Question about printing mediums

Hey all,

I'm not much of a technical person and don't claim to know much about Photoshop, Lightroom, printing, etc. I just like to take pretty pictures! Therefore, I need your advice.

There are a whole bunch of companies/individuals out there doing printing on a multitude of mediums. How is a person supposed to know what paper/medium is great, average, or junk? is there some place with a list of printable mediums (is that even the right phrase?) and honest answers to my questions? reading the technical specs of various mediums is not something i would be able to do with any comprehension. I know the medium you choose will depend a lot on your plans for displaying your image and your personal preference, but since i currently don't have many preferences, where in the world should i start? What should i look for in a high quality printing medium? any key words i should stay away from or lean toward?

Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

I think a lot depends on who you're getting the prints for. If they're for yourself or family, there a lot of options like canvas, metallic, etc., etc., and this depends a lot on personal preference. If they're for customers on a web site, standard prints on "standard" archival paper like Kodak Endura or Fuji Crystal Archive may be best. These are generally less expensive and can allow you to provide competitive prices and give the customer a standard print that they're familiar with. The customer will know even less about printing methods than you, so not overwhelming them with options and giving them something they're familiar with is, I believe, most important. I use whcc.com for these prints. If you are doing art shows or displaying at galleries, you could be more experimental, as the customer will be able to see the end result and immediately decide if they like it. I'm sure others can chime in with more specific advice.

The only way you're going to figure out what you like is by diving in and ordering prints from various outfits that offer different media.

I only print for myself, and am well pleased with the Kodak Professional Supra Endura Digital Paper (matte finish) offered by MPix, which I've been using for several years now.

I don't care for glossy paper at all.

At those prices, you can see for yourself without making a dent in your pocketbook.

*EDIT*
If you're using an inkjet printer, then this advice is moot.

Grant's advice is good.

Here's a great place to start (free samples from a good lab) ...
http://wciphoto.com/wci/page/services/samples.html

One factor in your decision may be how long you want your prints to last. There's a company called Wilhelm Imaging Research that tests the lifetime of papers, inks and other mediums that has some valuable information, especially if you are interested at all in inkjet printing.

Here's the link: http://www.wilhelm-research.com

That's a really hard question to answer, and depends on the imaging/printing mechanism, longevity, "look", and just plain personal taste.

I've been using Ilford Gallerie Smooth papers with my Epson inkjet for some time now and am very satisfied. I've also had things printed for me on Epson papers that I've been more than happy with. In the past I've also had a lot of images printed on Fuji Crystal Archive and haven't had much to complain about with that, either. And finally, I print all of my card stock on Red River paper, which I like very much.

"Yes" keywords: "pigment inkjet" (for inkjets), "custom ICC color profile", "archival"
"No" keywords (for me): "sRGB files" - because I use Photoshop and color-manage my prints.

I don't know what the current "state of the art" is in photo imaging machines that use traditional photo-chemical processing, so can't tell you the best keywords there. I prefer professional labs when sending printing out, but COSTCO also has ICC color managed printing services that do a remarkably good job for the money.

Basic advice if you're looking for the best possible output:
1) Pick a "look" - luster, gloss, semi-gloss, matte, canvas, "art" papers...
2) Go with a solid brand. Don't use generic or store-brand papers, and don't go with "everyday" papers. For example, Kodak offers three lines of paper for inkjets - go with the best of the three. (I don't use Kodak inkjet papers because they act oddly with Epson pigment inks...)
3) Select solid professional technology to print your images. Your best results will probably come from the newest and most expensive equipment, but you don't need to spend a fortune to get great prints.
4) Always get a custom ICC profile for the paper and printer you're working with. If you're sending images to a shop, make sure they give you an ICC profile or you may be disappointed. If you don't do your own color management, be aware that your results may vary from image to image. Some shops that don't color manage are pretty consistent, though - I think whcc.com is one of them.
5) Get some samples made up. If you're ordering from a print shop, send a couple of images in to sample their output.