Jump to content Canada-English
HP.com Canada home Products and Services Support and Drivers Solutions How to Buy
» Contact HP
HP.com Canada home
Everyday Printing   >  Ink, toner & paper essentials

Picture this

Paper basics
» 

Home & Home Office

»

Everyday Printing

» Printer buying guide
» Printing tips & how-tos
» Ink, toner & paper
»

Digital Photography

»

Everyday Computing

»

Digital Entertainment

»

Activity Centre

Browse & Buy

»

Shop Hpshopping.ca

»

Rebate Center

Product Support

»

Support & troubleshooting

»

Software & Drivers

»

Warranties & services

»

Register your product

Content starts here
collage of photos
Vivera Inks resist fading

Quality-engineered HP photo papers take the grain and dullness out of printed images to give you stunning prints. Paper's been around for 2,000 years, but not like this! When it comes to printing pictures, we sandwich six microscopic layers onto paper, thus creating a super-paper that controls the way ink is blended and absorbed, ultimately enhancing your photos. And like HP inks, HP photo paper is engineered to discourage printer jams, so you’ll have more time to be creative.

Picture paper

Picture paper


You'll see the difference in photo quality when you use a coated paper like HP Everyday, Premium, and Premium Plus photo papers.


  • Traditional paper is just wood pulp. Ink soaks in, swelling paper fibers, and pictures look grainy.
  • Coated photo papers like HP's have multiple performance layers to control how the ink enters the paper and displays the color portion of the ink.
  • Not all coated papers work the same way. HP designs its papers and inks to work together, giving you the best in color vibrancy and grain-free images.


Next generation paper

Next-generation paper

Pull out the microscope, and let's take a closer look at the various layers in HP's papers.


  • One of the top layers is a polymer that keeps dyes—the colored part of the ink—close to the surface for an optimized color display.
  • HP scientists finely tune cartridge and paper timing in printers so that colors can mix in the microsecond before being absorbed. This is how the HP eight-ink system can produce up to 72.9 million color combinations.
  • The top layer actually allows the liquid part of the ink to pass through to the next layer, capturing and protecting the dye in a microscopic "archive" bubble that virtually eliminates color fading.


In love with layers

In love with layers
But wait! There are even more layers in HP photo papers. Each of them has unique functions and can be tweaked to meet the demands of your home or business.

  • A resin coating on both the front and back of the paper create a moisture barrier that prevents warping. This resin coating also gives the front a glossy or matte coat, depending on the type of paper.
  • Ever print more than one photo at a time? When they stack up in the tray, inked images won't smear or rub off thanks to a special anti-stick coating on the back. Just another common-sense feature HP scientists thought up.
  • Last but not least, there's still paper in our photo paper—it provides the pure whiteness of the paper, which improves color contrast. It also strengthens the photo paper to prevent tears and creases.



Printable version
Privacy statement Using this site means you accept its terms Feedback to [placeholder site name]
© 2009 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.