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Pros & Cons of Glossy & Matte Finish

Glossy

Pros:

  • Photos will have a shiny finish, as far as brochures they will have a semi gloss finish which is not as shiny or low shine.
  • Colors are vibrant.
  • Images are crisp and sharp (assuming the original photo was in focus).
  • Glossy finish does not produce a textured look when scanned and converted to digital.

Cons:

  • Photos are highly susceptible to fingerprints and smudges.
  • To remove fingerprints and smudges, you need to use a photo cloth and/or a liquid solution. Rubbing a photo, no matter how soft the cloth is, can produce scratches.
  • Glossy photos produce a glare, making them difficult to see from certain angles.

Matte

Pros:

  • Fingerprints and smudges are not as visible.
  • Since most professional prints are printed on matte-finish paper, photos printed on matte paper can have a more professional look. This is especially true with black and white photographs.
  • Glare is significantly reduced with matte-finish prints.

Cons:

  • The texture of matte finish can make a photo look grainy.
  • Colors are usually less vibrant on a matte finish.
  • The texture of a matte-finish print may produce a pattern or visible texture when the photo is scanned or converted to digital.