco; they have Epson 7800 series printers and use Fujifilm Photo Satin Paper (270 gsm). ps. Your experience with commercial labs (in general, not specific labs) would be very helpful.
Nigel Danson I’ve only printed one of my ‘final’ images and it was on a glossy format and I can totally see what you’re talking about putting it behind glass. I would love to start experimenting with the Matte to get that subtle and dynamic texture to my landscapes and achieve a more accurate portrayal of color and light and an overall more professional look. Thanks for the super relevant and useful info, Nigel!
I’ve only had a photo printer a month (Canon Pixma Pro 100s). I’m loving it and have gone “all in”. I’m going to to give a shout out to:- Firstcall Baryta Traditional Fibre Fineart This is actually a Firstcall Photographic (UK shop) plain package version of Innova Exhibition Photo Baryta 310gsm. It’s a lustre baryta paper which is good value at 60p an A4 sheet. It had a good printer profile on the Innova website. I’ve also used Firstcall’s even cheaper gloss and satin paper (about 30p an A4 sheet). I’m very happy with the results BUT I needed to make my own printer profile with a Datacolor SpyderPrint as I think the ICC printer profiles for the relevant paper on the Innova site were poor. Neither Innova nor Firstcall seem to offer the profile making service that Fotospeed does as far as I’m can see. Few people are going to go to the expense or bother of doing their own profiles I suspect.
Hi Dave. I have to agree with you on the Epson exhibition fiber ad I also agree with your opinion on the blacks. I have been very happy with the Epson signature series papers. I have just started using the mettalic luster and glossy both. With the right image, the glossy is amazing.
*Loving my **Bestt.Digital** portable Printer. Small enough to carry in my little bag and not at all heavy. Getting a lot of use out of it and having a great time printing on the go. Works for me.*
Nigel, I worked in the photo industry for 27 years and have been a photographer for nearly 50 years. FYI, Baryta is not a texture of the paper but a clay like coating laid down before the light sensitive emulsion is laid down and is available on different textures of paper. It has more to do with D-Max or enabling darker/richer colors or greys/blacks. Longer lasting prints than ones printed on resin coated papers.
I loved this, I'm so poor at printing for 3 reasons (a) I'm colourblind and folk make all sorts of comments about weird greens & oversaturated reds (b) I've been almost embarassed to print... you know the lies "I'm not good enough" or "how arrogant" rather than "what joy" (c) without printing, digital photography is almost free, so I've never convinced myself to invest & budget for it. Nigel - you have changed the above! I retire in a year from now - I'm going to research printers & paper and build up to a NEW aspect to my retirement project (photographing, using macro, all the flowers that define ancient woodland)... now I will PRINT each one, mount it properly (another retirement project) and display original signed copies around my teaching room. Thank you for your inspiration in today's video, sometimes the biggest impacts come from the simplest of encouragements.
If you use a colour chart like the Colorchecker passport when you take the image, it is really easy to get the correct colour when you post process. I use on and I bought it after another guy with colour blindness said he used it and it saved his photography as he was only doing B&W because he couldn't trust his colour judgement
Thanks for the confirmation, I'd considered that - I'm hoping that Lr sliders for Vib & Sat adjust each colour evenly - I suppose I should also use the proofing capabilities of Lr to check when individual colours are close to being blown out, too. I prefer matt-cotton or even strongly textured papers - I think it would be a matter of calibrate, calibrate, calibrate, then checking with a friend who is an artist, thus gradually gaining confidence. As papers also influence colour it could take a while..... but hey, that's what retirement should bring :-)
I gave up printing years ago and quite honestly nearly lost interest in photography altogether, then I found a video on you tube by mistake but it was about printing on Fotospeed paper, after watching your video as well I have decided to try Fotospeed Patinum Etching I loved the way it made your prints look. Its been a while but I carn't wait to get out with my camera again, got my inspiration back.
This video opened my eyes after a year of printing everything on Canon Photo Paper Pro Luster. My wife & I are blown away by the difference & mood if photo & paper are matched. I WILL try the “Cotton Etching Paper” you showed & know what photo I will print in it! Thank You Sir Nigel!
I have my Canon printer from the beginning of this year. I’m also convinced by you, Thomas Heaton and Peter McKinnon to print my images. By owning a printer the threshold to print my images is mutch lower than when I have to use a print service. Beside the learning curve of printing (settings, color management, papers,..), it’s a lot of fun! I’m now using PermaJet papers and I’m very happy with the results. They also offer the free service for profiling your printer.
I love Epson Cold Press Bright as a matt paper for black and white portraits and Hahnemuhle Photo Rag for colour. We can't get Fotospeed paper here in Canada. I shoot with Fuji XT2 so it would be interesting to try Fuji's papers. My printer is the Epson P800. I have a bunch of client work to print today. For that I use Epson Premium Luster. Happy printing!
Wow your photos are breathtaking! I print family and trips photos on Canon's gloss and semi-gloss for albums. Glossy is amazing for those vibrant bright colors! but the darker colors are great on semi! Thank you for the tips!
I really love the Fine Art Museum Etching from Canon! But I only have their pro platinum paper to compare with. I love both of them and really think they have different and superb qualities. I really need to start print more! :)
When browsing some of my favorite websites, such as Magnum Photos, I noticed that the photos are often advertised as being printed on Fujifilm Crystal Archive. I think that's the paper I would use. I'd like to start printing soon and am going to use the tips you gave here in this video.
Another valuable video Nigel! I also love printing - it makes such a big difference! I typically use a "Red River Paper, Ultra Pro Satin, 68lb". After watching your video, I think I will use some different paper types that match the mood of my images! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!!
I had really struggled with printing but your previous vlog on printing set me on the right path and this one only adds to my knowledge. I used to use canon paper (the pro platinum) but could never get a print I enjoyed, I've changed to Photospeed and with them providing a colour profile it has made such a difference, the one I am using most of at the moment is the Platinum Baryta 300, for the price it just seems excellent quality. What would be interesting is how you frame your prints without cropping as off the shelf frames all seem to have limited sizes and if you look at the bespoke frame making services it can get very expensive very quickly. Thank you for taking the time to explain the whole printing process in an understandable way.
At this moment I use plus semi gloss paper from canon. But a lot of my prints, especially my landscape pictures in the forrests of the Netherlands don't look like I want. I just started printing my photos and your tips are just awesome! Printing looks simple, but it simple isn't. I would like to try the textured paper because I think it would suit (most) of my images best. Keep up the great work Nigel, your videos are great and I like to watch them and I learn a lot of it. You are a true craftsman.
Respect for tip #5 about crop - too often I see photos squizzed into paper format. Nice photo of the dog. Our passed away two months ago and now I know that photos I made with him are most important in my life.
I've only used a few different papers but my favorite so far is Canon Pro Platinum. I just ordered a sample pack from Moab Paper and I'm excited to see what they have to offer.
Thanks Nigel. Great seeing some informative video's on printing. I use a Canon Pro-100, but like you did, I was just using the standard settings for quite a while, only last week, I've taken up Fotospeed's offer and just sent off my papers for calibration. My current favourite is NST Bright White, but my experience of all these papers is limited, hence this video being useful in getting some idea of what is available, and the subjects they're best at representing.
I think I make all these mistakes quite often! I always use super gloss, but now I'm going to try some alternatives. I just bought some Canon Pro Luster which might look good for some Hawaiian seascapes. Thanks for the inspiration.
You Nigel, I don’t really print much, but I should. When I have gotten a print I’ve created in my hands, it’s a great feeling. Thanks to you, I’ll get back into it. I don’t have any brand or paper type but I this something with a bit of texture would work for me. Thanks again for the motivation......
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My favorite papers are Epson's Cold Press Bright for landscapes and nature shot. For architecture I tend to use Epson's metallic luster paper. Great video very informative.
Like you, I used to print in a darkroom years ago - I say darkroom, it was usually a loft or bathroom! I work away during the week and sitting in my hall at home is my new Canon Pro-10s, which arrived Monday, and a pack of Fotospeed Baryta which I cannot wait to unpacked and get printing this weekend. After watching your inspirational video I really want to try Fotospeed NST which looks very interesting. What made me choose Fotospeed is various recommendations, including yours, and the free ICC profiling. Can’t wait!
march 2023. Im new but have been exploring Red River papers and love them. Easy to get- great customer service and quick delivery. But Im still learning on a Canon pro 200 with eyes on the 1000 when I get better
(Late to the game, but). I have an Epson SC-P800, and previously had a Canon Pro-100 (dye ink as opposed to pigment). I have had very nice results with HahneMuehle Fine Art Baryta Satin. The Satin makes it a close-to-matte finish that has convinced a few matte folks to try it out. Also had very good luck with HahneMuehle Museum Etching & Bamboo. I'm in the process of evaluating a new paper, Canson-Infinity Baryta Photographique II Matte of which I've heard good things. Time will tell.
🇨🇦/🇺🇸... GREETINGS FROM THE FUTURE, NIGEL! I'm a large-format printing technician here. Lovely images! Great choice of papers! THE WHOLE TIME I was waiting for you to either draw an oval onto your print with your pointing pencil or maybe spill that "beaker" of coffee across your beautiful pastel scene. LOL Good job!!! 🤣 Cheers, bro!
Amazing! I no longer feel like I'm going mad thinking there is something wrong with me. I have a MacBook and a new iMac, both I have to have the brightness set all the way down to 4 or 5. I'm so glad it's not just me. I just discovered your channel, thanks in advance for sharing all your knowledge!
Another fantastic video, Nigel! Bring on all the printing vids. Personally, I like a bit of a satin finish for most of my landscapes, but I’m starting to experiment with the mattes a bit more lately. We don’t get Fotospeed in Canada, so I currently use: Canson Platine Fibre Rag 310 Canson Baryta Photographique 310 Canson Rag Photographique 310
I've matched the white of my phone to that of the photo paper I use most in display settings (more yellow than you'd think) and then bring down the brightness to match perfectly.
Super helpful Nigel. Just ordered myself a printer and you’ve answered some questions for me. As for paper, I am with you, I like the rag papers, I think they give me a better result. Cheers, Ben
Very helpful and fully agree with the tips. For many months I had my monitor too bright and couldn’t understand why everything printed dark. I’ve tried many of the papers you mention and certainly like the matte best. A paper I do like is the Canon Pro Premium matte. Would be interested in others views on this but I don’t think it’s far off the brands you have mentioned and prints well without ICC profiling. Cheers, Simon
Hi Nigel. I am new to photography and am finding your videos very helpful and inspiring. As a newbie i have only printed 2 photos and it was only on standard paper from WHsmiths. But even so i got a great feeling looking at my finished work. I do a fair bit of wood lathe turning and its the same feeling of working on a bit of timber, putting different skills into creating something and holding a finished item in your hands at the end. Or like cooking a meal, putting all the ingredients together then the satisfaction of yourself and others enjoying somthing you created. Thats why i agree that printing your work is important. It's the finishing part to enjoy and appreciate. I've just come back off holiday from Eskdale in Cumbria and have taken my first long exposure photo of a waterfall that i am very proud of. I would love to be able to print it on the Photospeed cotten etching as i think the texture of the paper would add to the water and surrounding foliage perfectly. Hopefully one day. Thanks again for your great videos. I'll look forward to seeing more.
Great video, I also started to use Fotospeed and it’s been a great help learning from your mistakes (your journey), used roll paper mostly but have now changed to A3plus, I’m using the two you have mentioned, NST 315, platinum Baryta 300 and the platinum lustre 270. My favourite is the NST. Love the honesty, keep those videos coming
Despite it being one of your “avoid it” comments I really like using lustre paper. It works great for me and with a very fine texture gives very smooth colour gradient results. I’m currently working my way through a box of Ilford Smooth Pearl and enjoying the results.
Thank you Nigel, this video is just another in your series of educational videos; well done! This video truly helped to identify lots of problems I'm sure we've all had! In this video it brought out to me, the many other options for printing photographs and paper. Since I am a beginner, I've used nothing but HP Photo Paper,Matte and Gloss. What really brought this video to light, for me, was after receiving your print "Morning Rays, Yosemite Valley"! This print truly jumps out and comes to life on the slightly textured paper vs.than just plain matter or seeing it on your website; outstanding Sir! Seeing the proof is now very evident and I've have a lot to learn! I thank you for all I've learned, so far, and looking for to learning more!
I bought my first printer (canon pro 10s) after your video about printing photos, and my favourite paper is the fotospeed Baryta. I quite like the texture of the fotospeed cotton as well!
Some useful tips, once again, many thanks Nigel. I am going to check my monitor brightness to ensure it is not too bright. I had never thought about that one. As for printing, I have very limited experience with printing thus far. I tend to prefer matt finish and semi gloss the most.
I got a stack of matt gloss paper from a local photoshop after watching your initial video on printing. Loved the feel of printing and I got really excited seeing my first image roll out. The paper, I’m now finding out, is a but rubbish. The company doesn’t do profiling and the paper isn’t what I wanted. I’d love to use one of the matt ones from Photospeed. And the print would look great in my office!
I work in tech support for Graphics and Photography at my university. The photographers highly recommend Ilford Galerie Prestige: Smooth Pearl. I've used it a couple of times with their Epson Stylus Pro printer and the pictures look wonderful. This post is very helpful since I'm new to digital photography and needed some guidelines. Now I just need to get an affordable printer on the budget of a single parent.
Very clear and informative video. I was having major problems with dark prints. I’d calibrated my monitor etc etc but it wasn’t until the penny dropped that I was letting my printer decide the settings rather than Lightroom that I saw some improvement. I have obtained the Fotospeed profiles for my printer and some paper samples (great service by the way) so now just need to try them out. Moving house so keep putting it off.
I am currently using a smooth cotton High White 100% Cotton 450gsm by Innova. Really good. I am also just trying out the Soft Textured Natural White 190gsm. I do want to move next to an A3 printer when I can afford it. Point made about monitor brightness as well.
Great video as always. I used to print everything on Canon Pro Platinum Gloss... I now use Fotospeed NST Bright White 315, this paper is gorgeous. So far I’ve printed some of my wildlife shots, landscape shots & portraits. It’s so versatile. Paper is slightly textured so adds to the photos. I’d be keen to try Fotospeed new cotton paper 👍🏻 Looking forward to the next video.
I've never printed at home. I've always used an online service. You've inspired me to try though. I love the look of the textured paper and would love to try it. I also think Pebbles might just be shy. Her portrait was great!
Thanks for that video, Nigel - not to print is a no go!! My favourite paper on an Epson R 2880 is the Moab Rag Brite White. It‘s a mat paper an looks good even behind glass. I am just planning to change to a Canon printer, because I have problems with the Epson - different ones with Windows 10 and Mac OS!
Ok I don’t usually make comments.. lol this might be my first .. I am looking forward to the textured type paper. The matte. I took pics of the sequoia trees and the Grand Canyon. Can’t wait to see how they come out..
What a great in depth video here Nigel. Appreciate the insight. I get so motivated to stop outsourcing my prints when I see your videos. I’m thinking of getting my hands on a canon pro 1000 as well. Thanks for sharing again. Cheers
Very informative video, thank you for the tips. I'm new to the world of photography but it is something I'm very excited about. Still learning and getting comfortable with the camera and lenses that came with the camera, a Canon by the way. Printing my own shoots right now is not in the budget, but I do print some of my favorites through a service. I watched a video of yours a while back where you talked about printing your shots as a way of improving your photography. And you were right! And printing has allowed me to create my own personal gallery here at home. Often I go into the gallery with a cup of coffee, look at the shots and remember the day I shot them and what it took to get the shot. I love being in the woods with the camera. And I love shooting macro while I'm in the woods, fungi in particular. I'm also a big fan of black & whites. Because of my personality, not glitzy or glossy, when I do start to print my own shots I will lean towards the matte, textured papers and for the black & whites a mild glossy paper. Like my choice of papers, I'm not all blue jeans and sweatshirts. Thanks for keeping me motivated and growing my photography skills.
Hi Nigel! Would you mind making a video (or a short) talking about white point and D-max values of the paper you like to print with? Even the difference that the material makes, like in a 100% cellulose paper vs cotton or ragging, would be nice to hear about. Thank you for all your work. I'm really enjoying the experience of printing my own pictures on good quality paper and not from the basic printers of the local copy-shop
I still get confused and then anxious about printing in particular the cost of getting it wrong. I’m not really computer confident and unsure about getting colouration (is that even a word?) correct or the right paper for the ‘mood’. I get lovely comments from friends: families about the odd image I take and wish I was confident enough to dip the big toe in to see some of my work hanging . I’ll definitely watch this and your previous vlogs again and my aim is to have a print ready by the end of the year? Thanks Nigel
I have only used gloss box store papers so far, but I am very interested in trying some of those you described. I have not printed many of my photos yet, but I have tons of digital cards and I just have not printed yet. Now I want to take my skills to a new level.
Thank you for the mini course on paper types and how to calibrate for color. As always, great content. I used to always lean toward matte, but you gave me some good reasons to branch out. By the way, Pebbles looked fantastic in her portrait.
Well I've just upgraded to a new A3 printer and in the process of looking for different papers so this video really helped! I got the usual glossy pack with the printer but also tried the Canon luster paper that has a really nice finish, but after watching this video, I think I'll be ordering some of the fotospeed nst bright white to try 👍🏻👍🏻
Hi Nigel! Came across your channel recently and have been watching them all day. Absolutely love everything you're doing, and I can't even begin to count how many things I've learned so far from it. Keep up the work and cannot wait to see what you put out in the future!
Good afternoon Nigel! I didn't use none yet, but i think (almost in your vídeo) i would use the fotospeed cottonetching because of the texture. It seems like you could smell it, like an old book. Keep the good work!
Hi Nigel ..... great informative video ... as usual. Tried lots of papers with mixed success, particularly using LR with its messy settings. Like a few others I have found Calumets' Brilliant Museum Grade Paper excellent..... the Satin Matte is a nice slightly textured bright 300g paper and despite the misnaming Silvergloss White is a finely textured 300g low reflection satin that produces beautiful vibrant and detailed prints. Both are slightly whitened which gives some images a nice 'glow'. Also, I've given up on LR and PS for printing ...... I now use PrinTao 8 (Mac only), which is printer specific and does all the complex stuff automatically in the background resulting in prints exactly as I want them with no glitches and issues. Although relatively expensive I reckon it will eventually pay for itself in the reduction of wasted paper and ink, and up until Imageprint produced a chopped down version (R.E.D) it was a third of their pricing. You've prompted me to brush the cobwebs off the 3880 and print a few of my latest images.
Although I don't do my own printing myself at the moment I would love to use more of the etching, the details look so natural and you don't have any of the blocking that I tend to see whenever printed on gloss :)
I have to agree with all you said. The monitor calibration is vital in getting an accurate likeness of the image when it is printed. I was fortunate to get a canon pro 10 very cheap while visiting the Usa recently but getting good quality paper is a challenge here in Australia. I currently use canon pro lustre and find it pretty good but I would like to try a good quality matte or barrista paper.
I haven't done much printing but when I have, I've just used basic online services like Photobox that only give you option of gloss/matt (I always go matt as I hate reflections!). This video has made me realise how many different types of paper there are out there, so I'll definitely be looking into them now. I do really like the look of the Fotospeed cotton etching though 👍 Thanks for another fab video Nigel!
I'm just thinking about getting into printing my own photos and this was actually really helpful. I think what's keeping me back so far is the worry that I'll make a lot of the mistake you have mentioned and it'll cost me loads of ink and paper to get it all setup correctly. So thank you for sharing your wisdom on that. It's also always been textured paper that has tempted me most to see my photos on, so I would probably go with the Hahnemuhle Museum Etching.
Great Vlog Nigel! my favourite papers are:- my 'go to' paper is Fotospeed Natural soft texture Bright White which is a matt paper, great for woodland/bluebell shots, anything with a bit of mist and for the soft pastel, higher key images that I love to make. If I have anything that has a stronger colour contrast I use Permajet Classic Museum which I believe is now superseded by a new version. If I have something that needs a little more of a sheen and is not so 'arty', perhaps wildlife or some Black and Whites, I use Fotospeed PF Lustre Duo with has a lovely smooth surface that I prefer to the ordinary Lustre paper. For other Black and Whites I like Permajet Gold silk.
I use the HP glossy photo paper for my printer to make the prints. This video has really made me realize how unwise that is to always print glossy. Also, I always have to do a test print and then go back into Lightroom to make adjustments. I was wondering why it always came out too dark and low detail. Thanks a lot for doing this!
I love my matt paper but it’s just a generic paper off amazon but I will definitely be taking your advice on papers and will looking into the companies you suggested thanks Nigel
Thank you, loved this. I have started doing my own prints and have enjoyed using luster paper. I have pro gloss paper but stopped using it after I tried luster. I have just tried some velvet paper that is really nice. All new to me right now.
I would love to use textured papers for landscapes and matt papers for street photography. I think landscapes on textured papers create a unique character & sometimes gives an eerie feeling which I really love.
Nice video Nigel! Some very good tips and advice. I agree it's good to try different papers, but my advice would be to be careful not too pick too many. I'd say start with three, maybe four papers and learn the strengths and weakness of each and which type works well with certain types of images. I started out using and have stuck with Canson papers. I use their Baryta Photographique, Platine fiber rag, and PrintMaking Rag mat paper. The quality of the papers is top notch and all produce great results. Although I like Canson I'm certainly up for trying something new.
Hello,Nigel I'm new to photography and I've really enjoyed your videos,,,I believe when I get to the point if making my own prints,I would like to try photospeed. Look forward to your videos every Sunday. Keep up the good work and give Pebbles a treat for me.
As an old school amateur photographer I really believe in photo prints. I usually use Mpix, but I'm just getting started in doing my own prints at home. I'm not nearly as advanced as you, but this is a very helpful video.
Hi Nigel. Thanks for doing another print episode, particularly for covering item five. I always had a real dilemma about cropping and borders as I wanted the image to look it's best when framed but have recently come round to the same view as you - it was shot that way for a reason so leave it alone ! I'm a big fan of Fotospeed papers (especially the PF Lustre for mono images) and have recently profiled my printer so all good here !! Great video as usual Nigel. Thanks for sharing.
I would love to try the hahnemuhle and baryta matte papers. I have liked the Epson papers and inks in past. Now I have anew Canon printer and haven’t found the paper I like. I am a huge fan of your videos. I find them most inspirational.
Thank you for such a great informative video - I’m stuck on mistake no 7 myself. It’s just something about not feeling good/worthy enough I think. I’m so hyper critical about my images... but I always love seeing you put your printed photos into your videos, they look gorgeous. I’ll take the plunge soon and print I think - you’ve encouraged me!
Loved this.. had been looking at test packs to try various paper. .. I get ok prints from current printer but like the idea of printing more so an upgrade is due. Many thanks for you vlog and inspiration
My favorite 3 papers are Hahnemuhle Baryta Satin, Moab Slickrock Metallic Pearl and Slickrock Metallic Silver. The Silver only fits specific image applications. However, both slick rock papers give images a depth that typical papers don't. For softer, less dramatic images I use a lot of the Baryta satin.
I love to print my photos, I like that I have complete control from start to finish. My current favourite paper is canon's pro luster A3+. I love how it's not too glossy, but not matte either and there's a subtle texture to the finish.
Great video Nigel, some invaluable tips. I have been using hahnemuhle (excuse the spelling...) German etching - looks great in black and white especially when the image has some texture as well.
Thanks, Nigel. I'm with you about making prints. I enjoyed the B+W darkroom days (never did colour). I've been printing digital since 2003, and thought I was doing OK-until you spoke about cropping! I've always been guilty of cropping to suit the paper size (the way I was taught) but I can see the value of constraining to the original image. My workflow has changed. Here in Melbourne, Australia, I can buy Fotospeed so will give it a try. I may be wrong, but I feel a digital image only becomes a photograph when a print is made?
Thank you, Nigel, for this video. I have been studying printmaking and look forward to printing some of my photos. Pinning them to my wall makes me happy and takes me back to the beautiful places that I have been lucky enough to visit. I have been purchased a sample package of Canson papers. I hope to use the Matte papers for the painterly look because they have the lower Dmax rating and more defined surface texture. For those photos that require more tonal separation in the shadows, I might try the Fibre/Luster papers by Canson - Platine Fibre rag, 300 gram. This will be good for landscapes that contain rocks or have a more rugged scenery in them. Also, the Canson Rag Photographique should work well with photos that I want to maintain some softness and hold the blacks well to preserve contrast.
It was interesting to see you used to use Hahnemuhle papers, I use Photorag 308 and Museum Etching but I was intrigued by your description of the Fotospeed papers that I will give it a go. The reverse is true in my club (Plymouth Camera Club) as most people are giving Hahnemuhle a try on seeing the results I have been getting on that paper. So I will keep you informed of my results.
Hi Nigel, great video on printing your image. It is only in the last couple of years that I have started to print my own images, I am printing more on semi-gloss than anything else at present although I have just been sent two profiles for different papers from Fotospeed which I am testing. For the novice printer there is very little out there to help us on the learning curve, which can be steep at times, so this video has been welcome. At present I use mostly Canon paper although as mentioned I hope to be expanding this in the weeks to come, to help reduce costs I was able to get some 7 x 5 Canon paper very very cheap (Tesco clearance sale), I use this to test print any images before producing any A3 or A3+ prints. Great content, keep it going please. Many thanks.
I'm a solid Red River user as well. Their Palo Duro SoftGloss Rag has impressed me. 310gsm, OBA-free, and that darkroom feel. Similar, I would imagine, to the Canson Plantine rag.
Fantastic tips - I wouldn't ordinarily think of the different paper types, particularly textured so I'll have to give that a go! I did actually pick up some matte photo paper by Canon very recently and found that it worked a lot better than glossy for glass frames that are already glossy, just like you said. That's my favourite type of paper at present and worked exceptionally well for framing our wedding phots but I'll definitely be giving Fotospeed a look and will probably make use of the profile option as you recommended. Again, not something I would've even thought to do with my printer, only the monitor.
I have never printed my photos before. I am really interested in that Matte Paper. This was a very informative video into printing photos. I do want to try now. I share to Instagram and Flickr but I saw all the raw photos to a hard drive for future use.
Great video, thank you. I use a variety of different papers as I shoot lots of different subjects. I print on a Canon Pro-100 which uses dye inks, so some papers will work better for me on that than for others using pigment inks. For Matt paper, I found the Fotospeed Platinum Matt 280 works well with my printer and has a very smooth surface. NST Bright White that you mentioned also works very well for images that suit that little bit of texture. For lustre, I've just started using Fotospeed Platinum Baryta 300 which I really like, and you can also get in their panoramic format. I also really like to use Permajet's Titanium Lustre, especially on aircraft images which really suit it. Fotospeed's canvas range is also worth experimenting with and produces great results on my printer.
I used St Cuthberts Mill Somerset Emhanced Velvet Radiant White 225g on some macro flower shots last year, beautiful texture. Find the calibration/profile/decent printer technicalities mind boggling - really need to get to grips with all of these somehow!!
Let get a great list of papers types and ideas on what to use for different types of photography. Pebbles didn’t think much to her portrait 🤣👊
That would be very helpful. Also, some of us use commercial printers, especially for large format. I use Costco; they have Epson 7800 series printers and use Fujifilm Photo Satin Paper (270 gsm).
ps. Your experience with commercial labs (in general, not specific labs) would be very helpful.
Nigel Danson I’ve only printed one of my ‘final’ images and it was on a glossy format and I can totally see what you’re talking about putting it behind glass. I would love to start experimenting with the Matte to get that subtle and dynamic texture to my landscapes and achieve a more accurate portrayal of color and light and an overall more professional look.
Thanks for the super relevant and useful info, Nigel!
I’ve only had a photo printer a month (Canon Pixma Pro 100s). I’m loving it and have gone “all in”. I’m going to to give a shout out to:-
Firstcall Baryta Traditional Fibre Fineart
This is actually a Firstcall Photographic (UK shop) plain package version of Innova Exhibition Photo Baryta 310gsm. It’s a lustre baryta paper which is good value at 60p an A4 sheet. It had a good printer profile on the Innova website.
I’ve also used Firstcall’s even cheaper gloss and satin paper (about 30p an A4 sheet). I’m very happy with the results BUT I needed to make my own printer profile with a Datacolor SpyderPrint as I think the ICC printer profiles for the relevant paper on the Innova site were poor. Neither Innova nor Firstcall seem to offer the profile making service that Fotospeed does as far as I’m can see. Few people are going to go to the expense or bother of doing their own profiles I suspect.
Hi Dave. I have to agree with you on the Epson exhibition fiber ad I also agree with your opinion on the blacks. I have been very happy with the Epson signature series papers. I have just started using the mettalic luster and glossy both. With the right image, the glossy is amazing.
That sounds great to me. But right now I will need to use the paper that I already have. Is there somewhere I can send images?
*Loving my **Bestt.Digital** portable Printer. Small enough to carry in my little bag and not at all heavy. Getting a lot of use out of it and having a great time printing on the go. Works for me.*
Nigel, I worked in the photo industry for 27 years and have been a photographer for nearly 50 years. FYI, Baryta is not a texture of the paper but a clay like coating laid down before the light sensitive emulsion is laid down and is available on different textures of paper. It has more to do with D-Max or enabling darker/richer colors or greys/blacks. Longer lasting prints than ones printed on resin coated papers.
Hi Nigel. Just a thought have you considered doing a video on mounting, framing and displaying your photos?
I loved this, I'm so poor at printing for 3 reasons (a) I'm colourblind and folk make all sorts of comments about weird greens & oversaturated reds (b) I've been almost embarassed to print... you know the lies "I'm not good enough" or "how arrogant" rather than "what joy" (c) without printing, digital photography is almost free, so I've never convinced myself to invest & budget for it.
Nigel - you have changed the above! I retire in a year from now - I'm going to research printers & paper and build up to a NEW aspect to my retirement project (photographing, using macro, all the flowers that define ancient woodland)... now I will PRINT each one, mount it properly (another retirement project) and display original signed copies around my teaching room. Thank you for your inspiration in today's video, sometimes the biggest impacts come from the simplest of encouragements.
If you use a colour chart like the Colorchecker passport when you take the image, it is really easy to get the correct colour when you post process. I use on and I bought it after another guy with colour blindness said he used it and it saved his photography as he was only doing B&W because he couldn't trust his colour judgement
Thanks for the confirmation, I'd considered that - I'm hoping that Lr sliders for Vib & Sat adjust each colour evenly - I suppose I should also use the proofing capabilities of Lr to check when individual colours are close to being blown out, too.
I prefer matt-cotton or even strongly textured papers - I think it would be a matter of calibrate, calibrate, calibrate, then checking with a friend who is an artist, thus gradually gaining confidence. As papers also influence colour it could take a while..... but hey, that's what retirement should bring :-)
I gave up printing years ago and quite honestly nearly lost interest in photography altogether, then I found a video on you tube by mistake but it was about printing on Fotospeed paper, after watching your video as well I have decided to try Fotospeed Patinum Etching I loved the way it made your prints look. Its been a while but I carn't wait to get out with my camera again, got my inspiration back.
We need more PRINTING videos from you! Great video ! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
This video opened my eyes after a year of printing everything on Canon Photo Paper Pro Luster. My wife & I are blown away by the difference & mood if photo & paper are matched. I WILL try the “Cotton Etching Paper” you showed & know what photo I will print in it! Thank You Sir Nigel!
I have my Canon printer from the beginning of this year. I’m also convinced by you, Thomas Heaton and Peter McKinnon to print my images. By owning a printer the threshold to print my images is mutch lower than when I have to use a print service. Beside the learning curve of printing (settings, color management, papers,..), it’s a lot of fun! I’m now using PermaJet papers and I’m very happy with the results. They also offer the free service for profiling your printer.
I love Epson Cold Press Bright as a matt paper for black and white portraits and Hahnemuhle Photo Rag for colour. We can't get Fotospeed paper here in Canada. I shoot with Fuji XT2 so it would be interesting to try Fuji's papers. My printer is the Epson P800. I have a bunch of client work to print today. For that I use Epson Premium Luster. Happy printing!
Wow your photos are breathtaking! I print family and trips photos on Canon's gloss and semi-gloss for albums. Glossy is amazing for those vibrant bright colors! but the darker colors are great on semi! Thank you for the tips!
I really love the Fine Art Museum Etching from Canon! But I only have their pro platinum paper to compare with. I love both of them and really think they have different and superb qualities. I really need to start print more! :)
When browsing some of my favorite websites, such as Magnum Photos, I noticed that the photos are often advertised as being printed on Fujifilm Crystal Archive. I think that's the paper I would use. I'd like to start printing soon and am going to use the tips you gave here in this video.
Fuji Crystal Archive is not an inkjet paper. It's exposed with light and developed in chemicals.
Another valuable video Nigel! I also love printing - it makes such a big difference! I typically use a "Red River Paper, Ultra Pro Satin, 68lb". After watching your video, I think I will use some different paper types that match the mood of my images! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!!
Red river ROCKS...try polar pearl metallic for an amazing BW print..they glow. And not as$$ as Hahnemuhle or others
I had really struggled with printing but your previous vlog on printing set me on the right path and this one only adds to my knowledge. I used to use canon paper (the pro platinum) but could never get a print I enjoyed, I've changed to Photospeed and with them providing a colour profile it has made such a difference, the one I am using most of at the moment is the Platinum Baryta 300, for the price it just seems excellent quality. What would be interesting is how you frame your prints without cropping as off the shelf frames all seem to have limited sizes and if you look at the bespoke frame making services it can get very expensive very quickly. Thank you for taking the time to explain the whole printing process in an understandable way.
Watching two years later: this is the best video I’ve seen about printing, especially the tip about cropping for the composition.
At this moment I use plus semi gloss paper from canon. But a lot of my prints, especially my landscape pictures in the forrests of the Netherlands don't look like I want. I just started printing my photos and your tips are just awesome! Printing looks simple, but it simple isn't. I would like to try the textured paper because I think it would suit (most) of my images best. Keep up the great work Nigel, your videos are great and I like to watch them and I learn a lot of it. You are a true craftsman.
Respect for tip #5 about crop - too often I see photos squizzed into paper format.
Nice photo of the dog. Our passed away two months ago and now I know that photos I made with him are most important in my life.
I've only used a few different papers but my favorite so far is Canon Pro Platinum. I just ordered a sample pack from Moab Paper and I'm excited to see what they have to offer.
Thanks Nigel. Great seeing some informative video's on printing. I use a Canon Pro-100, but like you did, I was just using the standard settings for quite a while, only last week, I've taken up Fotospeed's offer and just sent off my papers for calibration. My current favourite is NST Bright White, but my experience of all these papers is limited, hence this video being useful in getting some idea of what is available, and the subjects they're best at representing.
I think I make all these mistakes quite often! I always use super gloss, but now I'm going to try some alternatives. I just bought some Canon Pro Luster which might look good for some Hawaiian seascapes. Thanks for the inspiration.
I use pro luster for my cityscape photos. especially night ones.
You Nigel, I don’t really print much, but I should. When I have gotten a print I’ve created in my hands, it’s a great feeling. Thanks to you, I’ll get back into it. I don’t have any brand or paper type but I this something with a bit of texture would work for me. Thanks again for the motivation......
My favorite papers are Epson's Cold Press Bright for landscapes and nature shot. For architecture I tend to use Epson's metallic luster paper. Great video very informative.
Like you, I used to print in a darkroom years ago - I say darkroom, it was usually a loft or bathroom! I work away during the week and sitting in my hall at home is my new Canon Pro-10s, which arrived Monday, and a pack of Fotospeed Baryta which I cannot wait to unpacked and get printing this weekend. After watching your inspirational video I really want to try Fotospeed NST which looks very interesting. What made me choose Fotospeed is various recommendations, including yours, and the free ICC profiling. Can’t wait!
march 2023. Im new but have been exploring Red River papers and love them. Easy to get- great customer service and quick delivery. But Im still learning on a Canon pro 200 with eyes on the 1000 when I get better
(Late to the game, but). I have an Epson SC-P800, and previously had a Canon Pro-100 (dye ink as opposed to pigment). I have had very nice results with HahneMuehle Fine Art Baryta Satin. The Satin makes it a close-to-matte finish that has convinced a few matte folks to try it out. Also had very good luck with HahneMuehle Museum Etching & Bamboo.
I'm in the process of evaluating a new paper, Canson-Infinity Baryta Photographique II Matte of which I've heard good things. Time will tell.
Thanks for all tips. I use Hahnemühle Fine Art paper (210 gr). I just got back a lovely print of a foggy woodland picture. Keep up the good work.
🇨🇦/🇺🇸... GREETINGS FROM THE FUTURE, NIGEL! I'm a large-format printing technician here. Lovely images! Great choice of papers! THE WHOLE TIME I was waiting for you to either draw an oval onto your print with your pointing pencil or maybe spill that "beaker" of coffee across your beautiful pastel scene. LOL Good job!!! 🤣 Cheers, bro!
Amazing! I no longer feel like I'm going mad thinking there is something wrong with me. I have a MacBook and a new iMac, both I have to have the brightness set all the way down to 4 or 5. I'm so glad it's not just me. I just discovered your channel, thanks in advance for sharing all your knowledge!
Another fantastic video, Nigel! Bring on all the printing vids. Personally, I like a bit of a satin finish for most of my landscapes, but I’m starting to experiment with the mattes a bit more lately. We don’t get Fotospeed in Canada, so I currently use:
Canson Platine Fibre Rag 310
Canson Baryta Photographique 310
Canson Rag Photographique 310
I've matched the white of my phone to that of the photo paper I use most in display settings (more yellow than you'd think) and then bring down the brightness to match perfectly.
Super helpful Nigel. Just ordered myself a printer and you’ve answered some questions for me. As for paper, I am with you, I like the rag papers, I think they give me a better result. Cheers, Ben
Thanks Ben
Very helpful and fully agree with the tips. For many months I had my monitor too bright and couldn’t understand why everything printed dark. I’ve tried many of the papers you mention and certainly like the matte best. A paper I do like is the Canon Pro Premium matte. Would be interested in others views on this but I don’t think it’s far off the brands you have mentioned and prints well without ICC profiling. Cheers, Simon
Hi Nigel, I just went to a printing workshop, thinking about investing in a printer. I'm reviewing your printing videos, very helpful. Thanks. Bob
Hi Nigel.
I am new to photography and am finding your videos very helpful and inspiring.
As a newbie i have only printed 2 photos and it was only on standard paper from WHsmiths.
But even so i got a great feeling looking at my finished work.
I do a fair bit of wood lathe turning and its the same feeling of working on a bit of timber, putting different skills into creating something and holding a finished item in your hands at the end. Or like cooking a meal, putting all the ingredients together then the satisfaction of yourself and others enjoying somthing you created.
Thats why i agree that printing your work is important. It's the finishing part to enjoy and appreciate.
I've just come back off holiday from Eskdale in Cumbria and have taken my first long exposure photo of a waterfall that i am very proud of. I would love to be able to print it on the Photospeed cotten etching as i think the texture of the paper would add to the water and surrounding foliage perfectly.
Hopefully one day.
Thanks again for your great videos. I'll look forward to seeing more.
Love the photos you showed in the video. Great work. My favorite paper is matte because it doesn't reflect like glossy does.
Great video, I also started to use Fotospeed and it’s been a great help learning from your mistakes (your journey), used roll paper mostly but have now changed to A3plus, I’m using the two you have mentioned, NST 315, platinum Baryta 300 and the platinum lustre 270. My favourite is the NST. Love the honesty, keep those videos coming
I’d really like to try out the textured or the matte. I’m just getting into photography and your videos are a big reason. Thanks for the inspiration.
My favorite paper is Epson Cold Press Bright. It's a textured matte with very good contrast and gamut.
I really like Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta 315g, a very versetile paper.
Despite it being one of your “avoid it” comments I really like using lustre paper. It works great for me and with a very fine texture gives very smooth colour gradient results. I’m currently working my way through a box of Ilford Smooth Pearl and enjoying the results.
I am not able to print my images, yet. This video is a great help for me to decide next steps on start printing my images. Thanks Nigel
Thank you Nigel, this video is just another in your series of educational videos; well done! This video truly helped to identify lots of problems I'm sure we've all had! In this video it brought out to me, the many other options for printing photographs and paper. Since I am a beginner, I've used nothing but HP Photo Paper,Matte and Gloss. What really brought this video to light, for me, was after receiving your print "Morning Rays, Yosemite Valley"! This print truly jumps out and comes to life on the slightly textured paper vs.than just plain matter or seeing it on your website; outstanding Sir! Seeing the proof is now very evident and I've have a lot to learn! I thank you for all I've learned, so far, and looking for to learning more!
I bought my first printer (canon pro 10s) after your video about printing photos, and my favourite paper is the fotospeed Baryta. I quite like the texture of the fotospeed cotton as well!
Some useful tips, once again, many thanks Nigel. I am going to check my monitor brightness to ensure it is not too bright. I had never thought about that one. As for printing, I have very limited experience with printing thus far. I tend to prefer matt finish and semi gloss the most.
I got a stack of matt gloss paper from a local photoshop after watching your initial video on printing. Loved the feel of printing and I got really excited seeing my first image roll out. The paper, I’m now finding out, is a but rubbish. The company doesn’t do profiling and the paper isn’t what I wanted. I’d love to use one of the matt ones from Photospeed. And the print would look great in my office!
I work in tech support for Graphics and Photography at my university. The photographers highly recommend Ilford Galerie Prestige: Smooth Pearl. I've used it a couple of times with their Epson Stylus Pro printer and the pictures look wonderful.
This post is very helpful since I'm new to digital photography and needed some guidelines. Now I just need to get an affordable printer on the budget of a single parent.
Great - good to hear
Very clear and informative video. I was having major problems with dark prints. I’d calibrated my monitor etc etc but it wasn’t until the penny dropped that I was letting my printer decide the settings rather than Lightroom that I saw some improvement. I have obtained the Fotospeed profiles for my printer and some paper samples (great service by the way) so now just need to try them out. Moving house so keep putting it off.
I am currently using a smooth cotton High White 100% Cotton 450gsm by Innova. Really good. I am also just trying out the Soft Textured Natural White 190gsm. I do want to move next to an A3 printer when I can afford it. Point made about monitor brightness as well.
I have not used papers yet. I am about to buy a Canon Pro-1000 and some papers. So I really enjoyed your video so that I can avoid mistakes.
Great video as always. I used to print everything on Canon Pro Platinum Gloss... I now use Fotospeed NST Bright White 315, this paper is gorgeous. So far I’ve printed some of my wildlife shots, landscape shots & portraits. It’s so versatile. Paper is slightly textured so adds to the photos. I’d be keen to try Fotospeed new cotton paper 👍🏻
Looking forward to the next video.
I've never printed at home. I've always used an online service. You've inspired me to try though. I love the look of the textured paper and would love to try it. I also think Pebbles might just be shy. Her portrait was great!
Thanks for that video, Nigel - not to print is a no go!!
My favourite paper on an Epson R 2880 is the Moab Rag Brite White. It‘s a mat paper an looks good even behind glass.
I am just planning to change to a Canon printer, because I have problems with the Epson - different ones with Windows 10 and Mac OS!
Ok I don’t usually make comments.. lol this might be my first .. I am looking forward to the textured type paper. The matte. I took pics of the sequoia trees and the Grand Canyon. Can’t wait to see how they come out..
My favorite paper is Ilford Galeria smooth pearl. It is luster type and prints well with both color and b &W. Thanks for your video. Very helpful
What a great in depth video here Nigel. Appreciate the insight. I get so motivated to stop outsourcing my prints when I see your videos. I’m thinking of getting my hands on a canon pro 1000 as well. Thanks for sharing again. Cheers
Very informative video, thank you for the tips. I'm new to the world of photography but it is something I'm very excited about. Still learning and getting comfortable with the camera and lenses that came with the camera, a Canon by the way. Printing my own shoots right now is not in the budget, but I do print some of my favorites through a service. I watched a video of yours a while back where you talked about printing your shots as a way of improving your photography. And you were right! And printing has allowed me to create my own personal gallery here at home. Often I go into the gallery with a cup of coffee, look at the shots and remember the day I shot them and what it took to get the shot. I love being in the woods with the camera. And I love shooting macro while I'm in the woods, fungi in particular. I'm also a big fan of black & whites. Because of my personality, not glitzy or glossy, when I do start to print my own shots I will lean towards the matte, textured papers and for the black & whites a mild glossy paper. Like my choice of papers, I'm not all blue jeans and sweatshirts. Thanks for keeping me motivated and growing my photography skills.
Hi Nigel! Would you mind making a video (or a short) talking about white point and D-max values of the paper you like to print with? Even the difference that the material makes, like in a 100% cellulose paper vs cotton or ragging, would be nice to hear about.
Thank you for all your work.
I'm really enjoying the experience of printing my own pictures on good quality paper and not from the basic printers of the local copy-shop
I still get confused and then anxious about printing in particular the cost of getting it wrong. I’m not really computer confident and unsure about getting colouration (is that even a word?) correct or the right paper for the ‘mood’. I get lovely comments from friends: families about the odd image I take and wish I was confident enough to dip the big toe in to see some of my work hanging . I’ll definitely watch this and your previous vlogs again and my aim is to have a print ready by the end of the year? Thanks Nigel
Hahnemuhle's slogan is "the paper makes the difference". Very true. I use Hahnemuehle and Canson, but Red River and some others make excellent paper.
I have only used gloss box store papers so far, but I am very interested in trying some of those you described. I have not printed many of my photos yet, but I have tons of digital cards and I just have not printed yet. Now I want to take my skills to a new level.
Thank you for the mini course on paper types and how to calibrate for color. As always, great content. I used to always lean toward matte, but you gave me some good reasons to branch out. By the way, Pebbles looked fantastic in her portrait.
Glad you enjoyed it Gisele - thanks for the kind words 👍
Well I've just upgraded to a new A3 printer and in the process of looking for different papers so this video really helped! I got the usual glossy pack with the printer but also tried the Canon luster paper that has a really nice finish, but after watching this video, I think I'll be ordering some of the fotospeed nst bright white to try 👍🏻👍🏻
Hi Nigel! Came across your channel recently and have been watching them all day. Absolutely love everything you're doing, and I can't even begin to count how many things I've learned so far from it. Keep up the work and cannot wait to see what you put out in the future!
Good afternoon Nigel! I didn't use none yet, but i think (almost in your vídeo) i would use the fotospeed cottonetching because of the texture. It seems like you could smell it, like an old book. Keep the good work!
Good analogy
Hi Nigel ..... great informative video ... as usual. Tried lots of papers with mixed success, particularly using LR with its messy settings. Like a few others I have found Calumets' Brilliant Museum Grade Paper excellent..... the Satin Matte is a nice slightly textured bright 300g paper and despite the misnaming Silvergloss White is a finely textured 300g low reflection satin that produces beautiful vibrant and detailed prints. Both are slightly whitened which gives some images a nice 'glow'. Also, I've given up on LR and PS for printing ...... I now use PrinTao 8 (Mac only), which is printer specific and does all the complex stuff automatically in the background resulting in prints exactly as I want them with no glitches and issues. Although relatively expensive I reckon it will eventually pay for itself in the reduction of wasted paper and ink, and up until Imageprint produced a chopped down version (R.E.D) it was a third of their pricing. You've prompted me to brush the cobwebs off the 3880 and print a few of my latest images.
Although I don't do my own printing myself at the moment I would love to use more of the etching, the details look so natural and you don't have any of the blocking that I tend to see whenever printed on gloss :)
I have to agree with all you said. The monitor calibration is vital in getting an accurate likeness of the image when it is printed. I was fortunate to get a canon pro 10 very cheap while visiting the Usa recently but getting good quality paper is a challenge here in Australia. I currently use canon pro lustre and find it pretty good but I would like to try a good quality matte or barrista paper.
I haven't done much printing but when I have, I've just used basic online services like Photobox that only give you option of gloss/matt (I always go matt as I hate reflections!). This video has made me realise how many different types of paper there are out there, so I'll definitely be looking into them now. I do really like the look of the Fotospeed cotton etching though 👍
Thanks for another fab video Nigel!
I'm just thinking about getting into printing my own photos and this was actually really helpful. I think what's keeping me back so far is the worry that I'll make a lot of the mistake you have mentioned and it'll cost me loads of ink and paper to get it all setup correctly. So thank you for sharing your wisdom on that. It's also always been textured paper that has tempted me most to see my photos on, so I would probably go with the Hahnemuhle Museum Etching.
So far, my favorite papers have been the Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308g & Red River Aurora Soft White, but I may have to try some Fotospeed papers now.
Great Vlog Nigel! my favourite papers are:-
my 'go to' paper is Fotospeed Natural soft texture Bright White which is a matt paper, great for woodland/bluebell shots, anything with a bit of mist and for the soft pastel, higher key images that I love to make. If I have anything that has a stronger colour contrast I use Permajet Classic Museum which I believe is now superseded by a new version.
If I have something that needs a little more of a sheen and is not so 'arty', perhaps wildlife or some Black and Whites, I use Fotospeed PF Lustre Duo with has a lovely smooth surface that I prefer to the ordinary Lustre paper. For other Black and Whites I like Permajet Gold silk.
I use the HP glossy photo paper for my printer to make the prints. This video has really made me realize how unwise that is to always print glossy. Also, I always have to do a test print and then go back into Lightroom to make adjustments. I was wondering why it always came out too dark and low detail. Thanks a lot for doing this!
I love my matt paper but it’s just a generic paper off amazon but I will definitely be taking your advice on papers and will looking into the companies you suggested thanks Nigel
Thank you, loved this. I have started doing my own prints and have enjoyed using luster paper. I have pro gloss paper but stopped using it after I tried luster. I have just tried some velvet paper that is really nice. All new to me right now.
I would love to use textured papers for landscapes and matt papers for street photography. I think landscapes on textured papers create a unique character & sometimes gives an eerie feeling which I really love.
Nice video Nigel! Some very good tips and advice. I agree it's good to try different papers, but my advice would be to be careful not too pick too many. I'd say start with three, maybe four papers and learn the strengths and weakness of each and which type works well with certain types of images. I started out using and have stuck with Canson papers. I use their Baryta Photographique, Platine fiber rag, and PrintMaking Rag mat paper. The quality of the papers is top notch and all produce great results. Although I like Canson I'm certainly up for trying something new.
Hello,Nigel I'm new to photography and I've really enjoyed your videos,,,I believe when I get to the point if making my own prints,I would like to try photospeed. Look forward to your videos every Sunday. Keep up the good work and give Pebbles a treat for me.
So helpful! There isn’t much out there in terms printing, your tips are excellent. Thank you very much.
As an old school amateur photographer I really believe in photo prints. I usually use Mpix, but I'm just getting started in doing my own prints at home. I'm not nearly as advanced as you, but this is a very helpful video.
Hi Nigel. Thanks for doing another print episode, particularly for covering item five. I always had a real dilemma about cropping and borders as I wanted the image to look it's best when framed but have recently come round to the same view as you - it was shot that way for a reason so leave it alone ! I'm a big fan of Fotospeed papers (especially the PF Lustre for mono images) and have recently profiled my printer so all good here !! Great video as usual Nigel. Thanks for sharing.
I would love to try the hahnemuhle and baryta matte papers. I have liked the Epson papers and inks in past. Now I have anew Canon printer and haven’t found the paper I like. I am a huge fan of your videos. I find them most inspirational.
Thank you for such a great informative video - I’m stuck on mistake no 7 myself. It’s just something about not feeling good/worthy enough I think. I’m so hyper critical about my images... but I always love seeing you put your printed photos into your videos, they look gorgeous. I’ll take the plunge soon and print I think - you’ve encouraged me!
Mistake 7 is the easiest to sort 👍👊👍
Loved this.. had been looking at test packs to try various paper. .. I get ok prints from current printer but like the idea of printing more so an upgrade is due. Many thanks for you vlog and inspiration
Top advice as always. Printing is something I'm looking to explore more so I found this very very useful. Thanks 👍
My favorite 3 papers are Hahnemuhle Baryta Satin, Moab Slickrock Metallic Pearl and Slickrock Metallic Silver. The Silver only fits specific image applications. However, both slick rock papers give images a depth that typical papers don't. For softer, less dramatic images I use a lot of the Baryta satin.
Great video Nigel. I personally use Moab Paper. My favorite is the Moab Entrada Bright. Keep up the great work, I look forward to each Sunday.
I love to print my photos, I like that I have complete control from start to finish. My current favourite paper is canon's pro luster A3+. I love how it's not too glossy, but not matte either and there's a subtle texture to the finish.
Thanks Melissa
Great video Nigel, some invaluable tips. I have been using hahnemuhle (excuse the spelling...) German etching - looks great in black and white especially when the image has some texture as well.
Thanks, Nigel. I'm with you about making prints. I enjoyed the B+W darkroom days (never did colour). I've been printing digital since 2003, and thought I was doing OK-until you spoke about cropping! I've always been guilty of cropping to suit the paper size (the way I was taught) but I can see the value of constraining to the original image. My workflow has changed. Here in Melbourne, Australia, I can buy Fotospeed so will give it a try. I may be wrong, but I feel a digital image only becomes a photograph when a print is made?
Thank you, Nigel, for this video. I have been studying printmaking and look forward to printing some of my photos. Pinning them to my wall makes me happy and takes me back to the beautiful places that I have been lucky enough to visit.
I have been purchased a sample package of Canson papers. I hope to use the Matte papers for the painterly look because they have the lower Dmax rating and more defined surface texture. For those photos that require more tonal separation in the shadows, I might try the Fibre/Luster papers by Canson - Platine Fibre rag, 300 gram. This will be good for landscapes that contain rocks or have a more rugged scenery in them. Also, the Canson Rag Photographique should work well with photos that I want to maintain some softness and hold the blacks well to preserve contrast.
It was interesting to see you used to use Hahnemuhle papers, I use Photorag 308 and Museum Etching but I was intrigued by your description of the Fotospeed papers that I will give it a go. The reverse is true in my club (Plymouth Camera Club) as most people are giving Hahnemuhle a try on seeing the results I have been getting on that paper. So I will keep you informed of my results.
Can’t wait to get started printing again! Canson Baryta is my fav! But I may just have to try out fotospeed!!
Hi Nigel, great video on printing your image.
It is only in the last couple of years that I have started to print my own images, I am printing more on semi-gloss than anything else at present although I have just been sent two profiles for different papers from Fotospeed which I am testing.
For the novice printer there is very little out there to help us on the learning curve, which can be steep at times, so this video has been welcome.
At present I use mostly Canon paper although as mentioned I hope to be expanding this in the weeks to come, to help reduce costs I was able to get some 7 x 5 Canon paper very very cheap (Tesco clearance sale), I use this to test print any images before producing any A3 or A3+ prints.
Great content, keep it going please.
Many thanks.
I'm a solid Red River user as well. Their Palo Duro SoftGloss Rag has impressed me. 310gsm, OBA-free, and that darkroom feel. Similar, I would imagine, to the Canson Plantine rag.
Fantastic tips - I wouldn't ordinarily think of the different paper types, particularly textured so I'll have to give that a go! I did actually pick up some matte photo paper by Canon very recently and found that it worked a lot better than glossy for glass frames that are already glossy, just like you said. That's my favourite type of paper at present and worked exceptionally well for framing our wedding phots but I'll definitely be giving Fotospeed a look and will probably make use of the profile option as you recommended. Again, not something I would've even thought to do with my printer, only the monitor.
I have never printed my photos before. I am really interested in that Matte Paper. This was a very informative video into printing photos. I do want to try now. I share to Instagram and Flickr but I saw all the raw photos to a hard drive for future use.
Great video, thank you. I use a variety of different papers as I shoot lots of different subjects. I print on a Canon Pro-100 which uses dye inks, so some papers will work better for me on that than for others using pigment inks. For Matt paper, I found the Fotospeed Platinum Matt 280 works well with my printer and has a very smooth surface. NST Bright White that you mentioned also works very well for images that suit that little bit of texture. For lustre, I've just started using Fotospeed Platinum Baryta 300 which I really like, and you can also get in their panoramic format. I also really like to use Permajet's Titanium Lustre, especially on aircraft images which really suit it. Fotospeed's canvas range is also worth experimenting with and produces great results on my printer.
Thanks, Nigel. Very useful and having not printed much if anything, I'll give fotospeed a whirl to begin with.
I used St Cuthberts Mill Somerset Emhanced Velvet Radiant White 225g on some macro flower shots last year, beautiful texture. Find the calibration/profile/decent printer technicalities mind boggling - really need to get to grips with all of these somehow!!