As you learned in Chapter 18, “Printers and Printer Resolution,” print papers are
available in film, glossy, pearl, matte, and various shades of plain.Photo Papers
Photo papers are divided by size, gloss, and thickness. The size, of course, depends
on the printer. Most printers can print a maximum 8×11-inch size paper. Large-for-
mat printers are available that can print 11×17-inch and 13×19-inch cut sheets, and
larger printers (sometimes referred to as “plotters,” their outdated predecessor) can
print up to widths of 108 inches! The larger printers use rolls of paper instead of cut
sheets.
High-gloss paper is available for all sizes of printers. High-gloss papers with a thick-
ness greater than 8 mil (8 thousandths of a meter) are more expensive than thinner,286 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TODIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
FIGURE 19.1
Large-format
photo printers
can be had for
less than $400.MADE IN?
Visit your local office supply store and check out some of the new photo papers for inkjet
printers. Notice where they’re being made: the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Japan.
The profit margins in high-quality paper are tremendous, as is the technology race to stay
competitive. Can anyone actually afford to manufacture anything in Switzerland, where the
average annual income is one-third greater than the United States? Only if the technology
cannot be duplicated elsewhere affordably. Paper technology has become a science that
rivals military manufacturing.