There are many types of paper used to make photobooks. There is the classic paper, gloss coated paper, and matte photographic paper, among others. If you want the best photo book, one of the things you will have to decide is the paper of the photobook.
Each type of paper has its own advantages and disadvantages as far as printing photographs on them is concerned. Therefore, it is crucial for you to choose the type of paper that suits your purposes.
It can be difficult to choose the right paper for a photobook given the myriad of options. The following is how to choose the right paper:
Who Is the Target Audience?
The people for whom you are creating the photobook will influence the type of paper you use. Generally speaking, you will need firmer and glossier paper if you plan on selling the photobook.
Commercial photobooks will undergo a greater amount of damage than those you send to your friends or family. They will have to be stronger and withstand abuse better than the other photobooks.
The Pictures to Be Printed
The pictures you plan on printing in the photobook will have a strong impact on the type of paper you choose. Certain pictures simply appear better on certain types of paper than others.
For example, if you are planning on printing wildlife or nature photographs, gloss coated paper is ideal; matte photographic paper is better for facial portraits.
Certain types of paper produce certain photographic attributes, such as sharpness and color better than others. Others are better when placed in an album, whereas others have a combination of features such as luster photographic paper.
Book Binding
Every book has to be bound, but binding is especially important when making a photobook. The type of images will usually determine how the book is bound, but the type of paper will also affect the binding.
Softer, more malleable paper is best when you want to bind a book in a certain layout. Vice versa is also true.
Binding style is often a matter of personal preference, so it is quite difficult for people to choose. However, the easier it is to bind a type of paper, the better it is for your use.
The Layout
The layout of a photobook refers to the way in which the pictures are displayed. You can have a double page layout for each photo or a multiple photo layout for each page.
If you want a lay flat book with photos across the page, pick paper that is suitable for that. However, if there are multiple photos on each page, and the book does not need to lay flat, a different type of paper is necessary.
Cost
Some types of paper are more expensive than others. The more impressive a paper’s ability, the more expensive it is likely to be.
Therefore, when choosing paper, always check how much it costs. The difference per page may seem miniscule but when you compile it into several books, the difference in price can be quite significant.
