Photographic paper - varieties, types of formats. Photo paper for printing

Wherever we are, we always need to buy/order receive a quality product or service . Remember how happy you were when you came home from a store with an excellent phone or computer, when the seller was polite to you and offered you the best deal.

In order to get high-quality printed photographs, it is necessary not only to pay attention to how the photographs were taken (camera, tablet, phone), but also to the choice of paper. Here you need to take into account a large number of different nuances: density, type of coating, compatibility with various types ink and much more.

So, what should you pay attention to when choosing photo paper?

First of all, pay attention to specific gravity of paper . Typically, weight for inkjet paper is measured in grams per square meter (g/m2). The specific gravity of the carrier is only part of the required information. It is more important to know the thickness of the photo paper, which is not always related to its weight. Paper from different manufacturers with the same weight can have different thicknesses. That is why we choose the most appropriate paper thickness for printing in Nizhny Novgorod. An equally important criterion is paper color . It is worth noting that white paper comes in different shades, which when printed gives one or another shade.

In addition to the features and properties described above, it is also necessary to pay attention to density parameter : it is he who determines what purposes the paper corresponds to. The higher the density, the better the quality of the print you can make. So, for example, with a density of 150 to 300 g/m2 you can get high-resolution photos (from 5760 dpi), and with a density of 130 g/m2 the media is suitable for printing with a resolution of 2880 dpi (brochures, graphics, presentations ). For photo printing, paper with a density of 180 to 230 g/m2 is suitable; for printed products, it is better to choose paper with a density of 90–180 g/m2.

There are two most common types of photo paper: glossy and matte.

Gloss has increased density and the presence of a special glossy layer that prevents fading and washing off the ink from the surface. Due to a special polymer coating, glossy paper is ideal for conveying bright, saturated colors. This paper is best used for printing photographs and images with vibrant landscapes and soft tones.

It is known that matte paper It is characterized by a lack of shine and a matte roughness, which is not difficult to determine by touch. Because matte paper has small pores, ink is absorbed more slowly during printing than on glossy paper. The main advantage of matte paper is its versatility, since it accepts printing with both water-soluble and pigment inks. Moreover, compared to glossy paper, it is more resistant to mechanical damage (fingerprints and scratches). At the same time, it is inferior to glossy paper in its ability to convey subtle gradations of colors. Images look very contrasty and detailed.

Obviously, it is impossible to determine the absolute leader here. Each type of paper is designed for specific printing tasks. For greater clarity, let’s summarize the criteria for types of paper in a table.

When asked which paper to use for printing in Nizhny Novgorod, “matte or glossy”? It is impossible to give a definite answer. Because the The choice of paper for photographs depends on what exactly you prefer.

Which photo paper is best for an Epson printer? Many people are interested in this issue. Of course, this aspect has long been known to photo printing professionals, but for hobbyists who have a printer or MFP at home and would like to try printing photos for themselves at home, it is quite relevant. If you ask their manufacturers about the criteria for selecting photo paper for a printer, the answer will be clear: for high-quality photo printing, the best choice would be “original” photo paper in combination with original ink. But is this really so, because original consumables and photo paper are not always at hand. In addition, many people want to save money and replace these products with cheaper analogues. How will this affect print quality? We will talk about all the nuances of this issue in this article.

What is important for printing photos on an inkjet printer?

To obtain a high-quality image on photographic paper, it is very important, first of all, the quality of the paper and the quality of the ink. Let's look at these items in more detail.

Paper

If plain paper is suitable for printing text documents and simple graphic images, then for printing photographs the requirements are more serious. When you transfer a photo onto regular office paper, you see that the colors blur, the paper becomes wavy, damp, the clarity is blurred, and the colors are distorted. In general, you can’t put such a photo in an album. Plain paper has a small thickness and low density. Ink, especially water-soluble ink, penetrates the fibers of the paper, saturating it to the very bottom.

Important! Even the most expensive coated office paper will not help you get a high-quality photo. On it, graphs and pictures will definitely look more presentable than on a cheap one, but it’s still not suitable for photographs.

Features of photo paper:

• Photo paper consists of several layers (from 3 to 10), each of which performs its own function (holds pigment, protects from external influences, and so on). Due to its multi-layer nature, photo paper is denser and heavier than plain paper.
• It can be matte, glossy, semi-glossy, super-glossy, silky-glossy, even satiny and thin.
• On both sides of the central cellulose layer are the rest:
  1. receiving layer - absorbs ink, prevents it from spreading and mixing;
  2. waterproof backing layer;
  3. top layers - as if sealing the ink inside a sheet of photo paper and protecting it from damage, moisture, and ultraviolet radiation.
• Typically, the more expensive and high-quality the paper, the more durable, clearer, and more realistic the photographs are.

Important! Manufacturers such as Epson, Canon, HP produce paper for “native” devices, and it is the best photo paper for inkjet printers, as it takes into account all the properties and features of their equipment.

Ink

Ink for an inkjet printer can be of the following types:

• Water soluble. They are quite realistic, convey color well, but are very unstable to moisture and ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, photos will be less durable. But this ink is the most inexpensive.
• Pigmented. The dye is solid particles (pigment). Such ink, having penetrated into the central layer of photo paper, remains there for a long time. The pigment is not as susceptible to moisture and ultraviolet radiation as water-soluble ink, so photographs retain their clarity and color for up to 75 years.

Important! Like other items of computer equipment, printers tend to break down and fail when used continuously. If you want to extend the service life of this device, you need to clean it periodically. Read in another article on our site about.

Important! Ultrachrome inks are also produced on a pigment basis (only for professional and wide-format Epson printers, they have a wide palette and convey the most reliably original image). Sublimation ink (for special paper, thermal film) also consists of pigments.

There are Chinese, South Korean, and other companies that produce water-soluble and pigment inks for inkjet printers. They are much cheaper than original consumables and are quite suitable for printing documents, pictures, and graphs. But for high-quality photo printing, ink from the same company as your printer is best suited.

How to choose photo paper for inkjet printers?

To make the right choice, you need to know what criteria to pay attention to when purchasing.

External coating and internal structure

Photographic paper can be of several types based on its outer coating and internal structure. The choice of one or the other depends, by and large, on personal preferences.

Matte

Represents the most budget option:

• It has three layers:
  1. waterproof backing that prevents ink from bleeding through;
  2. a middle layer of cellulose that holds the ink;
  3. the top rough layer that serves as a protective barrier.
• On matte photo paper, fine details of the image are quite clearly visible, it does not reflect light, and thanks to optical brighteners (usually titanium dioxide), the colors look brighter. In addition, minor scratches and fingerprints are not very noticeable.
• This photo paper can be printed with water-soluble and pigment inks.

Important! The disadvantage of the product is that such photos are not very durable, they lose brightness over time, so for additional protection from external influences they need to be laminated or placed under glass or film.

Glossy:

• This photo paper has an additional protective smooth layer.
• The advantage is that the photo does not fade so quickly, is not so susceptible to moisture, and reflects light well.
• The image looks juicy and bright, but all scratches and fingerprints are immediately visible.

Important! There is an intermediate option - semi-gloss photo paper (Semi Glossy). It produces bright, long-lasting images, but does not easily show minor damage or marks.

There is also super glossy photo paper (called Super Glossy) for photo printers. It displays colors the most richly and brightly, but, however, it shines too much in the sun, in addition, it shows the least damage.

Important! Probably everyone has encountered a situation where, while refilling a printer cartridge, ink accidentally got on their hands. In order to remove it without damaging the skin, read our other article.

Microporous

This look is similar to matte:

• A special feature of microporous paper is that it has a special absorbent porous layer that instantly absorbs ink, and the photograph dries very quickly.
• The downside is that micropores allow air access to the dye, so in order for the photo not to lose its brightness, it will have to be covered with a protective glossy layer.

Photo paper in the form of a polymer that swells

Inside the paper there is an absorber in the form of a gel or polymer. When ink arrives, this layer receives it and swells. As the liquid evaporates, the thickness of this layer decreases, air access stops, and the ink is sealed inside the paper. Thanks to this technology, the photo does not fade for a long time, although it is afraid of moisture.

Important! Only pigment inks are suitable for this type of photo paper.

Designer photo paper:

• It differs from other types in that it has the maximum number of functional layers; inside there may be a layer of 100% cotton instead of cellulose.
• The paper is protected from moisture and gluing.
• The peculiarity of designer paper is that its surface can imitate canvas, an ancient scroll or the texture of leather.
• Designer photo paper is the most expensive and is rarely found on store shelves.

Important! There are also other types of photo paper: for double-sided printing (one side can be matte and the other glossy), with an adhesive or magnetic backing, or for thermal printing.

When choosing a particular type of photo paper, do not forget to check the technical capabilities of your printer.

Important! Do you have too many photos that you would like to enjoy every day without having to print them? Modern photo frames will come to your aid. And practical advice on how to avoid making a mistake in your choice will help you.

Photo paper weight

It is measured in g/m2. This parameter usually depends on the number of layers in the sheet. The more there are, the greater the density:

• In ordinary office paper, the density does not exceed 150 g/m2. In photo paper this figure should be much higher.
• For good photo quality, the density should be at least 230-300 g/m2.

Important! The lower the paper density, the more the ink mixes and spreads, and accordingly, the clarity of the image is lost.

Size

If ordinary paper for printing text documents is in A4 format, then for photographs everyone is accustomed to using A6 (10x15 cm). Although the sizes may be different, the same A4 (210x297 mm), A3 (48x32 cm), A10 (26x37 mm) and others, less commonly used. There is even photo paper in rolls.

Important! Before you buy a ream of paper, read your printer's manual to see what format might be right for you.

Print Resolution

Measured in dots per inch (dpi or dpi). This parameter depends largely on the paper density:

• For densities up to 150 g/m2, the printing resolution can be a maximum of 2880 dpi, that is, this, of course, is not suitable for reproducing colorful photos with small details.
• For thicker photo paper, printing resolution will be 5760 dpi and higher.

Important! The larger this parameter, the better quality photo you will get as a result.

So, we’ve sorted out all the various characteristics of photo paper, now let’s move on to specific examples.

Epson

What is the best photo paper for an Epson printer?

For an Epson printer, according to the manufacturers of this equipment, “native” photo paper is ideally suitable:

• In the series of matte paper, you can find Matte photo paper Epson in A4 format (167 g/m2, 250 sheets), it provides high quality resolution.
• There is also matte paper in rolls of 50 meters: Bond paper white (36” and 24”).
• The line of glossy photo paper is more widely represented - Premium Glossy photo paper (13×18, 500 sheets or 30.5 meter roll), Glossy photo paper (10×15, A4, 13×18 from 50 to 500 sheets), Hi-image glossy and other.
• Premium Semi glossy photo paper 10×15, 100 sheets or more is also available.

Important! If you use original ink on this paper, you will be pleased with the quality of the photo.

In addition to the original branded paper, for amateur photo printing you can also use paper from Inksystem - Glossy photo paper 10x15. It transfers images well, has a low price and, judging by customer reviews, is perfectly used in Epson printers and MFPs.

• Photo paper from Lomond. It is presented in different series - from the usual matte and glossy to satin and designer (Art series).
• You can find inexpensive analogues of the brands Barva, Colorway, BBM and others. For amateur photo printing without any special pretensions, such products are quite suitable.

Canon

What is the best photo paper for Canon? As in the previous case, original paper in combination with “native” ink would be ideal:

• Photo paper matte in different sizes.
• Photo paper plus glossy - glossy.
• Plus semi-gloss - semi-glossy.

Important! There are a variety of sizes, and the number of sheets in a pack may also vary.

Like Epson, these printers are also suitable for universal paper Lomond, Inksystem, Barva, Colorway, BBM and others.

Important! They are not quite suitable for professional photo printing, but just right for amateur ones.

And don't forget to pay attention to the thickness of the paper. As mentioned above, the thicker the paper, the better quality you will receive the photo.

Important! All data can be found on the front of the photo paper package.

HP

HP also produces a line of photo paper for its printers in different formats and with different coatings:

• Everyday glossy photo paper and Advanced glossy photo paper - glossy.
• Semi-matte – Premium plus semi-gloss photo paper.

So, with all sorts of nuances in various types We have introduced you to the paper for printing photographs, so the choice is yours. The most important thing is that before purchasing, study the printing capabilities and requirements of your printer model, carefully read the parameters of the photo paper you are purchasing so that everything fits together. For professional printing of high-quality photographs, purchase only original consumables, and for amateur printing, you can choose from the variety of products presented what suits your wallet and taste.

Purchasing a high-quality camera makes it possible to capture the most memorable moments in the lives of family and friends. The most common way to store captured images is to use various electronic media. But it is impossible to completely replace traditional photo printing with such methods. Therefore, the demand for photo paper remains constant, and a decline in sales of matte and glossy paper is not expected.

Main characteristics of photo paper

You can even print your favorite photos on regular photocopier paper. Using color photo printers allows you to get fairly high-quality footage. But their useful life is very short. Therefore, for family archives it is necessary to use special glossy or matte photo paper.

When choosing, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:

1. Paper size.
2. Specific gravity or density.
3. Color.
4. Surface structure.
5. Brightness.
6. PH balance.
7. Resistant to ink.

In most cases, manufacturers offer customers paper in standard sizes. Purchasing rolls or sheets allows you to save some money. The user can cut the sheet to the required size and use the resulting fragments for printing. Purchasing packs of photo paper cut to size will cost a little more. But the material is much more convenient to use.

The thickness of the paper directly affects its quality and cost. The denser the composition, the better the quality of the photo. Such a photograph will be stored much longer. Therefore, the choice is made depending on financial capabilities and the required quality of prints.

The shade of the surface affects the perception of the photo. White color minimizes distortion. However, too much brightness makes the photo look cold. A beige tint can make the frame look too dull. Depending on personal preferences, one or another shade is chosen.

The determining factor when choosing is the surface structure. In addition to the most common matte and glossy varieties, there are several more transitional options on sale. Brightness, PH balance and durability are also taken into account when choosing. Paper with a neutral PH value is the preferred option, as it does not change its parameters much longer. Persistence affects the lifespan of an image and is an important indicator.

When choosing paper, you need to know its basic parameters in relation to your existing printing device. High-quality prints will only be obtained if the photo paper, ink and printing method are completely consistent. The types of material and methods of use will be discussed below.

Basic types of photo paper

For the print photography connoisseur, there are several photo paper options on the market. Each variety has its own advantages, disadvantages and is used in certain cases. There are six such varieties in total:

• Glossy.
• Matte.
• Silky matte.
• Semi-gloss.
• Satin.
• Super matte.

The most common are the first two varieties. The remaining types are derived from glossy and matte surfaces. Professional photographers use these varieties.

The glossy grade has a smooth and shiny surface structure. Such characteristics are ensured by applying a special polymer coating. This material is great for displaying bright and contrasting images. The paper is combined with water-soluble ink.

Matte paper is very white and has some roughness. Due to the surface structure, the paint takes longer to dry than on glossy paper. The material is universal and is relatively cheap. You can print on it with standard pigment and waterproof inks.

The silky-matte material has some shine and excellent color rendition, but does not create glare. Suitable for professional use as it is resistant to scratches and mechanical stress.

The semi-gloss material combines the characteristics of two main grades. At a low cost, semi-gloss has a high density and conveys rich images well. The clarity of the image is somewhat inferior to glossy, but it is quite difficult to notice the difference visually.

Satin photo paper is a transitional option between matte and glossy. By purchasing such material, you can save money while maintaining good image quality. Super gloss is an improved version of gloss. The photo paper is completely worth its cost. Any photo on such paper looks very colorful.

Advantages and disadvantages

When choosing one or another material option, you need to know its main characteristics and methods of application. For ease of use, the parameters of varieties, positive and negative qualities are summarized in the table:

Thus, the choice depends on several material parameters. The most significant are the quality of the resulting image, its contrast and color rendition. Cost is also a significant characteristic. Nevertheless, modern technologies allow you to get excellent quality photo paper, regardless of type and cost.

With the advent of digital cameras and the development of printing technologies, the consumables market is experiencing a real boom in offers. Manufacturers offer a wide variety of types of photo paper for printing, differing in quality, density and other characteristics. Understanding this abundance of paper types suitable for printing photographs is not easy. And the correct choice of photo paper is very important, because the quality and durability of printed photographs largely depend on the properties of the paper used. So if you want to get excellent results when printing your photographs or illustrations, you should first of all decide on the grade, type and format of photo paper.

Types of photographic paper

Photo paper is specially created for printing graphics and photographs, therefore, unlike regular printer paper, it has a special composition with several layers, each of which performs its specific function. High-quality photo paper, due to its special composition, perfectly absorbs ink during printing, and then protects the printed image from various external influences. When inkjet printing, ink is applied to photo paper as evenly as possible, with clear color reproduction. Photographic paper, regardless of the manufacturing company and production technology, is divided into the following grades based on the composition of the special coating:

— Matte paper

Matte paper is very popular and popular due to its versatility. Both water-soluble and pigment and sublimation inks fit perfectly on it. This paper is distinguished by its whiteness, increased photosensitivity and the ability to convey even the smallest details of an image. A photograph on matte paper looks quite contrasty, but at the same time, matte paper loses to glossy paper when it comes to a more subtle rendering of color shades. Matte paper can be of different densities. Lighter paper is used mainly for printing various booklets, leaflets, passes and presentations. Thicker matte photo paper is used for printing photographs. It turns out to be especially relevant when you need to convey small image elements on a print. Overall this is universal type photo paper, suitable for both the production of printed products and printing for lamination, as well as for high-quality printing of photographic images.

— Glossy paper

Glossy photo paper immediately catches the eye with its shiny surface. This glossy layer on the surface of the paper protects the ink from washing off and fading. Glossy photo paper finds its application where it is necessary to convey bright, saturated colors with soft halftones. Photos printed on glossy paper acquire a shine that is pleasing to the human eye. The colors on this paper always look rich and vibrant. The disadvantage of glossy photo paper is that it is not recommended to print on it with pigment ink, which simply smudges. Water-soluble ink is easily absorbed and dries quickly, creating a long-lasting image. Professional photo printing today is not complete without the use of glossy paper. It is widely used for printing colorful photo calendars, posters, advertising photographs and posters. Of course, glossy paper has its uses at home.

— Semi-Glossy Paper

Semi-gloss photo paper is a compromise between glossy and matte paper. The shine it creates, unlike glossy paper, looks a little muted, without any bright highlights. This type of paper, due to its versatility and low cost, can be used by home users for printing photographs. An image printed on semi-gloss paper is more difficult to damage, and semi-gloss is more resistant to mechanical damage than a traditional glossy finish.

— Super Glossy Paper

Another type of photo paper is super-glossy, which, thanks to its special coating, allows you to get brighter photographs than when printing on standard glossy paper. Super-glossy paper should be used when you need to get the most color-saturated photos. They print on it exclusively with pigment inks.

— Silky matte paper (Silk)

In addition to semi-gloss, another transitional grade of paper can be considered silky-matte paper. On the one hand, it conveys various shades of colors better than matte, and on the other hand, silky-matte paper does not reflect as much as glossy paper, and is also suitable for printing with both water-soluble and pigment inks. Silky-matte paper can be used to print photographs, graphics, drawings, business cards and various promotional items.

— Satin paper

Satin paper has a semi-gloss surface with a subdued shine. It provides excellent print quality and is resistant to mechanical damage. In terms of the accuracy of color reproduction, satin paper is similar to matte paper. Its advantage is that printing on satin paper will cost you less than printing on glossy paper. And at the same time, the quality of the printed image will remain the same high level. True, there is a common opinion that when printing on satin paper, you have to create special color profiles in order to, as they say, “get into color.” However, in general, satin paper is an excellent option for amateur photo printing at home.

Types of photographic paper

In addition to standard photo paper with a glossy, matte or other surface, today you can find some specific types of paper on sale that are worth mentioning separately:

— Double-sided paper

Double-sided paper, as you might guess, allows you to print on both sides, that is, twice as much. It saves you a lot of money. The coating on each side of this photo paper may be different, for example, one side may have a glossy surface and the other a matte surface. Thus, when printing a photo image, you can achieve a double effect on one sheet and compare how the printed image looks on two different coatings.

— Self-adhesive paper

Self-adhesive photo paper has a special adhesive coating on the back side so that the image printed on the paper can then be pasted onto various media. This paper is widely used, in particular, for the production of advertising stickers and decals. Self-adhesive paper is compatible with both water-soluble and pigment inks.

- Thermal transfer paper

Thermal transfer paper with a special coating is designed for transferring images to fabrics or ceramics. Using a sublimation printer, you can print your favorite photo image on thermal transfer paper, and then using a heat press you can easily transfer this image to a T-shirt or tableware. Thanks to this photo paper, you can create truly unique and inimitable things.

— Magnetic paper

This photo paper has a magnetic backing, which allows you to print any image that is easily held on metal surfaces. With magnetic paper, for example, it is convenient to create various puzzles for a child or stickers.

— Canvases

Canvas is a thick photographic paper based on a natural weave of fabric with a bright white velvety surface. This specific type of photo paper is used for high-quality printing of artwork and reproductions. Canvas can also be used to create drawings and presentations with color images.

Photo paper formats

Currently, on the market of consumables for amateur and professional printing, you can find photo paper in a wide variety of formats, ranging from modest A10 cards (26 x 37 mm) to large A3+ canvases (32 x 48 cm). The most common paper sizes include:

— A6 (10×15 cm)

This is the most popular paper size for everyday home photo printing. A6 format the best way Suitable for printing photo cards. All printers support it.

— A5 (148×210 mm)

The A5 size is also widely used for printing photographs and graphics at home.

— A4 (210×297 mm)

Sheets of A4 paper are considered one of the most economical in terms of price-quality ratio. However, it is not always possible to use this format for printing photographs. A4 size photo paper is best suited for portrait photographs.

— A3 (297×420 mm)

A3 sheets are usually used for printing posters and large artistic photographs.

— A3+ (329×483 mm)

These are large sheets of photo paper, designed for those users who want to get high-quality results in the largest possible size.

In order to decide on the choice of grade, format and type of photographic paper, which is presented on the market today in a very wide range, it is necessary, first of all, to answer the question for what purposes you will use it. When it comes to printing regular documents, coursework or abstracts with color images, you can use standard light weight paper. If you want to print in color with accurate halftone reproduction, then you should choose glossy or super-glossy photo paper. Matte paper is best for printing highly detailed photos. In a word, you need to choose exactly the printing paper that best copes with a specific task. And don’t be afraid to experiment with paper when printing photos. Only in this way can you find a suitable paper option from a specific manufacturing company.

Available on the market (see article Working with papers). Having covered almost the entire range of these specific paper products, we did not understand the main thing - we did not find out what photo paper different from regular paper. And, really, why can’t you put regular office paper into the printer and get photographic-quality prints? And what is this incomprehensible phrase “special coating”? Let's try to figure it out.

Unlike regular paper, photo paper multi-layered. Make sure that the sheet photo paper not homogeneous You can easily do it yourself - just rub a corner of it with your fingers, and it will separate into several layers. Why did manufacturers need to invent this layer cake? Then, each layer plays its role in the printing process and performs its function.

In the very center of the sheet lying in front of you is the paper layer itself. He is the only thing photo paper similar to plain paper. This layer not only plays the role of a core on which special coatings are layered on both sides, it also gives photo paper snow-white color and the density you need.

Unusual photo paper the fact that the ink during printing is not located on the paper layer. On the contrary, it must be protected from ink, as well as steam and water. This is what the two polyethylene layers on either side of it are designed for. On the reverse side of the sheet photo paper Behind the polyethylene layer there is a lower layer, thanks to which photo paper does not “wrinkle”. And a laying layer made of waterproof polymer is already attached to it.

Wet the back of the sheet with water and you will be convinced that photo paper This side is waterproof. In addition, the polymer layer contains small, rough plastic particles that prevent stacks of newly printed photographs from sticking together and allow the printer to adjust the grip photo paper and don’t make the mistake of “eating” several sheets at a time.

Above the top polyethylene layer photo paper absorbent fixed. It should absorb ink at maximum speed. There are two options for absorbent coatings: simple - works on the principle of a sponge, gel - works on the principle of a sanitary pad. Absorbs ink faster photo paper with a coating of the first type, it does not allow them to be smeared, but it also does not allow them to last long enough, since they are easily susceptible to any external influences (water, sun, oxygen, etc.).

The gel coating absorbs more slowly and dries more slowly (immediately after printing, the image is easy to smudge with your finger), but after drying photo paper With such a coating, it stores ink much longer, “freezing” it inside itself. But the most important thing is still the top layer – the reproducing layer. First of all, it determines how clearly the ink will lie and how long it will retain its unchanged appearance on paper. It is he who controls the speed and volume of ink entering the absorbent layer photo paper, clarity of lying points.

It is worth noting that all of the above applies to high-quality paper brands such as Lomond photo paper And photo paper Avery Zweckform. For flakiness and quality photo paper We cannot answer other brands.