Matt or silk photo paper
Pick silk for photographs and strong colour. Pick matt for bright rooms, posters full of text and anything people will read at an angle.
Silk for depth, matt for calm.
Silk sits between matt and gloss. It has a low sheen, more like a satin, which lifts colours and gives darker, richer shadows than matt. Matt has no real shine at all, so you see the image from almost any position, but its blacks look a touch softer. Our photo silk and photo matt pages cover each one in more depth.
Where is it going?
| Location | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery with controlled spotlights | Silk | Sheen is manageable, and darks carry more weight |
| Bright office with big windows | Matt | Stays readable when daylight falls across it |
| Long corridor with ceiling lights | Matt | Avoids bright streaks at a shallow angle |
| Behind glass in a frame | Either | The glass gives its own reflections, so judge the image |
| Exhibition panel with text and images | Matt | Text is the priority, and it reads from anywhere |
| Portrait or landscape photograph | Silk | Skin tones and skies have more life |
Try the tilt test
Hold any glossy magazine and any uncoated book under the light where your print will hang. Tilt each one slowly. The magazine flashes white at certain angles, and the book does not. Silk behaves somewhere between those two. If your viewers will be stuck at an angle where a flash is likely, matt saves you the trouble.
Handling
Dark, flat colour on matt paper can scuff and pick up shiny marks if it is rubbed, especially large areas of black. Silk tends to shrug off fingerprints well and is a practical choice for prints that get moved. If either will be touched regularly, add a protective finish or mount it.
The price is not a factor
These two finishes cost exactly the same at every size. The only real price decision is weight: 135gsm for shorter display, 190gsm for a firmer sheet that feels more substantial. Our page on 135gsm or 190gsm photo paper can help with that one.
| Weight | A2 | A1 | A0 | 30in x 20in | 40in x 30in | 60in x 40in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 135gsm | £11 | £20 | £30 | £18 | £26 | £45 |
| 190gsm | £17 | £30 | £40 | £24 | £38 | £60 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
Four traps with paper finishes
- Choosing matt to hide a poor image. It softens glare, not lack of detail.
- Choosing from a screen. A monitor cannot show you sheen, so ask to see the paper.
- Mixing finishes in one display. Side by side, matt and silk look like a mistake.
- Forgetting the finish on top. A gloss or matt seal or laminate replaces the look of the paper underneath, so decide the final surface first.
Paper finishes under real light.
Your questions.
Is silk the same as satin or lustre?
They are close relatives. Different makers use different names for a finish between matt and gloss, so it is always worth asking to see the actual paper.
Which is better for black and white photographs?
Many photographers prefer silk for deeper blacks. Others like the quiet look of matt, particularly for softer images. A small test print will settle it.
Can I get a sample?
Ask us. Seeing both papers in the light of the room they are going in is the best way to choose.