High-quality photo printing, otherwise known as fine art printing, is used by art and photography professionals, such as galleries and museums, to create exceptional finished products. But this classification is used to describe several different kinds of paper.
 
In order to choose the right fine art paper, there are two elements you must take into consideration:
  • The personal feel (the touch, rigidity and look of the paper);
  • Technical characteristics (composition of the paper, printing quality, etc.).
 

Choosing a fine art paper: a matter of  feeling

 
The paper's thickness, hue and texture are three "sensory" elements which play an important role when choosing a photo paper. 
The thickness will not only have an affect on the paper's rigidity, but also on its grip and ability to withstand printing.
 
Not all fine art & photo papers are the same shade of white. Some will have warmer shades than others. For example, Canson® Infinity Photo Lustre Premium RC is one of our whitest papers, while Canson® Infinity Platine Fibre Rag will have a warmer tone. The tone of a paper is a crucial factor when deciding to print a photograph in black and white or in colour. For example, the grey tones are less crisp on a warm white paper.
 
A paper's texture corresponds to the way it feels when touched: smooth, grainy, etc. In general, a smooth paper will better suit a photo that will be exhibited under glass, while a more textured paper will give more character to an unglazed photo. For example, Canson Infinity Velin Museum Rag 315 gsm has a smooth, slightly grainy structure, which is ideal for printing a high-quality photo.
 
Canson Infinity has developed two Discovery Pack to enable you to test the various papers to find the one that best suits your needs. The Fine Art Discovery Pack is geared more toward smooth or textured matte material, while the Fine Art Photo Discovery Pack will allow you to explore glossy smooth, satiny and shiny photographic material, including RC (resin-coated) papers.

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