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Isn’t digital technology amazing? A decade ago, it would have been unheard of to print your own photos at home. It would have been the kind of thing that prompted the question, “What, you have a dark room in your basement?” But today, we have the option not only to take photos digitally and modify them with our own computer programs, we don’t even have to professionally print them! With the click of a button on our home computer, we can print our own photos at home, without having to leave home!
The problem, of course, is getting our printer to create an image that looks real. While you may have a printer that can print good, professional-quality photos, you have yet to find the right type of paper to use. Doesn’t that seem like a strange detail? But, ridiculous as it may sound, the difference between a professional-quality image and a cheap printed snapshot can be as simple as the difference between glossy photo paper and regular copy paper.
But does it really matter that much what kind of paper you use? If it does! Having a print that looks like a quality photo requires the right type of glossy photo paper; Otherwise, your photo might look like a quickly printed birthday card. Don’t you want your photos to look their best?
Another reason to use glossy photo paper is for the long-lasting effects. While many types of paper can make your photo look good, an acid-free glossy photo paper will be able to ensure that your photo will last longer. A good glossy photo paper will be able to protect your photos from the smudging, water, and long-term damaging effects that some acidic papers will have. Using a good glossy photo paper can improve the quality of the photos you print and can increase the amount of time your photo lasts.
So when you’re looking for a stack of paper to print on your Christmas cards, or maybe just print a few photos for Grandma, make sure you’re not looking for just computer paper. Your photos will be much better quality and last much longer if you use good, high-quality glossy photo paper. You don’t need to go to a copier to get a good quality print; you just need a good printer and the right type of paper.