Paper choice is one of those things that's easy to overlook until you see it done well, or done badly. The same image can look completely different depending on what it's printed on, and picking the right stock is often the single biggest factor in how a print turns out. Here's a simple way to think it through.

Start with the Feeling You're After

Before getting into specific paper names, it helps to ask what kind of feeling you want the print to have.

Crisp and photographic? You're probably looking at a photo paper.
Textured and artistic, like something you'd see in a gallery? Fine art paper is worth considering.
Bold, rich and a little dramatic? A specialty finish, like canvas or metallic, might be the better fit.

There's no wrong answer here, it depends entirely on the image and where it's going to live.

Photo Paper: Reliable and True to the Original

Photo paper offers a smooth, photographic finish, a dependable choice for portraits, weddings and everyday prints. The trade-off is longevity, photo paper isn't built for the long haul the way fine art paper is, so it's better suited to prints you're not expecting to hang onto for decades.

Lustre, Canson Lustre Premium, gives a classic, photographic finish that suits most subjects beautifully
Metallic, Bauhaus Photo Metallic Warm White, adds extra vibrance and pop, great for bold, high-contrast images
Poster paper is the most economical option, ideal for everyday or temporary prints

Fine Art Paper: Built to Last

Fine art paper, our cotton rag range, is the archival gold standard. It's acid-free and lignin-free, meaning it resists yellowing and holds its detail and colour for decades, sometimes far longer.

Photographique, by Canson, has an exceptionally smooth, matte surface, known for deep blacks and detailed fine art photography
Bright White, by Hahnemühle, has a bright white base with a lightly textured feel, striking on high-contrast images
Textured Cotton Rag, by Ilford, has a noticeably contoured surface, a good option when you want the paper to add character
Etching Rag II, by Canson, has a soft, fine grain reminiscent of traditional etching paper, well suited to detailed work and black and white portraits

“Paper choice is genuinely hard to judge from a screen, the way light hits lustre versus matte, or how a metallic finish reads in person, doesn't always translate to a monitor.”

Specialty Finishes: When You Want Something Different

Beyond the standard options, a few specialty finishes each bring their own character:

Canvas, Hahnemühle Daguerre Canvas, adds texture and depth, a lovely choice for landscapes and portraits, especially when stretched or floated in a frame
Metallic, Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic, suits bold, vibrant images with strong contrast, think night skies, water, or dramatic colour
Baryta, Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta, offers deep blacks and a warm tone, a favourite for black and white photography
Pearl and satin, Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl and Photo Rag Satin, give a smooth, refined finish with a gentle sheen, well suited to portraits and black and white work where you want less glare than gloss or baryta

When You're Still Not Sure

Paper choice is genuinely hard to judge from a screen, the way light hits lustre versus matte, or how a metallic finish reads in person, doesn't always translate to a monitor. If you're on the fence, it's worth seeing and feeling actual samples before committing, which is exactly why we keep a full range in-studio to look through.

It's also the entire focus of our printing workshops, if paper choice feels like the part you're least confident about, that's deliberately where we spend most of our time.

Not sure which paper suits your image? Visit us in-studio to see our full range of samples, or explore our Fine Art Printing page for more detail on each stock.