Satin or Gloss?

mastertrinity

mastertrinity

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Luke
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I'm about to order some A4/A3 prints but I can opt for either a gloss finish or satin finish. Now I want my prints to lack the reflection that gloss gives, it's not a neccessity it's just I don't want to have the glossy surface if I can get away with it. What's satin like as a finish?
 
Depends how you want to display them and the type of images
 
Think you still have a lot learn Luke
 
Satin, Lustre or Mat
Certainly not Glossy - for the reasons noted above
 
mastertrinity said:
And why is that may I ask?
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Maybe talking about the difference between papers.

Lustre has a slight texture. It's a glossy paper with a more professional look.

Satin has a smoother effect. Not glossy but does have a sheen to it.

Matter papers come in various guises. Some papers are textured and images just jump off the paper. Some are suited to different styles - colour or b&w etc.

However sometimes matte also refers to lustre when using places like photobox.

Just go for the non glossy one lol.

Gloss does have its place and can suit certain images. Trial and error for me as I print my own.
 
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Where are you ordering from, and how many?

You might want to get your most favourite picture done twice in A3 now, once glossy, once satin, put them both on the wall and see what you prefer.

Personally I prefer the 'Matte' style, I have had my prints done by DScolourlabs, and I chose the lustre option (although above this was called gloss!). The texture of the paper reduces most reflections to nothing, apart from a direct light when the picture is behind glass.
DScolourlabs were relatively cheap I thought for an almost a3 print (18x12) ~£1
Postage was quite a bit though, ~£4 (in my mind, prohibitive), but the packaging was worth it, I don't think they are making a profit on the packaging.
I will certainly use them again, but will probably be when I have a lot to print out.
 
EOS_JD said:
Maybe talking about the difference between papers.

Lustre has a slight texture. It's a glossy paper with a more professional look.

Satin has a smoother effect. Not glossy but does have a sheen to it.

Matter papers come in various guides. Some papers are textured and images just jump off the paper. Some are suited to different styles - colour or b&w etc.

However sometimes matte also refers to lustre when using places like photobox.

Just go for the non glossy one lol.

Gloss does have its place and can suit certain images. Trial and error for me as I print my own.
Click to expand...

what is matte paper?
 
coldpenguin said:
Where are you ordering from, and how many?

You might want to get your most favourite picture done twice in A3 now, once glossy, once satin, put them both on the wall and see what you prefer.

Personally I prefer the 'Matte' style, I have had my prints done by DScolourlabs, and I chose the lustre option (although above this was called gloss!). The texture of the paper reduces most reflections to nothing, apart from a direct light when the picture is behind glass.
DScolourlabs were relatively cheap I thought for an almost a3 print (18x12) ~£1
Postage was quite a bit though, ~£4 (in my mind, prohibitive), but the packaging was worth it, I don't think they are making a profit on the packaging.
I will certainly use them again, but will probably be when I have a lot to print out.
Click to expand...

I'm ordering from a place called Beanprint. They offer A4 and A3 images both for 30p and 50p. I'm probably going to order about 10 for use as portfolio pieces and I'll go for the A4 and then mount it onto some A3 black card :)
 
Luke

The terms used for paper finishes can be confusing. It's not just photographers , but sometimes manufacturers. I saw a description recently of a paper that had a "Satin"finish. However in the fuller description it said the surface had a pearl like finish. So was it satin or pearl, confusing.

Words often don't tell enough about the paper. I find the easiest way when I'm looking for different surfaces it to get the sample packs. OK the are not cheap but at least you can see what the paper really looks like. Particulary when you have papers with names such as Albrecht, Durer, German Etching and Monet Canvas from Hahnemuhle . Permajet do some interesting ones as well Alpha, Omega, and Papyrus, not to mention Portfolio Classic.. Not easy to determine by name but a quick look soon lets know what the surface and finish is like.

So if you are ordering prints from a lab or printer, it's sometimes easier to simply as for a sample, or if they don't do free samples get a small test print done so you can determine if the finish is to your loking Better that then get a load of A4 or A3 prints with an unsatisfactory look
 
Chappers said:
Luke

The terms used for paper finishes can be confusing. It's not just photographers , but sometimes manufacturers. I saw a description recently of a paper that had a "Satin"finish. However in the fuller description it said the surface had a pearl like finish. So was it satin or pearl, confusing.

Words often don't tell enough about the paper. I find the easiest way when I'm looking for different surfaces it to get the sample packs. OK the are not cheap but at least you can see what the paper really looks like. Particulary when you have papers with names such as Albrecht, Durer, German Etching and Monet Canvas from Hahnemuhle . Permajet do some interesting ones as well Alpha, Omega, and Papyrus, not to mention Portfolio Classic.. Not easy to determine by name but a quick look soon lets know what the surface and finish is like.

So if you are ordering prints from a lab or printer, it's sometimes easier to simply as for a sample, or if they don't do free samples get a small test print done so you can determine if the finish is to your loking Better that then get a load of A4 or A3 prints with an unsatisfactory look
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Actually never mind I've realised something.

In my old photography course they told us to use this lab (Beanprint) and most were printing with a glossy finish and I think I used the Satin and my photos looked much better compared to others. I think I'm going to order some Satins :D
 
POAH said:
I know what matt paper is - is matte paper what people who use a lens, have strobes print on :lol:
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No - Look at Epson's papers and how they spell the word - You use an Epson like me right?
 
POAH said:
I know what matt paper is - is matte paper what people who use a lens, have strobes print on :lol:
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Actually, this is one point where the Americans are closer to the latin roots of the word than the English/British term.

Either spelling is acceptable in reality, and matte would be present in the OED as a variant of matt. (It also has two other definitions all of its own).
 
Luke - with Focus coming round at the NEC in a few weeks it might be a good idea to look there at all the papers available. It can be a minefield with different manufacturers using the same name for different products.
 
POAH said:
I use an epson printer which is an american company ;)
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Again a nothing point however I agree with you regards lens and lens..... :)
 
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