MyCustomPrints Paper Samples

Paper Application, Color & Ink Guide
consumer papers ... heavy matte - semi gloss - high gloss - watercolor - canvas
commercial papers & services ... matte-poly - fabric - translucent film - hanging banners
information ... color matching - ink types - UV exposure - print lifetime - outdoor - acid content
Papers for Most Consumer Uses:

heavy matte - This is our standard paper, presentation quality. It is very heavy, coated, and has a rich look, with the most vibrant colors. Use for most applications. Especially for art work. It easily gives the impression of art paper. Non-glare. Should be mounted or framed for protection. If you are mounting under glass, you don't need any more expensive paper than this. (pictured on bottom at right, included in $6/sq.ft. base printing cost)
semi gloss - Use this for photographs in which a semi-gloss appearance is desired, or for posters where glare might be a problem. Has great body and can be displayed without mounting under glass. (pictured on top at right - 50 cents per sq.ft. extra)

high gloss - Use this to achieve a slick, commercial look. Convey's modern design. Use for indoor exhibits, eye-catching posters, etc. Not recommended for in-home display, as it can have a glare problem with windows.($1.00 per sq.ft. extra)

textured watercolor paper - Use this to convey the feel of fine art. (base price $9.00 per sq.ft., up to 36" wide only)

canvas - Use this for the ultimate feel of fine art. (base price $13.00 per sq.ft., add a clear spackled coating for $3/sq.ft. extra that protects and looks more like paint)

Color Matching: When printing natural objects or people, you will probably be pleased with the color results. But if you edit your image to included artificially bright or "saturated" colors like those shown in the color wheel at left below, they will print in more natural tones with slight differences depending on paper type. Some graphics software such as Adobe Photoshop has the ability to limit working colors or preview what your image will look like printed.

Ink: We use dye based ink. It produces the most photo-realistic images. However, it should only be used in indoor applications where direct sunlight will not strike the image. Brief late afternoon or early morning light is not a problem as it is filtered by the angle through the atmosphere, but midday sun exposure with a high UV content is not recommended.
Ink, paper & image life - In normal indoor use, prints with dye ink on matte should last 10-20 years, and on gloss or photo-satin they should last longer. We no longer print for outdoor use with pigmented ink. Humidity and high temperature will reduce the paper life. Mount under glass for longest life.
Acid Content: Our paper is not acid free. From time to time we evaluate acid free papers and will list them when available.
Additional Papers & Ink for Commercial Uses:

Matte-Poly - This is our standard media for trade show displays, indoor banners, most commercial uses. It is more durable than consumer papers and can be grommeted at the corners and along the top. Grommets add $3 ea. Base price is $7.50 per sq.ft.

Fabric - This media is thin and flexible. It literally is fabric, and the edges can unravel, so if not mounted hemming is recommended. It can be grommeted, and will last outdoors for 1 to 2 months if there is no heavy wind. Fabric is sufficiently transparent to use in a backlight display. The image at right is illuminated only by light from a window behind the material. The image below shows what we mean by unraveling. And the image diagonally below shows fabric illuminated from in front by a photographic flash. Fabric is NOT washable and should be stored rolled because it will retain a fold if creased, and because of its flexibility it creases easily. Base price is $9 per sq.ft., up to 36" wide only

Translucent Film - This is for lightbox displays, like you see at airports, etc. Base price is $10.00 per sq.ft.

Special services for hanging banners:
Hemming - Fabric should be hemmed to avoid unraveling if not mounted in a fixed frame. Stitched hem is $1.50/ft.
Grommets or Pole Pockets for Hanging - These can be used with either fabric or matte-poly, and can be installed for $3.00 each. Typically you would install one at each corner, or you can install them in top corners only. For larger banners, hemming with grommets every 2 to 3 feet is recommended. For fabric banners, a 1" diameter pole pocket at top of banner for hanging from a pole is $6 per foot. Note: order form only handles standard option for 4 corner grommets. For other options, use notes field, and we will adjust order price and confirm with you.

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A service of and Allgraphics - Copyright 2004

heavy matte - This is our standard paper, presentation quality. It is very heavy, coated, and has a rich look, with the most vibrant colors. Use for most applications. Especially for art work. It easily gives the impression of art paper. Non-glare. Should be mounted or framed for protection. If you are mounting under glass, you don't need any more expensive paper than this. (pictured on bottom at right, included in $6/sq.ft. base printing cost) semi gloss - Use this for photographs in which a semi-gloss appearance is desired, or for posters where glare might be a problem. Has great body and can be displayed without mounting under glass. (pictured on top at right - 50 cents per sq.ft. extra)
high gloss - Use this to achieve a slick, commercial look. Convey's modern design. Use for indoor exhibits, eye-catching posters, etc. Not recommended for in-home display, as it can have a glare problem with windows.($1.00 per sq.ft. extra)
textured watercolor paper - Use this to convey the feel of fine art. (base price $9.00 per sq.ft., up to 36" wide only)
canvas - Use this for the ultimate feel of fine art. (base price $13.00 per sq.ft., add a clear spackled coating for $3/sq.ft. extra that protects and looks more like paint)

Matte-Poly - This is our standard media for trade show displays, indoor banners, most commercial uses. It is more durable than consumer papers and can be grommeted at the corners and along the top. Grommets add $3 ea. *Base price is $7.50 per sq.ft.*
Fabric - This media is thin and flexible. It literally is fabric, and the edges can unravel, so if not mounted hemming is recommended. It can be grommeted, and will last outdoors for 1 to 2 months if there is no heavy wind. Fabric is sufficiently transparent to use in a backlight display. The image at right is illuminated only by light from a window behind the material. The image below shows what we mean by unraveling. And the image diagonally below shows fabric illuminated from in front by a photographic flash. Fabric is NOT washable and should be stored rolled because it will retain a fold if creased, and because of its flexibility it creases easily. *Base price is $9 per sq.ft., up to 36" wide only*
Translucent Film - This is for lightbox displays, like you see at airports, etc. *Base price is $10.00 per sq.ft.*