Whether you are printing display graphics, artwork or photography, choosing the best paper for art prints is very important. You want to pick a paper that has the right balance between functionality and aesthetics to not only showcase and transport your visuals but also preserve them.
Essentially, the first question that a photographer or artist should ask themselves is what type of paper is ideal for their art. This is important as there are different types of art printing papers that are available in the market today all designed to suit the different printing needs of artists.
With an overabundance of photographic and fine art papers to choose from, deciding on a paper can be quite more difficult than most people think. So, how do you know which paper is the right one to pick for your art printing needs? Below is a review of a few of the best papers for art prints that you can select from.
Our Recommendations
- Epson Velvet Fine Art Paper – Best Overall
- Springhill White Cardstock Paper – Best In Producing Smooth Prints
- Strathmore – Best Acid-Free Paper
- Canon 1432C003 – Best For Canon Printers
- Canson Infinity Baryta Prestige Gloss Paper – Best In Quality
- Hahnemuhle FineArt Baryta Satin Photo Paper – Best In Texture
1. Epson Velvet Fine art Paper
To kick this list off we have the Epson Velvet fine art paper. It’s a very classy paper that looks phenomenal alongside being classy. It comes in three different sizes ranging from 8.5″ x 11″ up to 17″ x 22”.
The Epson Velvet comes in a pack of 20 sheets. It has a matte finish and an acid-free base. It’s compatible with up to 1440 dpi printing. The bright white surface provides an excellent platform to reproduce accurate colors.
The prints on this paper are bound to leave you astonished. This is because the paper contains 100% cotton rag. The cotton rag ensures that the paper keeps its quality intact over time and stays archival.
One other thing to mention here is that the paper offers an amazing texture that works fantastically with the saturation and provides a good sharpness to the prints. All you need to do is just pick the inks wisely.
Overall, this is a solid choice of paper for artists. And it comes at a good price too. So don’t hesitate to pick up this one!
Pros
- Comes in three different sizes from 8.5″ x 11″ up to 17″ x 22”.
- It’s compatible with up to 1440 dpi printing.
- A sleek matte finish and acid-free base.
- The 100% cotton rag ensures that the paper keeps its quality intact over time and stays archival.
- The texture is fantastic and works excellently under different saturations and sharpnesses.
- The pack of 20 sheets weighs just about 95 grams.
Cons
- If the right inks aren’t used the print quality might deteriorate.
2. Springhill White Cardstock Paper
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a cardstock paper then the Springhill White cardstock paper might seem appealing to you. This paper can put out vibrant and crisp prints with utmost smoothness.
The Springhill White can be best described as a professional’s choice of art print paper. It comes in 1 ream (250 sheets) and up to 11 x 17” sizes. On top of that this paper is environmentally friendly as it’s 100% recyclable.
The SpringHill white tends to dry quickly. So you won’t have to worry about your ink dying at all. As this paper is acid-free, it won’t get yellow over time. You can also save up by ordering 1 carton of these papers (8 reams).
Overall, the Springhill white is suitable for those who need huge volumes of paper at a reasonable cost. Though the quality of these papers is slightly less than the other papers on this list, keep in mind the amount they come in and at what cost.
Pros
- The cardstock is super light.
- 1 ream contains 250 sheets and 1 carton contains 8 reams.
- Up to 11 x 17 inches available.
- This paper is environmentally friendly as it’s 100% recyclable.
- It’s also acid-free so your papers won’t get yellow over time.
- Budget-friendly.
Cons
- Paper isn’t very thick.
3. Strathmore
Ever thought about why some of the art papers don’t do well with watercolors? Well, we’ve got the solution to that! The Strathmore is a great paper within a reasonable price. On top of that this paper is also great for digital prints!
The Strathmore has always been a fan favorite paper for artists. It has an inkjet paper texture and can display saturation and sharpness perfectly. We didn’t see any odd issues of shadowing on this paper.
The Strathmore comes in a pack of 25 sheets. You can find sizes up to 8.5 x 11 inches and weigh about 80 lb. Though the product is somewhat under-advertised, they provide good quality products.
We also didn’t find any issues regarding quality deterioration with this paper. As this paper is acid-free, you won’t have to worry about it getting yellow over time.
Overall, the Strathmore is a paper you should select if you want good art papers on a low budget. The quality is there and the price is low too.
Pros
- Perfect for digital printing.
- Great to use with watercolors.
- One pack contains 25 sheets.
- You can find sizes up to 8.5 x 11 inches.
- The paper quality doesn’t deteriorate over time.
- Displays great saturation and sharpness
Cons
- Not suitable for professional use.
4. Canon 1432C003
Now if you need the best quality papers for art prints at bulk then take a look at the Canon 1432C003. Though the name is somewhat odd, the paper isn’t! It probably provides the best value for art print papers if you want them in bulk!
The Canon Art paper comes with a matte finish. Each pack contains 50 sheets and they are sized at a max of 8.6 x 11 inches. The bright white paper flourishes when it comes to displaying vivid colors.
The Canon 1432c003 has a micro-porous coating. This coating instantly absorbs all the ink and doesn’t allow any extra ink to be set on the paper. Due to the high brightness of this paper, the pictures tend to come out better looking than on a majority of other papers.
The achievability of this printer is solid too. We tested out this paper and it came out either 1st or 2nd in every test, proving it to be a great paper for art prints.
This paper from Canon works best if you’re using a printer and ink from Canon too. But either way, if you’re looking to buy quality papers at a bulk then you shouldn’t think twice going for this paper.
Pros
- Comes with a sleek matte finish.
- Each pack contains 50 sheets and they are sized at a max of 8.6 x 11 inches.
- The microporous coating of the paper instantly absorbs the extra ink.
- Good achievability.
- Good price for the product.
- Minimal light reflection compared to glossy paper.
Cons
- Consumes more ink.
5. Canson Infinity Baryta Prestige Gloss Paper
While the Infinity Baryta isn’t that popular compared to some other papers on this list, it definitely does a great job of art printing. It’s a ISO 9706 certified paper so there’s no question if it’s up to the quality of some other papers.
The Canson Baryta Comes with 25 A3+ sheets. Each of these sheets weigh 340gsm. The papers are constructed with a cotton white paper base and acid-free alpha cellulose. These papers also have a barium sulphate coating that give these an edgy look.
How do these printers workout after printing on them? On our inspection we found out that these papers offered superior black optic density and image sharpness. The wide color gamut was on point too.
Some other thing we’d like to mention is that it’s optimized for pigment inks. If you’re printing using a pigment ink printer you’d get the best performance. As this paper is acid free, it’s resistant to gas fading and paper degradation.
Rest assured your arts prints will be conserved for a long time! This is a quality paper within a reasonable price and you should go for it.
Pros
- 25 A3+ sheets.
- The papers are constructed with a cotton white paper base and acid-free alpha cellulose
- Has a look and feel of the silver-halide prints thanks to the baryta classification
- Durable paper that is rich in hues and tonal values
- Designed for pigmented inks and is also compatible with dye inks
- Super light
- Preserves art for a long time.
- Produces very rich prints
Cons
- Might face odd issues while using dye based printers.
6. Hahnemuhle FineArt Baryta Satin Photo Paper
The Hahnemuhle Fineart Baryta Satin is a must have for those who want to print both monochrome and colored photography. This paper also comes with high archival specs.
The Hahnemuhle satin is a white satin gloss paper. It comes in a volume of 25 sheets and each sheet is sized 8.5-x-11-inches. Each sheet weighs about 300gsm, The satin is coated with a layer of barium sulphate that works alongside the ink to put out vivid printouts.
The paper is acid-free but that’s nothing new. What’s interesting is that it also contains alpha-cellulose and has a calcium carbonate buffering. Another fun fact regarding this paper is that it dries quite quickly. It also doesn’t come with any optical brighteners.
The Hahnemuhle satin gives out a buttery smooth texture and feel. It’s suitable to use even inside a darkroom. The ink receptibility and reproduction of this paper is on point too.
Overall, the Hahnemuhle Fineart baryta satin is a perfect paper to use in most scenarios. It comes at a good price, you can pick it up whenever you want.
Pros
- The white satin gloss paper comes in a volume of 25 sheets. Each sheet is sized 8.5-x-11-inches.
- It weighs just 300gsm and is very light.
- Suitable for both colored or black and white printing producing high-quality images
- The barium sulfate coating helps to put out vivid prints.
- The paper is not only acid-free, but it’s also alpha-cellulose and has a calcium carbonate buffering
- The FineArt Baryta Satin paper has high water resistance and dries instantly.
- It gives out a buttery smooth texture and feel
- Suitable to use in a darkroom.
- Affordable.
Cons
- Overuse of ink mightn’t let the paper reach its full potential.
Final Thoughts
There are different types of art printing paper available for purchase today. When looking to buy an art print paper, the first consideration to bear in mind is how smoothly it can pass through your printer. A quality print paper shouldn’t cause any difficulties. Also, ensure that you get a high-quality paper that has a high level or archival ability. This means that your prints will be durable and you can preserve your images for years to come.
Most importantly, consider your budget as art print papers are priced differently. While some packs may have more sheets of paper than others, your needs should come first when settling for an art paper for printing your images.