Choosing HP photo paper for inkjets

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»	Paper that's made for photos
»	Photo paper to suit your needs
»	The right paper size
»	The right finish
»	Photo paper that's made for your printer-and your ink

Introduction


	You love taking digital photos and sharing them with family and friends. And you'd like to print these pictures at home so they look like they came straight from the photo lab. Follow our five simple tips for choosing the right paper and ink and you'll create crisp, vibrant, long-lasting digital prints every time with your home inkjet photo printer.

1. Choose paper that's made for photos

One of the biggest myths about digital prints is that they don't last as long as traditional prints. It's simply not true—so long as you use the right paper. Plain copier paper might be readily available, but it doesn't work well for photographs because it results in prints that look dull and faded.

HP photo paper is specifically designed to produce high-quality, true-to-life colour images that are as good or better than traditional lab-developed photographs.

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2. Choose photo paper to suit your needs

You're ready to get your hands on some photo paper for your inkjet printer. But which photo paper? HP offers a wide variety, ranging in thickness and finish. There's something for every type of print or project.

Take a look at what's available:

Paper type	Description	Sizes available	Usage ideas
HP Premium Plus photo paper	HP's best photo paper Because of its special coating, this paper has exceptional fade resistance and produces vibrant, professional-quality photos that last for generations*	4" x 6" 5" x 7" 4" x 12" 8.5" x 11" 11" x 17" 13" x 19"	Important event photos Photos you'll frame Photo album pages Scrapbooks Photo gifts
HP Premium photo paper	Designed to look and feel like a traditional photograph	4" x 6" 8.5" x 11"	Enlargements Photo album pages Calendars
HP Advanced photo paper	Heavier photo paper Dries instantly and resists smudging Great for printing in humid environments	4" x 6" 5" x 7" 8.5" x 11" 13" x 19"	Photos for party guests Photos for kids Photos for framing under glass
HP Everday photo paper	Affordable alternative to plain paper Thicker than plain paper so colours don't show through to the opposite side	4" x 6" 8.5" x 11"	Displaying pictures on the refrigerator School projects Holiday letters Newsletters
HP Premium photo cards	Great for personalized cards Professional quality sheen	4" x 8" with envelopes	Wedding announcements Greeting cards Baby announcements

*Based on light fade testing under glass using HP Vivera Inks on HP Premium Plus photo paper and HP Premium photo paper, according to Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc.

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3. Choose the right paper size

Most of HP's photo papers come in a variety of sizes. To achieve photo-lab quality, choose from convenient 4" x 6" paper, with or without tabs—this size print fits perfectly into most photo albums.

Print spectacular panoramic photos, such as a tropical sunset, using 4" x 12" paper. When you're making studio-quality enlargements of family or pets, 13" x 19" is ideal. And try 11" x 17" paper for calendars and posters.

With HP Photosmart Essential software, you can quickly and easily print common sizes or select a custom size. It also includes printer settings preset for lab-quality photos, so you get great results with your HP printer, regardless of whether you have a new or older model.

If you don't have HP Photosmart Essential pre-loaded on your HP PC, you can download a free copy.

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4. Choose the right finish

There's a variety of photo paper finishes available, ranging from extremely glossy to matte. Glossy produces deep, vibrant colours while matte offers rich textures and resists fingerprints. Each finish has its recommended uses:

Type of finish	Available in these HP photo papers	Usage ideas*
High gloss	HP Premium Plus photo paper	Family albums Scrapbooks Framed photos Photo greeting cards
Soft gloss	HP Premium Plus photo paper HP Premium photo paper HP Advanced photo paper
Glossy	HP Premium photo paper HP Advanced photo paper HP Photo paper
Semi-gloss	HP Everyday photo paper	Printing photos from e-mail or the Internet
Matte	HP Everyday photo paper	Black-and-white prints Reprinting vintage photos

Try an HP paper sample pack with various weights and finishes. That way, you can see for yourself what kind of results you get.

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5. Choose photo paper that's made for your printer—and your ink

Paper designed specifically for your printer looks better every time. There's a good reason for this: HP creates and tests its inks and papers to ensure that they work together. All our inks are designed for the absorption properties of HP photo paper. Third-party inks (including refills) can flow too fast or slow, causing ink puddles, fuzzy images, and other flaws.

Find out more about the science behind ink and paper.