Photo Printing Instructions:
The choice of what paper to use for a print, and what print lab to go through, is a very personal one. I’ll include an explanation of some primary paper choices, as well as the paper that I would choose for this photo.
Glossy: This paper type is what most people think of when they think of photo paper. It has the quality of being vibrant, high contrast, and smooth, but also highly reflective. Glossy paper is best chosen for locations that don’t receive excessive light, as the light will reflect off of the photo and make it hard to see and enjoy.
Matte: Matte paper is best described as the opposite of glossy paper. It is generally thick, long lasting, and non-reflective. It is also low contrast in most cases, and has a tendency to remove some saturation and sharpness, leading to muted blacks and softened colors.
Luster: This choice of paper is somewhere in between matte and glossy. It is still thick and long lasting, but it also retains some light sensitivity, lots of contrast, and lots of sharpness. It is the choice I would most often recommend for photos as it fits in most spaces and retains the natural qualities of most photos.
Metallic: Metallic paper is a sibling to glossy paper with the addition of a metallic sheen or coat. This coat causes the photo to become increasingly contrasty, with a near 3D or HDR look. I do not ever use this paper type as I don’t believe it typically suits my photos, but you sure can!
My Recommendation: For this photo, I believe luster paper is the best choice. The paper’s qualities will retain the details in the mountain, but leave the low contrast foreground and background in a soft, vibrant state.