When dealing with matte vs glossy photos, pros go for the glossy finish for the need for brightness and vibrancy, and matte for low light, glare-free, and fingerprint-resistant.
This means that you should make your final choice based on what you are going to use your photos for, what their purpose is, and what the surrounding lighting environment is like.
Matte vs Glossy Photos: Quick Comparison Chart
| Metric | Matte | Glossy |
| Reflection | Don’t reflect lights | Highly reflects lights |
| Color vibrance and saturation | Low saturated, toned, and muted | Highly saturated, vibrant, more vivid |
| How does it feel to touch | Soft and sophisticated | Smooth, slippery |
| Touch sensitivity | Does not leave fingerprints, skin oils, or smudges | Easily shows fingerprints or smudges |
| Surface durability | Flat, velvety surface, thin and prone to bending or tearing over time | Slick surface, thick and durable against scratches and moisture |
| Ease of cleaning | Grippy surface, attracts dust and dirt | Slippery surface repels dust and dirt |
| Humid or damp environment reaction | No protective layer, vulnerable to high humidity | Resin-coated (RC) layer protects from moisture |
| Lasting in sunlight | Diffuses sunlight, images fade slower over time | Strong glare in sunlight, images fade faster over time |
| Best use cases | Black & white images, albums, scrapbooking, gallery display, framed photos, weddings, art design | Posters, brochures, flyers, lifestyle, landscape, fashion, travel photography, frameless prints |
When to Use Matte Finish
Professionals value matte non-reflective finishes that provide flawless, permanent displays that overcome the rigors of light. Other names for perfect prints that transcend realism and flash in those moments of daily triumph are:
Room filled with lots of light or open gallery: The LED lights in the room or the radiant warmth of sunlight do not stain the matte paper. The details remain clear without the hassle of light reflection or refraction. For example, you will see how clutter-free the wall art is.
Areas that are quite close to hands: Matte finish, in crowded places, or in places with high humidity, are prone to fingerprints or smudges. Matte photo papers are best in all these cases as they are anti-scratch. For example, you can flip through a photo album without any hassle.
Portraits and Minimalist Arts: The fineness of photo paper, along with its texture, favors natural colors. Therefore, landscapes, canvases, and portraits become quite attractive on these papers. The prohibition of excessive glare is widely observed in museum or exhibition photographs.
Assemblies or open-crowd displays: Matte finishes can withstand fingerprints, making them an ideal choice for large conference rooms, galleries, or events.
When to Use Glossy Finish
High-contrast, dramatic shots, with depth and detail, go with glossy print quality that targets colors up to 30% brighter. When vibrancy is the main context, the times when glossy photos are the norm are:
Low-light environments: In dim, dimly lit, shadow spaces, glossy prints pop in a way that seems 3D. You might have observed many portraits where images become stunning effortlessly.
Promo content (Entertainment Photography): Movie posters, upcoming events, these prints give a vibrant and vibrant look. Here, the presence of each object within the image needs to be spoken loudly.
Commercial images (packages/products): Glossy photo prints proudly display premium luxury, where light reflection or refraction takes center stage. In today’s times, this paper is the top choice for e-commerce product promotions to take the physical world to the next level.
Outdoor and moisture-prone areas: Durability and easy cleanability are the special features of glossy photo paper. Therefore, they can be placed on kitchen and bathroom walls indoors, as well as on billboards along the highway.
Matt and Glossy Photo Paper Use in the Real World
If you take a closer look at your surroundings, the findings you get from there will help you make the most of your decision. Since you know which ones are useful at which time, now you will understand in a very practical way, so let’s get ahead.
Matte vs Glossy Photos for Walls
High-gloss finishes on walls directly opposite windows catch harsh outdoor light. The result? A “white-out” effect, where the sun shines through instead of the image in the viewer’s eyes.
That’s why the debate over matte vs. glossy finishes for walls usually leans toward matte for outdoor displays.
- Matte finishes allow for easy viewing of the details of a landscape or portrait from any angle in the room.
- In a dimly lit hallway, a glossy print looks deep and dramatic because it holds the ink on the surface.
- In a bright gallery, Dmax (maximum black density) of the glossy light decreases, which steps down the visibility of details of the image.
- For wall art, you can use “luster” or “satin” finishes (both different types of gloss).
Matte vs Glossy Photos for Photo Albums
Photo books are designed to be flipped and rotated, so the oils from your hands can cause the pages to deteriorate. If you’re considering the advantages of glossy vs. matte photo paper for album layout, consider the “stability” of the surface.
Since two glossy pages are usually stuck together, the emulsion can tear when the book is opened. Here, matte finishes are the winner.
The micro-texture of matte papers prevents the “raw” look that can ruin a candid moment. However, you can hold the matte photo book up to your face, without having to move the album back and forth to escape the glare of the lamp.
Matte vs Glossy Photos for Framing
Now you need to think about the gap, or lack thereof, between the print and the glass. When a glossy image is attached directly to acrylic or glass, it introduces “Newton’s rings” (a kind of oily-looking interference caused by the contact of two smooth surfaces).
For long-term preservation, it is important to determine the finish of matte vs glossy for framing.
The uneven surface of a matte print allows enough space for microscopic layers to form within the frame.
You don’t insist on a glossy finish for a frame, because you will need then a “matte board” (cardboard border) to keep a small gap between the image and the glazing. Otherwise, the chemical emulsion of a glossy image will melt into the glass due to temperature changes.
In this respect, matte prints are much more durable, non-reflective, and traditional.
Matte vs Glossy Photos for Scrapbooking
The elements of the photos here are cut, glued, and the acidic or decorative ones that surround the photos. The choice of glossy versus matte photos for scrapbooking often depends on the pens and glues you are using.
- Glossy photos are quite difficult to write on; this is usually done with special permanent markers. In contrast, matte photos have a “tooth” that accepts ink easily, allowing for journaling directly on the photo.
- Matte paper is easy to trim. On the other hand, high-gloss finishes are brittle and can sometimes crack at the edges if you don’t have sharp tools.
- Scrapbooks are often made by layering them together. The flat, non-reflective nature of matte paper allows the focus to be on the overall composition of the page.
Matte vs Glossy Photos for Portraits
The choice between glossy vs matte photo papers for portraits often depends on whether the goal is commercial pop or fine art heritage. Many photographers gravitate toward matte finishes because they hide minor skin imperfections and create a great sense of depth.
With matte prints, the viewer’s eye is not distracted by the reflection of scattered light on the surface of the paper. Instead, it is drawn to the subject’s expression and composition. Such as in black-and-white headshots.
Pros tend to gravitate toward glossy print quality when the portrait is a lively family outing in a scenic park or a fashion editorial.
The smooth chemical coating on glossy finishes acts as a magnifying glass for the colors. So skin tones are brighter, sharper, more “raw”, and more vibrant.
Matte vs Glossy Photos for Product Photography
A high-gloss or metallic finish is often used for fashion and lifestyle photography. These finishes can give an almost 3D clarity to the complex textures of fabrics and the vibrancy of makeup.
In contrast, a “rag” or deep matte paper often works great for landscape photography and travel images. These materials allow viewers to get lost in the desert sands or the shadows of the forest without distracting glare.
A semi-gloss or “silk” finish is often used when it comes to marketing materials such as brochures and flyers. The goal is to be able to be carried by hundreds of people and capture the attention of the intended audience.
However, posters are often printed on matte paper so that they can be read clearly under the harsh, overhead fluorescent lights of subway stations.
Matte vs Glossy Photos for Wedding Photography
The technical debate over the final presentation of albums and parent books often centers on glossy versus matte lamination. Lamination protects the images from moisture and UV fading.
For “party” shots or vibrant floral details, you might opt for glossy lamination, as it intensifies the wedding colors.
However, opt for matte lamination for main event photos and intimate portraits. This prevents the pages of an expensive heirloom album from sticking together during long-term storage.
Frequently Asked Questions for Choosing Glossy vs Matte Photos
Do matte photos fade faster than glossy ones?
Which one will fade faster totally depends on the conditions you are using it in. Matte prints are generally resistant to normal damage, but can fade in direct sunlight. Glossy prints have a protective coated surface, so sunlight is not a problem.
Are matte or glossy photos better for scrapbooking?
For scrapbooking, you should choose matte. Its small, perforated “teeth” allow you to use regular pens for journaling without even a scratch. The papers can also be trimmed and glued because their fibers are quite flexible.
On the other hand, the brittle coating of glossy finishes can crack at the edges when cut and give off a distracting glare when viewing layered layouts.
What does a matte printed photo look like?
Matte images have muted and soft color tones, while glossy prints have bright color rendition. Matte photos are soft, sophisticated, and popularly known for their flat, velvety, thin, and grippy surface. They retain fine details more than color vibrancy, which glossy photos prioritizes on.
Why do I need a matte board for framed photos even after giving them a glossy finish?
Because the matte board or cardboard border leaves a small gap between the photo and the glazing. Without this gap, the chemical emulsion of a glossy photo will melt into the glass due to subsequent temperature changes.
How does paper finish affect “Dmax” and perceived image depth?
When the ink is on the surface, it creates deeper blacks that allow for finer contrast. This is how glossy photo paper achieves a higher Dmax (maximum black density).
Matte print quality absorbs more ink into the fibers, creating softer black tones but still providing a glare-free image and allowing for greater detail.
Matte vs Glossy Photos: Final Verdict
Deciding if you want glossy or matte photos comes down to thinking about where it will be kept and what kind of feelings you want it to give. When your picture will be touched many times or in too much lighted area, the matte’s tough build and less shiny face make it a good pick.
On opposite hand, those who would like big colors and sharper details for pictures that are not handled, glossy is still the best. For most experts, the “Lustre” type is seen as a balance since it has near gloss colors and less fingerprints than matte gives.
