Learn Digital Photography .. Digital Photo Printing with a Matte or Glossy Finish

When it comes time to print your digital photos, you have the choice between matte or glossy. The difference is simple, glossy photo prints have a shiny finish while matte prints have a softer, more subtle finish. The choice between the two is up to you with both finishes having pros and cons.

Again matte and glossy simply refer to the finish to the photo paper digital photos are printed on. To achieve the finishes, different chemicals and processes are used when printing. Matte finishes do not reflect the viewing light and appear darker and less bright than their glossy counterpart. Glossy photos appear shiny, reflect viewing light and are more vibrant and colorful.

To determine which you should use, here are some pros and cons to both finishes.

Glossy photo prints: Glossy photo prints are shiny and are more appealing to the eye. They look fancy and convey a high quality feeling. Glossy photo prints have vibrant colors. Colors also look rich and deep on glossy photo prints. On the downside glossy photo prints "shiny" attribute can be a problem when photos are viewed using intense light sources such as daylight sun or strong light bulbs. Light reflected from the photo print can blind the viewer making it hard to see the photo. Glossy paper is also more likely to attract dust and fingerprints and is thus more likely to get dirty over time. Black and white glossy photo prints do not look as good as matte ones.

Matte finish: Matte photo prints do not reflect light and are therefore easier to view in almost any light condition. Matte photo prints are also less likely to attract dust and fingerprints and are less likely to get dirty over time. Black and white matte photo prints look better than black and white glossy photo prints. Drawbacks of matte photo prints are that they do not have the fancy high quality look that glossy photo prints have. Colors in matte photo prints are less animated and less rich than on glossy photo prints.

So how should you decide on the matte or glossy finish? The choice is up to you and what you are going to do with your prints. The basic rule of thumb is glossy for color prints and matte for black and white. If a lot of people will be handling your prints when viewing, opt for the matte finish to preserve the cleanliness of your prints unless you are willing to spend some of your time cleaning glossy ones. Another thing to consider is where your photo will be. If you are going to enlarge an image to hang on your wall for example, choose a matte finish as the glossy might reflect too much light and create a glare.

You hold the right of personal preference to the finish on your prints. Experience is the best teacher. Experiment with both finishes if you have not tried to before. Print a few photos in both matte and glossy in both color and black and white. See which ones are most appealing to you and use your experience and opinion to help you make your choices in the future.

Looking into digital photography? Check out this Digital Photography Guide HERE... http://www.learndigitalphotographynow.com Get Great Tips on how to take Digital Photographs plus Digital Camera Reviews