Using Media Profiles for Making Your Photo Prints (setting, printers, photos)

[Nomadicus]

There are many types of media now flourishing in this digital age. Media from plain archival matte to cotton rag fine art to several types of canvas and even metallic finish products. Each have their own receptive coating. Both manufacturers and vendors spend a lot of time creating printer profiles for the various model printers on the market to insure the ink is laid down properly for the combination of printer brand and media. A print can look very good by accident but to the discerning eye it pays to learn how to use these profiles when setting up a photo to print.

[PhotogGal]

I don't print my own photos, but I've been curious to try using one of the pro labs and having a metallic print or two done. I'm not sure I know how to choose which photos would look best on which type of paper (or metal). I guess it's just a matter of experimentation, but I'd like not to waste my money.

[mathjak107]

I love the look of red river polar metallic and Epson velvet fine art matte when used with the correct profiles on my Epson 3880 printer.

throw in Epson ultra premium lustre and that's what I use. the lustre being my general go to paper .

I find even letting the printer use its own drivers produces spectacular results but I do use the paper company profile always.

[Nomadicus]

Originally Posted by PhotogGal

I don't print my own photos, but I've been curious to try using one of the pro labs and having a metallic print or two done. I'm not sure I know how to choose which photos would look best on which type of paper (or metal). I guess it's just a matter of experimentation, but I'd like not to waste my money.

Black & White photos are supposed to be awesome. So far I have only used the metallic media with color and it sure pops with a dimensional look. I have not used any metallic yet in the sheet fed 3880 8 color printer. I bought a 100' roll of 24" wide paper for a project in the 10 color 7900 and every print has been stunning.

[Joe the Photog]

I got my first metal print done very recently and was blown away by the quality and the resolution. From a block over, you could see the rough texture of the bricks on a building behind the main subject. Can't wait to get more done.