Best Inkjet Paper for Magazine Printing and Mock-Ups
Make magazine
mock-ups and comp layouts on your inkjet printer. These papers are
the right weight and thickness for a typical magazine project.
The Premium Matte papers are smooth and have no reflection. The lighter version is a bit thicker and heavier than high quality copy paper. Opacity of lighter weight papers is not high, so layouts with heavy ink coverage may have a bit of show-through.
I've been a photographer for almost 50 years now, if you count my earliest efforts (which I do!). I have a degree in Photography and have worked in many different areas, including Aerial Photography, Portrait Photography, Advertising, and more. Rarely do I ever come across a product worthy enough to get me to jump up on a table and shout to the masses, but I honestly believe Red River papers deserve such effort.
I've been printing cards for several years now, and have always wanted, but have never found, "Glossy outside, Matte Inside" paper. I'd about given up...and then I discovered Red River.
Their papers are wonderful quality; their service has been impeccable to date. I've tried the Polar Pearl Metallic paper and the Pecos River Gloss cards, and found both to be exquisite.
Enough babbling though, I have shots to take!
It doesn't matter how much time you spend getting the perfect shot if you have to print it on crappy paper...I suggest you try this paper. I think you'll find it worthy.
Papers with the Archival designtation can take many forms. They can be glossy, matte, canvas, or an artistic product. These papers are acid free, lignin free and can be made of virgin tree fiber (alpha cellulose) or 25-100% cotton rag. They are likely to have optical or fluorescent brightening agents (OBAs) - chemicals that make the paper appear brighter white. Presence of OBAs does not indicate your image will fade faster. It does predict a slow change in the white point of your paper, especially if it is displayed without UV filter glass or acrylic.
Archival Grade Summary
Numerous papers - made from tree or cotton content
Acid and lignin free base stock
Inkjet coating layer acid free
Can have OBAs in the base or the coating
Museum Grade Paper
Papers with the museum designation make curators happy. They are made from 100% cotton rag content and have no optical brightener content. (OBA) The base stock is acid and lignin free. The coating is acid free. This type of offers the most archival option in terms of media stability over time.
Museum Grade Summary
100% cotton rag content
Acid and lignin free base stock
Inkjet coating layer acid free
No OBA content
Photographic Grade Paper
Photo Grade products are designed to look and feel like modern photo lab paper. Most photo grade media are resin coated, which means they have a paper core covered by a thin layer of polyethelene (plastic) . Plastic gives the paper its photo feel, stability (flatness), water resistance, handling resistance, and excellent feed consistency.
Prints on photo grade media are stable over long periods. With pigment inks in a protected environment, you can see up to 80 years on-display life. All RC papers are Photo Grade for two reasons. Plastic content is not technically archival by museum standards. Also, the inkjet coating of all RC papers is slightly acidic. It facilitates instant drying and does not actually change the stability of your inks over time. Virtually all RC papers have optical brightening agents (OBAs).
