Today I want to talk about the best paper for printing art prints and greeting cards at home.
I recently got a printer to print my fine art prints and cards, and I have been so happy with the results.
It does take some trial and error to get the perfect print, and I found out quickly that it also includes choosing the right paper.
In this post, I’ll go over what I feel is the best paper for prints, cards, etc. This paper is great for watercolor art prints, digital art prints, and more! I’ll also share the difference a great paper makes in a shocking image lol.
It took a lot of time for me to figure this out, and I’m glad to share my experiences with others to help them save time and money.
Related:
Best Paper For Printing Art Prints (& cards!)
Choosing the right paper for printing your work can make or break your prints.
I found this out when I tried some cheaper paper and my prints came out muddy and dull. In that moment I felt defeated because I had no idea how I would be able to figure this out.
After searching Google for hours, I found Red River Paper and searched for reviews. I then ordered a paper sample pack from them and did the exact same print on their paper. My image came out PERFECTLY and looked exactly like it did on my computer. That’s when I knew how much quality fine art paper for printing meant.
Just look at the difference below! Cheaper paper on the left, Red River Paper on the right. The EXACT same print and printing settings. The only difference is the paper.
Check out all my recommendations here!
What Paper I Use
I use two different kinds of paper for my art prints and greeting cards. For art prints, I use Aurora Art White (either 250 or 350 both are great) and for greeting cards, I use the 60lb Polar Matte Cards. Both are from Red River Paper.
Art Print Paper- Aurora Art White
Greeting Card Paper- 60lb Polar Matte Cards
As mentioned above, I did order a sample pack from them to test what papers I liked for my work. They have many other options including some textured rag paper options and glossy ones.
These are my favorites and what works for my work, but they have so many options. I recommend browsing around their site to see what stands out to you.
The Printer I Use
I’m really enjoying this printer for printing my art prints and greeting cards in my home studio. The print quality is better than the prints I was outsourcing at a professional print company. I wish I had gotten this printer sooner!
The Tech Stuff
I print from Photoshop, and I use specific color profiles that I downloaded from Red River Paper for my print settings. They have an extensive resource library and you can even choose what printer you have and get tutorials specifically for that paper.
This post isn’t an exact walkthrough of how I print my work, but I learned so much from their resources that I was clueless about before.
So if you are looking for the best paper options for prints for your Etsy or small business shop, definitely check out Red River Paper.
I also want to shout out their customer service because they were so helpful when I emailed them when I was confused about something on my printer. They also have so many tutorials on their website.
If you want to check out what they offer, click here for their website.
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