1. Difference between Photographic and Fine Art Inkjet Papers
ILFORD Galerie products such as Smooth Pearl, Glossy, Satin and Metallic papers are commonly called resin-coated (RC), typically bright white, and designed for vibrant everyday printing. They're ideal for weddings, portrait, portfolios and more. Hence the “everyday printing” reference.
It’s an all-round paper range and usually the starting point for people printing for the first time.
Fine Art papers, such as ILFORD Galerie Smooth Cotton Rag, Cotton Artist Textured or Fine Art Textured Silk, are made with cotton, premium cellulose, or a blend of both. They offer archival quality and subtle textures, perfect for exhibitions and limited-edition prints.
2. Optical Brightening Agents (OBAs)
Why we use OBAs to enhance paper whiteness? ILFORD Galerie Smooth Pearl contains OBAs, delivering punchy colour and brilliant highlights.
On the other hand, Smooth Cotton Rag 310gsm is OBA-free, making it suitable for archival, museum-quality prints where longevity matters.
3. Weight vs. Thickness
Weight (gsm) refers to how heavy the paper is per square meter, while thickness relates to how thick the sheet feels.
Weight (gsm) does not mean the paper is thicker which is a common misconception.
ILFORD Galerie Prestige Smooth Pearl and Galerie Cotton Artist Textured are both 310gsm in weight, but the Cotton Artist Textured paper is almost double the thickness.
4. Paper Surfaces
Why do we have so many paper surfaces and finishes? Some examples below -
Glossy 310gsm: High gloss for sharp, vibrant images
Smooth Pearl 310gsm: Satin-like finish with reduced glare
Textured Silk 270gsm: Subtle texture, perfect for fine portraiture
Cotton Artist Textured 310gsm: Heavy texture for painterly art reproductions
Smooth Cotton Rag 310gsm: Pure matt, excellent for soft tonal images
5. Paper Types
Why do we have so many paper types? See some examples below -
RC papers like Smooth Pearl = robust and versatile
Cotton papers like Smooth Cotton Rag = archival-grade, fine art use
Textured papers like Cotton Artist Textured = mimic traditional art media
6. Paper Base – RC, Cotton, Alpha- cellulose, etc. What are these?
The different type of bases in the ILFORD Galerie range are:
100% Cotton Rag (Smooth Cotton Rag) for archival prints
Alpha Cellulose (Studio Matt) for smooth, affordable fine art printing
RC Base (Glossy, Smooth Pearl) for professional-quality photo prints with durability
7. Baryta (Barium Sulphate) and Baryta-like papers
ILFORD baryta papers. Papers that rival traditional darkroom prints with the convenience of modern inkjet. Ideal for monochrome work and classic-style imagery.
8. Printing on different surfaces.
Paper is not just a surface — it’s a creative tool. Textured papers add emotion and depth to landscapes.
Matte cotton papers soften light in portraits.
Pearl, Satin and Glossy papers bring out contrast and intensity in colours
Selecting and printing with the right paper helps express the image in the way you imagined it or even better.
9. Inks in Inkjet Printers and how they interact with inkjet papers.
Recommended inks/printers for best quality and permanence when printing on ILFORD Galerie papers.
Dye-Based Ink versus Pigment-Based Ink
Microporous versus Nanoporous coated papers – how this works with inkjet printing
