My Favorite Paper for Prints
Back in 2020, I began making prints of my work. I initially thought that drop shipping was the way to go. It was a great place to start, but I didn’t love that I couldn’t control the quality. I decided I needed a printer, and with that came more decisions. That included choosing what kind of paper I wanted to use. It’s one of those things you don’t think about until you realize that when you’re making an art print, the quality of the paper makes a difference in how the print comes out.
Luckily, my spouse works for an art college. The printshop manager recommended a few different papers. One of those papers was the 60 lbs. Polar Matter Paper from Red River Paper. The first time I printed with it, I was hooked. The quality of the printing was phenomenal. It’s a velvety, smooth paper that I’ve used to create greeting cards and other prints. It comes in a variety of sizes, but I typically use the 8x10” and the 11x14” papers because they work well with my printer. They’re also standard sizes, so I don’t usually have to cut down (which is very convenient for me). Another perk is that each box has an informational sheet that walks you through how to use their printer profiles to get beautiful color matching.
I did order a sample pack of a variety of papers the company makes to see if it was the paper I truly wanted. While the printing quality was beautiful on each of them, I preferred the smooth, bright white paper. I may try out canvas prints another time and I know that they’ll be the first company I look to for my paper needs.
