I finally got around to ordering a media kit from Imagekind, so I could see firsthand the differences between their paper options. Which means I can finally make confident recommendations for choosing a paper.

Just going by visual appearance, my favourite paper is, somewhat surprisingly, the modestly priced Epson Premium Photo Glossy. I expected to prefer Epson Premium Photo Lustre paper, but it has a faintly textured surface, which I personally didn’t like. Mind you, I was inspecting the papers a lot more closely than I think anyone in real life ever would.

I also quite liked the Hannemuhle Fine Art Pearl, which is pretty much the most expensive photo paper Imagekind offers. It seemed to carry more detail and sharpness than the glossy, so I’d probably use it for exhibition prints.

I would most definitely not recommend the Epson Enhanced Matte for my photos; it’s just too flat. It’s really more of an art paper than a photo paper, much to my surprise. And I wouldn’t bother with the Hannemuhle Photo Rag 308 for the same reason. It feels more like card stock to me than a proper photo. If you want a flatter surface than the glossy, go for the Epson Premium Photo Lustre.

So now I have to update my prints page…