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Blog / Style & trends / Glossy vs. Matte Photo Finish: Which Is Best for Your Prints?
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Blog / Style & trends / Glossy vs. Matte Photo Finish: Which Is Best for Your Prints?
When printing images, a key decision is selecting the right finish. The choice between a glossy vs. matte photo finish is more than just a matter of style—it affects how your prints look, feel, and last over time.
Understanding the pros, cons, and ideal uses of glossy and matte photos will help you get the best results, whether you’re making personal keepsakes or need gallery-quality prints.
In this guide, we’ll explain how each finish works, where they shine (or don’t), and which is best suited for your creative or commercial needs.
Glossy photo prints offer bold colors and contrast but are prone to glare and fingerprints.
Matte photo prints provide a soft, glare-free look ideal for framing, galleries, and fine art.
Use matte paper for print-on-demand art, portfolios, and settings with bright light.
Choose glossy prints for photo albums, promotional materials, or vibrant commercial designs.
Printful offers both matte and glossy finishes on high-quality products—perfect for artists, photographers, and ecommerce sellers.
The finish of a photo refers to the surface texture and look of the final print. Both glossy and matte photo finishes offer distinct characteristics that impact the appearance, handling, and ideal use of your prints.
Glossy photo paper features a shiny surface that reflects light and gives images a vibrant, eye-catching appearance. The glossy finish is designed to make photo prints pop with rich, saturated colors and sharp contrast.
The smooth, polished texture of glossy paper adds depth and detail, making your image finish appear more dynamic and refined.
It’s a go-to choice when you want bold visuals—perfect for product images or vivid landscapes. A glossy finish is also a favorite for wedding photos, poster prints, and photo albums.
Compared to a matte finish or matte paper, a glossy finish offers more intensity.
Pros of glossy prints:
Enhances vibrant colors and contrast
Offers a shiny finish with a sleek, professional appearance
Ideal for color-rich photo prints or high contrast images
Great for photo albums, poster prints, and display-ready visuals
Cons of glossy prints:
Reflects light, which can cause glare
Prone to fingerprints and smudges, especially with frequent handling
Less suitable for framing behind glass compared to a matte finish
May not be ideal for art photography, where a matte finish improves perceived quality
Matte photo paper features a non-reflective surface with a subtle texture that diffuses light rather than reflects it.
A matte finish offers a softer, more understated look—ideal for environments with bright lighting where glare could otherwise distract from the image.
Unlike a glossy surface, which amplifies shine and contrast, matte paper delivers a more muted tone. It has a natural appearance that many artists and photographers prefer for its elegant simplicity.
Matte paper is commonly chosen for fine art photography, black-and-white photographs, and gallery displays. Matte photo prints provide a timeless, classic quality that elevates the subject matter without overwhelming it.
While it doesn’t give the same punchy vibrancy as glossy photos, a matte finish brings out fine details in a more organic way.
Pros of matte prints:
Minimizes light reflection, glare, and double reflections
Fingerprint and smudge-proof, making it ideal for frequent handling
Offers a soft, natural appearance well-suited for black-and-white photos
A top choice for gallery settings and professional photo prints
Cons of matte prints:
Colors tend to appear more muted compared to glossy prints
May slightly reduce fine detail and depth in certain images
The textured surface can make high-contrast visuals feel less sharp
Tip: Whether you decide to go with glossy photos or matte photo prints, it’s important to keep an eye on what’s trending. Explore wall art trends in 2025 to see what buyers are loving right now.
Source: Pexels
Whether you want a matte or glossy finish, they serve different visual and functional purposes. Here’s a side-by-side breakdown of the main differences to help you decide.
Feature |
Glossy |
Matte |
Reflectivity (shine) |
High—produces a shiny surface that reflects light or causes glare |
Low—has a non-reflective finish with minimal glare |
Color vibrancy |
Very vibrant—enhances saturation and contrast |
More subdued—colors appear softer and less intense |
Texture |
Smooth and sleek surface |
Slightly textured surface with a more natural feel |
Fingerprint resistance |
Shows fingerprints and smudges easily |
Resists smudging, better for frequent handling |
Suitability for framing |
Less ideal behind glass—may cause glare and reflections |
Better for framing—no glare under glass, ideal for art photography |
When deciding between matte and glossy photos, consider the intended use, the mood you want to create, and the desired visual effect.
A matte photo finish is often favoured for framing and high-end artistic work. However, depending on your personal preference and project, a glossy finish might be a better fit if you're aiming for bold, vivid results.
Pro tip: Whether you opt for a glossy vs. matte finish, learn how to make prints of your art with this in-depth Printful article.
Your choice between a matte vs. glossy photo finish should be guided by how the image will be used. From art prints and framed decor to marketing materials and personal albums, the photo finish influences everything from aesthetic impact to practicality.
Here’s how matte vs. glossy photo finishes perform in different scenarios.
If you sell custom artwork or poster prints online, matte photo finishes are often the better fit.
Their non-reflective, flat surface minimizes glare during product photography for a professional look. That makes it especially POD-friendly—easier to photograph, package, and ship without worrying about glare, smudges, or fingerprints.
Matte works especially well for custom prints, illustrations, or detailed pieces with fine lines and muted tones.
That said, glossy prints may be suitable for designs that rely on vibrant colors, deep contrast, or a shiny surface, such as landscape photography or bold typography.
For personal collections like wedding photos, travel memories, or family events, glossy photo prints are a go-to.
The shiny finish enhances fine details, brings out vibrant colors, and gives images a polished, high-contrast look. Albums benefit from this sleek aesthetic.
And even though glossy paper is more prone to fingerprints and glare, these drawbacks rarely get in the way since albums are typically viewed up close and handled with care.
When framing images behind glass, matte photo paper generally provides a cleaner result.
The matte surface avoids glare, reduces visual distractions, and looks great in both home and gallery settings.
Whether you’re framing black-and-white photos, white images, or art photography, the matte finish looks timeless and subtle, even under harsh lighting.
Photographers and artists showcasing their work in exhibitions typically lean toward a matte or lustre finish, which falls between glossy and matte.
A matte finish looks refined and professional while preserving detail without glare. This is especially important in black-and-white photography or minimalist designs.
Many creatives also choose giclée printing, a high-resolution inkjet method that produces archival-quality prints with deep tones and rich textures. Combined with a matte surface, giclée prints deliver unmatched quality for fine art photography.
For calendars, photo books, business promos, and holiday gifts, glossy photos are popular due to their vibrant, attention-grabbing appearance.
The glossy coating makes colors pop and gives a festive feel to visual content. If you want your designs to shine—literally—glossy photography paper is an excellent choice.
Still, matte prints can feel more upscale and subdued, making them a better pick for minimalist aesthetics or buyers who value understated elegance.
Ultimately, choosing the right photo finish—matte or glossy—depends on your artistic intent, usage, and setting.
Pro tip: Learn how to digitize artwork with Printful’s expert guide.
Whether you’re an artist, photographer, or ecommerce seller designing posters, canvas prints, or high-end gallery art, do it all easily with Printful.
Print your work on high-quality products using both matte and glossy photo finishes. We’ll give you all the tools to produce stunning, professional-quality results without handling inventory.
Head to our catalog and see a range of print-ready wall art, from glossy photo prints that make vibrant images pop to matte paper for a soft, refined look.
Upload your files to our Design Maker, customize, then order your print or list it online to sell.
Ready to share your work with the world? Start creating with Printful and turn your best shots into products customers will love.
Choosing between glossy vs. matte photo paper comes down to your image, your audience, and the intended use.
Glossy prints are best when you want rich, bold colors and a polished look—great for photo books, gifts, or commercial visuals. Matte photo prints provide a more natural, glare-free finish, ideal for framing, portfolios, and art photography.
By comparing features like texture, reflectivity, and smudge resistance, you can find the best fit for your specific needs.
Want to try both? Print your images easily with Printful—start for free and skip the hassle of production and inventory.
It depends on your use case. Glossy prints bring vibrant colors and sharp details, making them ideal for photo albums or keepsakes. Matte prints reduce glare, making them better suited for art photography, black-and-white images, and photos you plan to frame.
Both have their strengths. Glossy prints enhance colors and details, making them great for photo books and commercial use. Matte prints are better for displays, framing, or any setting with bright lights, as they minimize glare and resist fingerprints and smudges.
If you need a professional, glare-free presentation, go with a matte finish. If you're after vivid colors and a sleek, polished feel, a glossy finish is the better choice.
Many professional photographers prefer matte photo finishes for gallery displays and portfolios, especially for black-and-white photography or fine art prints. However, glossy photography paper is still used for projects where maximum color and contrast are needed.
By Katrina Resne 13 min read
By Karlina Rozkalne 21 min read
By Cloe Ann Montoya 18 min read
By Una Berzina-Pudule 12 min read
By Gabriela Martinez 20 min read
By Karlina Rozkalne 9 min read
By Printful Team on Jul 3, 2025
Printful Team
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Printful is an on-demand printing and fulfillment service that helps businesses create and ship custom products.
Printful is an on-demand printing and fulfillment service that helps businesses create and ship custom products.
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8 min read Jul 3, 2025
By Katrina Resne 13 min read
By Karlina Rozkalne 21 min read
By Cloe Ann Montoya 18 min read
By Una Berzina-Pudule 12 min read
By Gabriela Martinez 20 min read
By Karlina Rozkalne 9 min read
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