Some great examples of glossy print paper are HP Premium Photo Plus glossy photo paper ( 4×6″, 5×7″, and 8.5×11″) or Canon’s Pro Platinum photo paper ( 4×6″ and 8.5×11″).

Therefore, in the luster vs glossy debate, most professionals prefer a lustre print vs glossy or similar for their large prints, with glossy reserved for less stringent uses like displaying snapshots. The metallic paper uses a combination of film and laminate layers resulting in striking three-dimensional images. It has a rich distinctive metallic look, making the image almost appear to be printed on a sheet of metal. It offers natural-looking flesh tones, sharp details, and beautifully saturated colors. Glare - Is the extent to which light bounces off the surface of the paper when a light is shone on it. Glare can be very distracting and make viewing an image difficult due to reflected lights. There is no doubt why it is a favorite of photographers. Lustre photos have vivid colors, sharp details, and rich color saturation.

Overview

Another benefit of this photo paper? It is not prone to fingerprints. Like matte photos, you can handle it without concern.

If you have questions like, “What is lustre photo finish?” or “When to use metallic photo paper?” then this article will give you the answers. That being said, because of the texture characteristic of lustre (no matter how tiny those “bubbles”), it still won’t have the same color vibrancy as glossy nor the same sharpness in the details of the image. However, lustre’s more toned-down approach can be a beautiful asset to more emotional images or images that really don’t need a big punch (where overly vibrant outputs would actually take away from the photograph’s beauty). The best way to describe lustre is luminous. When comparing luster vs metallic, the prints will be very similar, although the metallic prints are likely to be more glossy or have a ‘shine’ to the colors, while the luster prints are closer to matte. Photographic paper finishes refer to how the paper appears, both with and without print. In this article, we will discuss matte, glossy and luster prints (the most common options) as well as specialty ones: pearl and metallic. Not all photo print shops use these exact terms, so to clear up confusion, we will also include other names you might encounter in each section. Luster paper and pearl paper, like satin paper and semi-gloss paper, are just two names for the same thing.

Luster prints have a finely textured surface that lessens the glare of glossy prints. Direct light sources will still produce a sheen on the print surface, but not nearly as much as with glossy. Luster papers offer great color vibrancy and details, and are considered excellent multi-use papers. Luster paper has a pearl-like appearance, which often leads people to use the two names interchangeably. People also refer to it as “semi-gloss” because it sits halfway between gloss and matte. Luster is useful in situations where you want to make a photo viewable from multiple angles and it tends to be less vulnerable to finger prints than gloss. Matte Matte finish is durable and non-reflective. This photo finish is soft and texturized. It does not show fingerprints and smudges like luster photo paper. This makes it perfect for being frequently handled. A great example of matte photo paper is Kodak’s matte photo paper (8.5×11″).

If you are printing a photo that will get handled often, you should go for the lustre finish. Lustre prints are the best choice for wedding photos or postcards. It takes the best of matte and glossy finishes and leaves their negative features behind.

Hahnemühle Protective Spray

If you want to buy this photo paper online, Canon’s luster photo paper ( 8.5×11″ and 13×19″) or Kodak’s professional inkjet lustre photo paper (8.5×11″) are some excellent options. Your photo prints will last longer if you store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Also avoid touching the front of the prints with your fingers, as this can cause fingerprints and smudges. You can further protect your prints by placing them in photo sleeves or frames, or a quality photo album. Should you print your own photos or send them to a lab?

A glossy photo finish works well on photographs where color vibrancy is relevant. Some examples are landscapes or children’s portraits.Lustre paper has a gloss to it, but it’s not nearly as glossy as, well, glossy paper. Lustre has a bit of a lower contrast appearance to it like matte, but it’s definitely not as muted. So, therefore, lustre is a lovechild of both of these extreme paper types! Choosing between a lustre or a metallic print comes down to personal preference. Both provide vibrant colors and high-quality photos.