The ultimate guide to paper for printing

When you're choosing what printer paper to use, there are many factors to consider. Portable printers such as Canon Zoemini and SELPHY printers use print technologies that require specific media (see Best paper for portable printers below), but most inkjet and laser printers can handle a range of different paper sizes, weights and finishes.

Paper size: most printers will accept a range of paper sizes, up to a maximum such as A3 or A4, depending on the printer. For photo prints, cards and crafting, you can choose paper pre-cut to "postcard" size or popular photo print sizes such as 4x6 inches or 5x7 inches. Use the paper guides on the printer's input tray to ensure the paper is fed through correctly, and specify the paper size in the printer's menus or your print software so it prints in the right place.

Weight: this is conventionally measured in grams per square metre (gsm). Ordinary office paper is typically about 80gsm on average; everyday photo paper such as Canon's Glossy Photo Paper GP-501 is thicker at around 200gsm; light card for crafting such as Canon Double-sided Matte Paper MP-101D may be 240gsm or more. Heavier papers are generally more durable, but extravagant for printing everyday home and office documents. Very thick paper cannot be used in many laser printers unless they have a straight-through paper path.

Finish: paper for photo prints comes in a wide choice of surface finishes, such as glossy, matte, super-gloss, and semi-gloss (different varieties of which may be called satin, silk, pearl, or lustre). Baryta paper has a slightly glossy special coating to recreate the look of traditional darkroom prints, with deep blacks, sharp detail, and archival longevity. Everyday office paper (bond) is uncoated but has a smooth finish. Fine art papers are typically uncoated, have a more prominent texture, and may contain rag, bamboo, and other fibres.

Whiteness: nominally white paper may be more yellow, more blue, or even grey in comparison to other papers, which will naturally affect how colours appear. Bear in mind that lighting conditions also affect the appearance of colours, so a photo print will look cooler (more blue) when stuck to the fridge in a brightly-lit kitchen than when it’s displayed on a bedside table with subdued bedroom lighting. If you can, choose a shade of printer paper that enhances the atmosphere you want your print to have in the setting where it will be viewed.

Colour fidelity: your choice of paper finish (and to a lesser extent weight) affects not only the visual impression of your print but – in combination with the type of ink your printer uses – its colour reproduction and print vibrancy. Different papers suit different images and will bring out different qualities in them. Glossy papers are a good choice for vibrant images with deep blacks and punchy colours, but glare and reflections could be a problem if they're on display. Semi-gloss or lustre papers are ideal for high-contrast, detailed and saturated images, with less risk of reflections. Matte papers can suit images with a softer colour palette as well as black and white or desaturated images, but blacks may not be as deep. Rough textured papers will accentuate depth in fine art prints with subtle colours and add a watercolour-like feel.

Longevity: Canon papers, inks and print technologies are engineered to work together, and the combination can offer not only consistent print quality but also exceptional longevity. Use genuine Canon products bearing the ChromaLife 100 badge and you could achieve 100 years light-fastness for a print stored in an archival album, 30 years for images displayed in photo frames and experiencing around 10 hours of light per day (though not direct sunlight), and 10 years for images pinned on a board or stuck to a refrigerator.²

Laser or inkjet? Bear in mind that laser printers use intense heat to fuse toner to the paper, and some coated papers will not be suitable – in theory, non-heat-resistant coatings could even damage the printer drum. If you're using a laser printer, look for smooth (not super-glossy) paper marked as suitable for laser printing. Uncoated (bond) office paper can generally be used in either inkjet or laser printers. Inkjets can often also print on different materials such as canvas, which can be ideal for fine art prints.

So, what is the best printing paper for your specific need or special project?

• Best paper for photo printing at home
• Best paper for portable photo printers
• Best printer paper for creative and crafting projects
• Best paper for fine art photography prints
• Best paper for small business and home office printing

Preserving memories is often at the heart of printing photographs at home. You can produce smaller-sized prints that are perfect for sticking into homemade albums, displaying in photo frames or pinning up on cork boards. For this type of photo printing, a coated type of paper can be the best option, because it's generally more durable.

Because of the coating, less ink is absorbed into the paper, meaning prints appear crisper. They are also more resistant to dirt, moisture and wear and tear. Uncoated paper, by contrast, has a more textured, tactile feel, is more porous and can absorb ink more easily, making images printed on uncoated paper potentially a little softer.

Canon Everyday Use Glossy GP-501 is a photo-lab-quality paper that is a top choice for economical everyday colourful photos, and compatible with Canon PIXMA printers. Glossy Canon papers lock the ink deeper below the top surface than other papers, which prevents any excess ink from being left on the paper's surface, giving you instant-dry prints, and also means that the glossy finish remains lustrous over time.

Alternatively, if you prefer reduced glossiness for a softer look, Canon Plus Semi-gloss SG-201 paper features a satin finish and photographic paper texture. This 260gsm paper will create excellent, instant-dry photo prints.

For those fond family memories or beautiful travel landscapes that would make an impact displayed more prominently in your home, many Canon photo papers are available in A4 size, and many printers in the Canon PIXMA range can produce rich borderless A4 photo prints for display.

Install the Canon PRINT app on your smartphone and you can choose borderless printing, set the paper size and type, and control the print process on compatible Canon PIXMA, MAXIFY and SELPHY printers wirelessly direct from your device.

The Canon Zoemini 2 uses ZINK™ (Zero Ink) print technology,¹ which requires special paper embedded with micro-crystals that react when heated. This produces a smudge-proof, water-resistant print and means no ink cartridges, no mess and no fuss. The paper is available in 33mm circle and 50x76mm sizes, both with a peel-off backing to turn your prints into instant stickers.

You control the print process from your smartphone using the Canon Mini Print app, which you can also use to style your images with a frame, filter effects, doodles and writing, as well as create a collage of pictures, or use the tiling feature to make a standout sticky poster from four or nine smaller snaps.

Canon's range of SELPHY compact photo printers uses dye-sub print technology, which requires paper with a special protective coating that ensures every print is resistant to water, fingerprints and scratches and can last up to 100 years when stored in an album. From postcard-sized paper to square prints, credit-card-size photos and mini stickers, there's an option to suit an array of creative ways to display your photos.

Using the SELPHY Photo Layout App you can apply a wide range of layout options, stamps, overlays and borders – including borderless printing on the Canon SELPHY QX20 for the XC-20L / XC-60L and XS-20L papers.

For scrapbooking or creating personalised storybooks, printing in a range of shapes and sizes can be a great way to add fun, personalised touches. The mini stickers and square-shaped sticker papers used with Canon SELPHY printers are a quick and easy way to produce prints that you can immediately stick down and enjoy.

Whether it's greeting cards, homemade gifts or a storybook, when you're conjuring up craft projects with your printer there are a few elements to consider. Where would you like to display your creation? Do you need to print on both sides? And do you need a high-resolution paper if photos feature in your project?

We've mentioned the layout options and creative effects possible if you're printing with a Canon Zoemini 2 or SELPHY compact photo printer using the Canon Mini Print app and SELPHY Photo Layout app respectively. These printers are great for custom greeting cards, labels, scrapbooking and other creative applications.

There are lots of exciting ways to accessorise your home or make interactive photo displays if you print your art onto Canon Magnetic Photo Paper MG-101 with your home inkjet printer. You can use it to create an interactive magnetic photo display or puzzles, or just stick them straight onto your fridge to display happy memories – no photo frame required.

If making printables and papercrafting with Canon Creative Park is your hobby, Matte Photo Paper MP-101 will create prints with bright, vibrant tones and clear images without the glossy effect. It's great for designs that include photos, graphics and text.

For those who enjoy adding a personal touch to special occasions by creating their own greetings cards or party invitations, the 7x10-inch Double-sided Matte Paper MP-101D comes with a pre-made crease and envelopes to make the process quick and easy and help ensure that each one is folded just right.

You can use the Canon PRINT app on your smartphone to control the printing process on Canon PIXMA, MAXIFY and SELPHY printers and even access Creative Park through it. With compatible printer models, use the Canon Easy-PhotoPrint Editor app to edit and style your photos, add creative effects, make collages and calendars, and more.

If you're printing a fine art photography project, Canon Premium Fine Art Rough Paper is a professional high-quality A4 cotton paper with a rough texture that will help create dense blacks and precise tonality in dark areas of an image. Photography enthusiasts and art lovers will find this kind of paper is best for archival fine art prints, and pleasing results are achievable for both monochrome and colour prints.

The 260gsm Canon Pro Luster LU-101 is a professional fine art photo paper with a soft satin sheen. This smooth inkjet photo paper is available up to A2 size. It resembles traditional resin-coated papers used in darkrooms, making it ideal for photographers seeking a photo lab finish to showcase their work. Think radiant colours, pin-sharp details and exceptional black and white reproduction. It's a good choice for prints that will be on display – a favourite artistic landscape, for example, or a scene from a memorable trip that you want to keep on the wall as a memento for years to come – and it resists degradation caused by atmospheric gases and light when used with genuine Canon inks such as ChromaLife 100 inks, which work in the Canon PIXMA printer range, or the high-longevity LUCIA PRO II pigment inks used in Canon's imagePROGRAF pro photo printer range, such as the imagePROGRAF PRO-310.⁴

Another option for those wanting a professional finish is the glossy 300gsm heavyweight Canon Pro Platinum PT-101 paper. This has a six-layer construction, is fade-resistant and gives outstanding colour reproduction, particularly with Canon LUCIA PRO and ChromaLife 100 inks.

You can also choose a paper based on the colour tones in an image. For special photographs – those that capture significant events, for example, or rare family get-togethers – and artworks with warm colours and grey tones, the 210gsm Pro Premium Matte PM-101 gives a smooth non-glare texture without a reflective sheen. Developed for professionals looking for premium quality, this thicker paper will make gallery-quality prints when used with a printer such as the compact professional A3+ inkjet Canon PIXMA Pro-200S or the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 with its advanced 10-ink LUCIA PRO II ink system for outstanding colour fidelity and wide colour gamut.

Other paper types offering exceptional professional fine-art-quality printing are available from specialist paper suppliers such as Canson® Infinity. The Canson® Infinity Platine Fibre Rag, for example, features a 100% cotton base and a pure white tone. Cotton papers have rich texture, stronger fibres, a luxury feel and a long lifespan, giving them an archival quality. Hahnemühle's photo range of papers also offers premium results for photographic prints, posters and photo books.

For everyday home office or small business document printing, a general-purpose paper such as Canon's Red Label Zero is ideal – it's a high-whiteness paper with a smooth finish, available in a range of weights and sizes. For professional presentations or reports with a sleek finish and bright, bold colour reproduction, consider a heavier option such as Canon High Resolution Paper HR-101N, a 106gsm matte-finish coated paper with high brightness that is suited to vibrant photos and graphic images, alongside high-quality documents and spreadsheets containing intense, clear colours.

A high resolution paper like this is also a good choice for those looking to create posters or other promotional material for their work. With a wide range of templates, images and fonts, Canon PosterArtist gives you all the tools you need to make a poster online for free. It's a quick and easy way to bring the production of your promotional materials in-house with an efficient small business printer such as the Canon PIXMA TS6540i, which offers fast print speed, superior quality with improved pigment black ink, and a 35-sheet ADF. For high-volume requirements, a MegaTank printer with refillable ink tanks such as the Canon MAXIFY GX7140 will give you an unbeatably low cost per page, robust and durable output, and auto duplex printing.

When you’re choosing a paper to print on, there are three key paper characteristics to consider, and three key outcomes your choice will affect. From the range of paper compatible with your printer, choose a paper size, weight, and finish that will give you the colour reproduction, visual impact, and durability you’re looking for.

Canon's paper and printer ranges offer something suitable for all your printing needs. Whether you're promoting your business, producing a fine art project, displaying family portraits, or using print to get organised at home, you'll be assured of high quality and standards throughout.

Written by Lorna Dockerill and Alex Summersby