Matte or glossy?

[shredchic]

I know there are other preferred options, but if matte and glossy were the only two available, which would you choose and why?

Would your selection be different if you were printing different kinds of photos (nature, macro, wedding, etc.)? Explain.

[benhasajeep]

For years I was all glossy. But I have now started to lean towards matte. I am still in the learning stages of printing, even though I have been doing it a long while. Always used the printer in for lack of better words "dummy" mode. Now that I am learning more about printing. The output paper choice is starting to make a difference in quality of final product. Right now I think I could safely say I have switched 180 and print more on matte than glossy. I really mostly deal with scenics, nature, buildings, more so than say people (very few other than normal snap type shots).

[shredchic]

Thanks!

Anyone else?

[MazerRakhm]

I only get pictures printed in matte anymore, glossy just doesn't look as good to me.

[MisterJP]

Personally . . . it's matte all the way for me. I hate dealing with the glare and fingerprints from glossy prints, plus I feel like I get more detail/texture with matte prints. Doesn't matter what subject I print, it will most likely be on matte paper!

I got sick of messing with my ink jet printer at home, so I ditched it. However, I have access to large format Epson printers at work (4000, 4800, and 7600). I use the Epson Enhanced Matte paper for large prints and just love the look and feel of these prints. At local photo printers, it can be more difficult to find matte paper in larger sizes, so often you can get stuck with glossy.

My 2 cents.

[BrianEE93]

I like to stick with matte except for a landscape or something with very high contrast I want to make pop.

[tim]

Matte, or better yet Lustre. I use metalic for some colorful images too. I use a pro lab, I don't print anything myself.

[shredchic]

Matte, or better yet Lustre. I use metalic for some colorful images too. I use a pro lab, I don't print anything myself.

I use a pro lab as well. The metallic paper can be awesome. :D

Separately --

Does anyone here feel like there is more clarity in glossy prints? Or, rather, that some clarity is lost in matte prints? Just gauging responses. Thanks!

[remo]

Lustre is a good balance between gloss and matte.

[CyberDyneSystems]

FYI this is assuming porinting myself on a Canon Photo Inkjet.

Mostly glossy,. especially for color wildlife,. gloss is almost mandatory.

I like Matte for some B&W (though I'm surprised how often B&W photos demand gloss as well) and also like matte for many "people" shots,. depending on lighting and mood.

I have never printed an image ONLY on matte... When trying an image on matte it is compared to the output on gloss side by side befre deciding.
So for me,. if only using one,. it HAS to be gloss.

[shredchic]

Lustre is a good balance between gloss and matte.

But lustre is not an option in this poll. ;)

For weddings --- would you people use matte or glossy, if that was all that was available to you?

[fdpiech]

I prefer Luster, but if those are my only two choices... Matte.

[shredchic]

haha, thanks :)

[mpolk]

Matte

[jdrenda]

Matte

[EOS_JD]

I know it's not an option but Lustre for me too. Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl is my favourite.

[Papaw]

I know it's not an option but Lustre for me too. Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl is my favourite.

I agree, have tried many brands and Ilford Smooth Pearl gives the best results out of our MP950 Printer.