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As you print your digital photos you have a choice of a matte or glossy finish. Glossy photo prints are named so due to their shiny finish while matte prints are more subtle and neutral. But how do you know which option is right for both you and the image you want to print? Basically the choice is up to you. There are advantages and disadvantages to bothlet’s take a look.

What chemicals are used when the digital photos are printed will determine what the resulting finish will look like. Again the difference is easy to tell. Glossy prints reflect light well, are shiny and are very animated in their color. Matte finish however does not reflect much light and colors tend to be more muted than lively.

Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons that come with both glossy and matte digital photo finishes.

Glossy photo prints: Glossy photo prints are shiny and are more tempting to the eye. They look fancy and present a high quality feeling to the photo. Glossy photo prints have vibrant colors. Colors also look rich and deep on glossy photo prints. A disadvantage to glossy is that the ’shiny’ finish can make viewing the photo in intense light difficult due to the light reflecting from the photo print blinding the viewer. Glossy paper is also more apt to draw dust and fingerprints making the photo dirty over time. Black and white photos do not work as well with a glossy finish as those with a matte finish.

Matte finish: Matte photo prints do not reflect light resulting in them being easier to view in almost any light condition. Matte photo prints are also less likely to attract dust and fingerprints and are less likely to get soiled over time. Black and white matte photo prints look better than black and white glossy photo prints. On the downside matte photo prints do not have the fancy high quality look that glossy photo prints have. Colors in matte photo prints are less effervescent and less rich than on glossy photo prints.

So how should you decide on the matte or glossy finish? The choice is up to you and what you are going to do with your prints. The basic rule of thumb is glossy for color prints and matte for black and white. If a lot of people will be handling your prints when viewing, opt for the matte finish to preserve the cleanliness of your prints unless you are willing to spend some of your time cleaning glossy ones. Another thing to consider is where your photo will be. If you are going to enlarge an image to hang on your wall for example, choose a matte finish as the glossy might reflect too much light and create a glare.

You hold the right of personal preference to the finish on your prints. Experience is the best teacher. Experiment with both finishes if you have not tried to before. Print a few photos in both matte and glossy in both color and black and white. See which ones are most appealing to you and use your experience and opinion to help you make your choices in the future.