Photo paper type

[jayfish]

Is there a rule of thumb when printing copies of old photos regarding which type of photo paper [matte. everyday, gloss, semigloss] will give the best results ?

Does using the more expensive brands of paper make any difference to quality of the finished prints?

Thanks Jay

[Gadget]

Hi

It's a matter of personal preference and experiment - some images are good on gloss, others on matte.

If you want top quality results, however, it's best to print on good quality paper and use a good printer.

For best prints, I use watercolour paper or  heavy duty matte or semi-gloss on an Epson R2400 (A3+) or use a specialist print shop.

You have to have a good image to start with though 

Gadget

[jayfish]

Thanks Gadget.

The photos I`m hoping to eventually print are sepia ones.

 At present they`re full of spots, creases and tears etc. 

I wondered if say gloss paper might look odd as sepia always seem somehow dull to me .....or is it  just my old eyesight ?

Jay

[Gadget]

Hi Jay

I've printed out a whole set of old photos in sepia-type tones on semi-gloss. The straight matte takes something out of them.


Gadget

[PhotoRepair]

If you want them to last try using an acid free 100% cotton wrag rolled, archive paper, kept in the right conditions should last way past 200 years. Not sure where you get it though as my printer does this for me for the larger reproductions I do, or those that need to be authentic reproductions on original style papers. Make sure if printing from home you also use fade resitant or archive inks else the paper will out last the image.

Neil Rhodes