Photo paper for HP inkjet?

[Adam]

Hi everyone! Would anyone have any suggestions for (very) glossy
8.5"x11" photo paper for an HP inkjet? Here are the details:

I'm now using an HP OfficeJet 4315v, HP OEM ink (21/27, 22 carts)
for the photos, and want to print out some of my photos to hang on
my wall (11"x14" mat with 8"x10" window, behind glass). These don't
have to be archival, waterproof, or anything like that, just
nice-looking prints with bold colors that won't fade or change much
for at least 4 or 5 years (they're not in direct sunlight). I've
scanned them in from slides and negatives and used my graphics
program to adjust them so they now look nice, at least on my CRT
monitor.

My question, as you may have gathered, is about which glossy photo
paper to use. What I have on hand is Staples brand Photo Supreme
Matte ("free after rebate"), and prints on that come out looking
close enough to the image on my screen, although of course they're
matte, not glossy. The only glossy paper I have on hand is Canon
Photo Paper Plus Glossy II (bought back when I was using a Canon
inkjet), and I'm not very happy with the results on that. The
prints on that come out considerably darker than what I see on my
monitor, and also the colors aren't, well, as dynamic or bold or
eyecatching or "leap off the page" (can't think of the technical
term, sorry!) as I'd like them to be. (I don't recall having those
problems back when the Canon inkjet worked, using Canon OEM ink.)

Can anyone suggest a glossy (preferably very glossy) 8.5"x11" inkjet
photo paper that would come closer to what I'm looking for? As
mentioned, I'm using HP OEM ink for the photos (and using it pretty
fast, too!), and I'm in the USA. The most convenient source for me
would be my local Staples store (also I get store credit there for
used ink cartridges), which carries, among other things, several
types of their own paper and of HP paper. However, if there's
something significantly better I'm willing to order online from
NewEgg or B&H or some place like that. Cost is somewhat of a
consideration; I'd prefer under US $0.50 per sheet for a package of
20-50 sheets, although that's not an absolute requirement.

Any recommendations from anyone would be greatly appreciated! I'm
sorry if I was too wordy, but I figured that too much information
would be better than not enough. Thanks, everyone!

Adam

 

[Mort]

Hi everyone! Would anyone have any suggestions for (very) glossy
8.5"x11" photo paper for an HP inkjet? Here are the details:

I'm now using an HP OfficeJet 4315v, HP OEM ink (21/27, 22 carts) for
the photos, and want to print out some of my photos to hang on my wall
(11"x14" mat with 8"x10" window, behind glass). These don't have to be
archival, waterproof, or anything like that, just nice-looking prints
with bold colors that won't fade or change much for at least 4 or 5
years (they're not in direct sunlight). I've scanned them in from slides
and negatives and used my graphics program to adjust them so they now
look nice, at least on my CRT monitor.

My question, as you may have gathered, is about which glossy photo paper
to use. What I have on hand is Staples brand Photo Supreme Matte ("free
after rebate"), and prints on that come out looking close enough to the
image on my screen, although of course they're matte, not glossy. The
only glossy paper I have on hand is Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy II
(bought back when I was using a Canon inkjet), and I'm not very happy
with the results on that. The prints on that come out considerably
darker than what I see on my monitor, and also the colors aren't, well,
as dynamic or bold or eyecatching or "leap off the page" (can't think of
the technical term, sorry!) as I'd like them to be. (I don't recall
having those problems back when the Canon inkjet worked, using Canon OEM
ink.)

Can anyone suggest a glossy (preferably very glossy) 8.5"x11" inkjet
photo paper that would come closer to what I'm looking for? As
mentioned, I'm using HP OEM ink for the photos (and using it pretty
fast, too!), and I'm in the USA. The most convenient source for me would
be my local Staples store (also I get store credit there for used ink
cartridges), which carries, among other things, several types of their
own paper and of HP paper. However, if there's something significantly
better I'm willing to order online from NewEgg or B&H or some place like
that. Cost is somewhat of a consideration; I'd prefer under US $0.50 per
sheet for a package of 20-50 sheets, although that's not an absolute
requirement.

Any recommendations from anyone would be greatly appreciated! I'm sorry
if I was too wordy, but I figured that too much information would be
better than not enough. Thanks, everyone!

Adam

Hi,

I use H-P Premium Plus High Gloss paper, which by my own tests, gives
better colors and gradations than other brands, with my Photosmart 8250
printer. In addition, with H-P OEM inks, the prints are said to last
many years. Regarding cost, I usually purchase a nice supply when
Staples has a sale, often = buy one and get one free. In terms of the
cost of the camera, the SD cards and the inks, I find paper costs to be
of minor importance.

If you need convincing, why don't you buy a 10-pack of various brands of
paper, run prints, and do a "blind" comparison, with the paper name
written on the back? May the best paper win.

Good luck.

Mort Linder

 

[Adam]

If you need convincing, why don't you buy a 10-pack of various
brands of paper, run prints, and do a "blind" comparison, with the
paper name written on the back? May the best paper win.

That sounds like a very good idea, if I can find enough brands and
types that have 10-packs.

Thanks very much to both Lon and Mort for your recommendations!

Adam

 

[David H. Lipman]

In addition to computer/office supply stores, try local photo supply stores that carry
papers from traditional photo companies. The resin faced white papers may work for
you.

Still, I haven't seen anything that has a brighter surface and can handle more ink
saturation than the HP stuff.

Especially with HP ink.

 

[Adam]

Especially with HP ink.

Thanks, Lon and David! There seems to be complete agreement (well,
3 out of 3) that the HP Premium and Premium Plus give the best
results with HP ink. I'm using HP ink for the photos, and refilled
cartridges for the less important stuff.

By a fortunate coincidence, next week 8/14-8/20, Staples (or at
least the ones in my area) has "buy 1, get 1 free" for all HP photo
and presentation paper, so I'm going to buy at least 1 pack of both
Premium and Premium Plus Monday morning. I'll probably get my next
ink recycling rewards during the week, so I can go back later in the
week and get more of whichever I like better.

Related question for anybody: How important is the Krylon spray if
these photos are going to be mounted behind a mat under glass (i.e.
the photo isn't touching the glass)?

Adam

 

[David H. Lipman]

Thanks, Lon and David! There seems to be complete agreement (well, 3 out of 3) that the
HP Premium and Premium Plus give the best results with HP ink. I'm using HP ink for the
photos, and refilled cartridges for the less important stuff.

By a fortunate coincidence, next week 8/14-8/20, Staples (or at least the ones in my
area) has "buy 1, get 1 free" for all HP photo and presentation paper, so I'm going to
buy at least 1 pack of both Premium and Premium Plus Monday morning. I'll probably get
my next ink recycling rewards during the week, so I can go back later in the week and
get more of whichever I like better.

Related question for anybody: How important is the Krylon spray if these photos are
going to be mounted behind a mat under glass (i.e. the photo isn't touching the glass)?

I don't think it is a problem. However, I have found that HP ink fades under UV so the
Krylon UV clear acrylic may help under that condition.

 

[Adam]

I don't think it is a problem. However, I have found that HP ink fades under UV so the
Krylon UV clear acrylic may help under that condition.

Thanks for the suggestion, David! I'll pick up a can at a craft
store tomorrow. One chain charges US$8 for an 11 oz. can ("covers
15-20 square feet). What I might do is use it on /most/ of the
prints on each make of paper, and see what happens in a few years.
(Now that I've taken care of the Verizon PWS problem. <g>)

Adam

 

[Adam]

Hi everyone! Would anyone have any suggestions for (very) glossy
8.5"x11" photo paper for an HP inkjet? Here are the details:

[snip]

Nothing works better or lasts longer with an HP printer than the HP
papers. I have used them all and for my HP printer, the HP paper
works best.

Thanks! Everyone who's replied has said that HP paper is the best
for HP printers with HP ink. (Not surprising!) Someone gave me a
(probably old) sheet of HP Premium Plus which I'll use to get some
idea of what one of my photos looks like on it, then I'm going to my
local Staples which by coincidence has (starting tomorrow 8/14 thru
Sat. 8/20) "Buy 1, get 1 free" on all HP photo paper.

One thing you might want to do is to get a profile for your printer.

Good idea! I never thought of that -- probably because nobody ever
mentioned it to me before, not even the Graphic Design instructor.

If your monitor is calibrated and the prints you get don't look like
what you see on your monitor, then you need to get a profile for your
printer. I use Cathy's Profiles http://www.cathysprofiles.com/ and
I've been happy with the results. Keep in mind that you will need a
profile for each type of paper that you use, but if you only use the
HP Premium Plus glossy paper, then you will only need one profile for
that paper.

Plus another profile for my "everyday" paper, right? I'm
/definitely/ adding that to my to-do list.

As for the Krylon spray....well, I've tried sprays before and they
aren't that great. You have to play around with the density of the
coating, and if you spray a bit too much, the print will run.....just
like if you got it wet.

I picked up a can today, and I think I'll try it on about two
photos, or maybe just half of each photo, so I can see what, if any
difference it makes, short- and long-term. All these are to frame
and hang on my own wall, so I can reprint "improved" versions of any
photo whenever I want to.

Thanks VERY much for your many helpful suggestions!

Adam