Matte or gloss for framing?

What do you like best, matte or gloss finish for framing your pics? I'm ordering some prints through ezprints.com.

I like the less glare/reflection of the matte, but the gloss seems to sometimes have more vibrant colors. Opinions?

Thanks,
Jeff

It really depends upon what you want.

But for what it's worth, you'll find that many pro photographers for wedding and for portraiture (dare I say "most", from my research?) prefer more of a luster finish to the photos. There is the high reflectivity of glossy that causes some problems. Glossy shows fingerprints much too easily. Glossy also won't hold up to any scratches or dust damage in the way luster or matte will do. True, glossy can be more vibrant at times, or at least that's the illusion it can present. Depending upon the company or process used to print, glossy will also not be as archivable.

I am experimenting with another company right now. They do not offer certain pro options in the glossy paper, but they do for the luster. I need those options, and I prefer the look. So that's the choice --- for me.

Some pro photographers certainly do prefer glossy, however, and for some types of shots it's totally appropriate and can punch up the results a bit more. So again, it's all in what you want and need. (which is why you asked about preference, right?) ;-)

Hope this helps a little. I'm sure other opinions on the matter will vary.

Jeff Johnson said:

What do you like best, matte or gloss finish for framing your pics?
I'm ordering some prints through ezprints.com.

I like the less glare/reflection of the matte, but the gloss seems
to sometimes have more vibrant colors. Opinions?

Thanks,
Jeff

Click to expand...

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Ulysses

HI Jeff
I've found that I like matte.
I've displayed my work 3 times, Gloss twice
and Matte once.
The Matte show I had looked so much better.

John

Hi, Jeff, in my opinion the choice of matt or gloss print should best be determined by the subject of the individual picture. You think about the subject then you think which surface, matte or gloss, is most in tune, artistically with that particular subject. In simplistic terms, I might look at a landscape shot and think that the soft foliage subject would appear best in a soft, matt surface print, then I might look at a cityscape and think that all those hard surfaces in the city might look best in a gloss surface print. That's how I'd go about it, just my approach, many others possible.

Jeff Johnson said:

What do you like best, matte or gloss finish for framing your pics?
I'm ordering some prints through ezprints.com.

I like the less glare/reflection of the matte, but the gloss seems
to sometimes have more vibrant colors. Opinions?

Thanks,
Jeff

Click to expand...

--
JohnK

Jeff Johnson said:

What do you like best, matte or gloss finish for framing your pics?
I'm ordering some prints through ezprints.com.

I like the less glare/reflection of the matte, but the gloss seems
to sometimes have more vibrant colors. Opinions?

Thanks,
Jeff

Click to expand...

I have heard that gloss has higher perceived contrast... dunno if this is true.

Jamie

I have one of my photo printed in 8 x 12 in matte and glossy from ezprints. I prefer the matte version much more. The photo looks more real and like you say, less glare/reflection.

--
http://www.pbase.com/zuffy

Subject matter should guide you.

I find I am almost exclusively printing on a lustre paper.

Ilford Galeria Smooth Pearl, in 11 x 17, on an Epson 2200 is giving me excellent results.

Jeff Johnson said:

What do you like best, matte or gloss finish for framing your pics?
I'm ordering some prints through ezprints.com.

I like the less glare/reflection of the matte, but the gloss seems
to sometimes have more vibrant colors. Opinions?

Thanks,
Jeff

Click to expand...

I'd like to try that. What paper do you choose in printer set up? My driver for the 2200 lists these options for paper: Plain, Enhanced Matt, Velvet fine art, Watercolor-radiant white.

Bohdan said:

Subject matter should guide you.

I find I am almost exclusively printing on a lustre paper.

Ilford Galeria Smooth Pearl, in 11 x 17, on an Epson 2200 is giving
me excellent results.

Click to expand...

--
JohnK

Ulysses summarized it well. For those of us using our own printers (Epson 960) I use the two top grades of Epson paper. Photo Glossy and Premium Photo Glossy. Both do well and the Premium is for the very best. I usually put under glass in frame so scratches are not a problem.

Ulysses said:

But for what it's worth, you'll find that many pro photographers
for wedding and for portraiture (dare I say "most", from my
research?) prefer more of a luster finish to the photos. There is
the high reflectivity of glossy that causes some problems. Glossy
shows fingerprints much too easily. Glossy also won't hold up to
any scratches or dust damage in the way luster or matte will do.
True, glossy can be more vibrant at times, or at least that's the
illusion it can present. Depending upon the company or process used
to print, glossy will also not be as archivable.

I am experimenting with another company right now. They do not
offer certain pro options in the glossy paper, but they do for the
luster. I need those options, and I prefer the look. So that's the
choice --- for me.

Some pro photographers certainly do prefer glossy, however, and for
some types of shots it's totally appropriate and can punch up the
results a bit more. So again, it's all in what you want and need.
(which is why you asked about preference, right?) ;-)

Hope this helps a little. I'm sure other opinions on the matter
will vary.

Jeff Johnson said:

What do you like best, matte or gloss finish for framing your pics?
I'm ordering some prints through ezprints.com.

I like the less glare/reflection of the matte, but the gloss seems
to sometimes have more vibrant colors. Opinions?

Thanks,
Jeff

Click to expand...

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Ulysses

Click to expand...

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Digital Fan DSC F717, V1, Epson 960, PSE2, PSP8, Noise Ninja 1.003
=^..^=
Mel

You should also have Premium Lustre under Media Type.

JohnK said:

Bohdan said:

Subject matter should guide you.

I find I am almost exclusively printing on a lustre paper.

Ilford Galeria Smooth Pearl, in 11 x 17, on an Epson 2200 is giving
me excellent results.

Click to expand...

--
JohnK

Click to expand...