Arches

Arches® has been manufacturing the most popular watercolor paper in the world in the same French mill since 1492. The material basically consists of a thick sheet with deckle edges and a choice of three surface textures: cold press, hot press and rough (think of the textured surface of watercolour paper).

Arches gives photographs a depth of colour not achieved by regular Ilford Professional. These papers are the same papers used by artists like Matisse and Picasso - simply adapted for inkjet printing. Their beauty and quality is proven by the fact that pretty much all major art galleries in the world hold works made with these materials.

Matte

Matte prints have a softer finish that reduces reflections and increases viewing angle, making it a suitable option for photographs you are intending to frame and put up on your wall. It is an ideal choice for medium prints, or for large prints when the cost of canvas or arches paper is prohibitive.

This finish produces a slightly less vibrant photograph, but is much less susceptible to smudging and glare, which allows you a clearer view of the image.

Canvas

Inkjet Canvas offers the absolute best in colour reproduction and longevity. Unlike prints reproduces on paper, photographs printed on canvas are extremely resistant to glare, and offer you an un-obscured view of the finest details as well as the deeper blacks, brighter whites and generally truer colours that the canvas print has to offer. The material is extremely resistant to cracks and tearing , which allows for an interesting and original framing option: namely, the canvas itself, stretched over a simple wooden frame. In many cases (and especially for larger prints), this arrangement will end up costing less than the same size print in glossy or matte finish, with a correspondingly large frame.

It is an ideal choice for large prints, and is (in our humble opinion) the best choice for a lasting, high-quality piece.

Glossy

Glossy prints have a shiny finish and offer vibrant colours and crisp images.

This finish is highly susceptible to smudging and fingerprints, and tends to cause glare when viewed from certain angles, thus obscuring your view of the image. This is a good choice for smaller prints, or photographs with vibrant colours.