Print Lab Partners

Choosing a Print: Paper, Finish and Size Explained

Before ordering a print of a cinema still or an event photograph, it helps to know how a few basic choices change the final result. Print labs everywhere work with similar materials, so understanding the options lets you describe exactly what you want and avoid surprises when the print arrives.

Paper and finish

• Gloss gives deep blacks and strong colour, which suits bright film stills and festival scenes. It shows fingerprints and reflects light, so it is better behind glass or in an album.
• Lustre or semi-matte is a popular middle ground. It keeps good colour depth while reducing glare, which makes it practical for framed prints in well-lit rooms.
• Matte and fine-art papers have a softer, textured look that flatters black-and-white portraits and archival-style images. Colours appear slightly gentler.

Getting the size right

A print can only be as sharp as the file behind it. As a general guide, labs aim for around 300 pixels per inch for prints viewed up close, though larger prints hung on a wall can look fine at lower resolutions because they are seen from further away. Also check the aspect ratio: many camera images are 3:2, while common frame sizes such as 8x10 inches are closer to 4:5, so some cropping may be needed. Ask to see a crop preview if faces or titles sit near the edges.

Colour and climate

Screens are usually brighter than paper, so a print may look darker than the image on your phone. Requesting a small test print before a large order is a sensible habit. In Chennai's humid climate, store prints flat, away from direct sunlight and damp walls, and consider acid-free sleeves or frames with a backing board to protect them over time.

If you are deciding which images to print, browsing the albums or the cinema stills is a good starting point, and you can use the contact page to ask questions about a specific photograph.