Why Glossy Photos Look Better

Contribution link: www.nickcarver...
Contributions of 5 bucks or more using the link above get access to a bonus 25-minute video tutorial all about soft proofing with ICC profiles for print.
Also, I got some online courses on film photography stuff like light metering and large format:
Online Courses: www.nickcarver...
Photography On Location: Extended Play: www.nickcarver...
REFERENCES:
www.askamathem...
“Color and Light in Nature” by David K Lynch & William Livingston (pg. 100 in 2nd edition reprint)
AFFILIATE LINKS (these links support this channel):
Canon Pro-1100 Printer: bhpho.to/4aJpLh3
Canon Premium Matte Paper (8.5x11): bhpho.to/3WNFIx2
Hahnemuhle Matte Baryta Paper (8.5x11): bhpho.to/4gtzoSl
Hahnemuhle Gloss Baryta Paper (8.5x11): bhpho.to/4aKE0SE
Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 GSM (17” roll): bhpho.to/46P2nvs
VIDEO DESCRIPTION
You know that old saying “you can’t have your cake and eat it too”? Well apparently we’ve been saying it wrong. It’s supposed to be “you can’t eat your cake and have it too”, which makes more sense but sounds weird.
However you say it, glossy vs matte photos falls squarely in that whole not being able to eat/have my cake at the same time deal. I love deep, rich shadows in my prints...especially on the dusk stuff. I also hate reflections on my prints…especially on the dusk stuff. That’s because print reflections are even more crippling in photos with a lot of dark tones for the same reason you can see your own reflection easily in a clean black car but not so well in a clean white car. They show up more on the dark prints.
So a hatred for reflections but a love for deep rich shadows. Welp! Turns out those things are mutually exclusive. “But why, Nick?? Why can’t I have both?”
Well, friend, you’ll just have to watch the video to find out won’tcha?
Thanks for watching.
Website: www.nickcarver...
Instagram: / nickcarver
*This video contains no paid endorsements of any kind.

[@CaptainWeetch1]

I've always loved your video shooting and editing style, but it's been next level the last few months

[@ApostolosNikolaidis1]

This content rises average YT quality by much. Really educative, thanks.

[@peteb5461]

Best 5 bucks I’ve spent in a while! Absolutely brilliant tutorial, look forward to more of these on the print process. Thank you :)

[@matthiasvangysel938]

really love your technical video's, they're not too serious but bring a lot of a good info! thank you

[@myownirvana]

Man the hair, the moustache. When I saw the thumbnail I thought this was a video by legendary producer and Garbage drummer Butch Vig. 😂

[@charlieribeiro6343]

Me too. Lol

[@mysustainablefuture000]

PHENOMENAL INFO, and the production to deliver it is impeccable!

[@brendanwaites-cameraphoto4750]

Outstanding explanation Nick. Kudos.

[@JankyJymClimbing]

Proud member of the reflection hating club! I have one glossy print hanging in my house among many matte prints purely because it ended up being free due to a mess up at the lab. I love the image but every time I see its matte brother at a friends house, I want to get it reprinted. You really articulated how I feel about glossy vs matte when it comes to how they look and integrate into a room. I've just always preferred how a matte print blends in while complementing a room whereas a glossy one can feel so loud and in your face.

[@stevenwilson7460]

Nick. Love that cine-matte-ic look!👌👏

[@videoaapje]

Loved the vid. And still adore our print of the liquor store hanging on our wall. ❤❤❤

[@marcusslade9804]

Reflecting on the value of this video, you earned my $5. "Behind the glass without a reflection". Great stuff. Thanks.

[@adrigonz-y1b]

That 6x17 photo is just perfección!

[@stephenmorning]

Thank you for closing the ink door, anxiety was through the roof for a minute there.

[@WACONimages]

I agree to some point. My pro print shop did offer a 'pearl' option. Sort of between Matt & Glossy, with a slight metallic finish. At some point I only offered this photo paper and clients where very pleased with it. Also it stood out between 'regular' glossy print.

[@ChristineWilsonPhotography]

The paper you print on can make such a difference to the end framed product 😊

[@robertm.-mh6no]

Ok! Finalmente qualcuno che parla chiaro sulla differenza tra carta lucida e opaca. E sopratutto spiega il perchè della sua scelta! Grazie mille!!!

[@aramb]

That was an eye-opener. Thank you for the rundown and the physics!

[@alexmosqueira]

Yes! Reflections take you away from the picture!

[@jeffbarbour2194]

Another awesome video. Great subject detail.

[@clivemossmoon3611]

What an amazing orange tree you lucky bastard! 🍊

[@36SOAD817HMC]

awesome video . this guy is cool . im happy to know i am not the only one obsessed/who care about photography and prints and bringing them to life

[@LauraF4848]

Thanks for another physics lesson, Nick!

[@RasTuft]

😆 Thanks Nick, both edumacational AND entertaining. You've done it again my friend 🤓👍

[@itaku]

Always wondered why I preferred glossy desktop monitors ❤

[@nhltz1878]

Your videos are as smooth to watch as the glossiest of all paper. but without the reflections. I hate them too.

[@juanitakelly3082]

Very interesting, Nick!!

[@amarelo77]

I love your work and videos like this make me sooooooo happy. At some point I’d love to pick your brain about a few things, but for now je vou dit BRAVO. 🙌🏼😄

[@seantomlinson3320]

I was not expecting to learn physics here. I like it. Well done Nick.

[@ericerickson6537]

Still like luster for bright colors.

[@wollatonmedia5583]

That man, perfectly placed between the two yellow poles!

[@trabouliste1037]

The first part of your video I was really doubting my choice for matt, because I really like deep blacks on my digital photos displayed on an OLED display… Fortunately you have made my evening in the second part…

[@retirewithjames6745]

Great explanation!

[@UncleDansVintageVinyl]

Man, these photos are superb.

[@mikehessphotography]

Photo Rag/Matte paper looks different under glass, too. I have a lot of prints from a decade ago on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag, framed under acrylic. I find they look great.

[@alandargie9358]

Brilliant video... interesting, fascinating, entertaining and funny!

[@erikalemancreative]

great video! very informative thank you!

[@CharlesOConnor-q9k]

I lately print only B&W in the darkroom typically on semi matt papers. Following your brilliant idea I will from now on include a spray bottle with my prints.

[@DS-ke8pq]

Challenging educational genius - as usual!

[@karrasch-feler]

Brilliant, just brilliant!

[@andrewford80]

Great video mate. I've never liked glossy prints even when making them in the darkroom. I was a big fan of Agfa Semi-Matte which is a bit like the pearl that Ilford offers. They are viewable from all angles and more resistant to reflections than pure glossy. But have the richness of the dark tones that glossy offers. Perhaps it's a compromise but to me, I've always loved the look of semi-matte/pearl papers the best. This still applies with inkjet prints where I prefer the satin paper from ilford. I do agree that in isolation, you may not even notice the difference though.

[@lombardy3274]

This is the dilemma I’m currently going through! Great video.

[@OrelRussia]

I've tried a lot of high grade photo papers. What I've found out is that not all glossy papers are equal. The most part of them really look cheap but some if them look just georgeous! Also, such glossy prints are more suited for smaller sizes. In photo albums they look great!

[@Black_Jesus3005]

Gonna try matte prints this time. Thanks Nick for always entertaining and educational videos. Should add a jump scare warning at 8:24 😂

[@JLSTibu]

Great video as always!

[@TheBigNegative-PhotoChannel]

You're probably the only one who can explain why you get a deeper black in glossy photos with a dog's drool. :D Another good idea is to use a black picture frame that is slightly matte or gray so that the black point doesn't look gray in comparison to the frame.

[@evgeniydeus8137]

I guess sleep can wait for the next 15 minutes)

[@WesleyEast-RRfan]

Good video. Informative indeed and interesting.🔥 shots

[@clarencesmith]

Thanks Nick! Ashamedly, I don’t print much, but I’ve never been a fan of glossy because I also hate reflections.

[@KeshenMac]

i'm just 3:41 in to the video but i just wanna say what an entertaining video so far!

[@ADR365]

I love the look of my prints on Canson Infinity ARCHES 88. I have the canon papers but Arches 88 just looks so much better and pleasing to my eyes. Not a cheap paper but well worth it. 👍🏻

[@bulletsie]

Loved this video! I use a Pro1000 for all my prints Up until recently I hated Gloss photographs and thought they looked cheap! I've reasons for this. Growing up when shooting film and you went to the Chemist to process it for your one hour photos! they would hand you back your photos on small high gloss finished cheap paper. You would print photos at home in the dark room with proper paper and things looked much higher quality. With the digital age, online stores and the likes of Lidl/Aldi or shops would have self print stations everything was cheap gloss, you would get these horrific prints that would reflect light everyplace and fingerprints would show up on them. I associated gloss with Cheap!. When I started to use Inkjet printers the cheapest paper was Gloss. I wanted to print things that did not look cheap so I stayed away from gloss, and picked the semi-gloss, the lustres, pearls and oysters. and the prints looked high quality. My favourite paper was Permajet Titanium Lustre. My attitude towards Glossy prints only recently changed. Permajet brought out a Titanium Gloss at 57 Euros for 25 Sheets of A3 it was pricey. I printed out some photos and did not like them at first.....…..but I started to get used to it, when I compared it to my Titanium Lustre side by aide, I realised how much better the gloss version of the paper looked.....it won me over and I've decided to give Gloss another chance. When I started out with the Pro1000 I bought a bunch of Matt papers to try out and I bought sample packs, I had thought I would get prints that looked like Oil Paintings with names like Heritage …. I printed out some of my portrait and glamour model shots and I was disappointed and thought this looks like I printed on the inside of a box of Cornflakes. It looked like cardboard and lifeless...………….I'm guessing Matt Papers might be suited for Non-People shots.

[@MrLogansimmons]

I remember using Epson Hot Press Bright paper. It seemed to avoid many of the downfalls of matte paper although it uses brightners to do so. Rich blacks and colors that pop.

[@charlesjjones]

Also, Canson for the win!!!

[@davidsuess7623]

I donated for access to the soft ICC profile/proofing video, even though I’ve been making prints for years, but I figure I can always learn something new. And I just wanna hear about soft proofing in that “you tube” boice of yours. 😊

[@gishere3805]

Great videos. Beautiful phototherapy. Have you ever tried Red River papers? I graphic design in the movie industry and love these papers. Believe they are from Texas. Great service and fantastic profiles.

[@Francois_L_7933]

I remember in the early days of inkjet photo printer development, there were a few printers that had a tank of clear gloss to boost the contrast. I guess the ink just seized-up the heads too fast, so they stopped making them very very rapidly. I think I saw one once on the shelves.

[@bryan67thomas]

Great video!

[@segfaultii]

You should go to a big printing house and talk to the print techs about offset printing. You get the best of both worlds.

[@K7.2023]

i print with canon glossy photo paper gp-501 "everyday use" and i am quite happy! 😅

[@sloemo4024]

I saw that video title and was like No way, this is a bait and switch! Question - sometimes I find the glass on a framed photo detracts from that matte experience. Have you ever tried framing a matte pigment print without glass, maybe with a protective spray coat or lacquer coat? I’m experimenting with that now

[@pablomavricich5589]

Yo trabajé 8 años en los 80s en Buenos Aires en un laboratorio color profesional (sólo hacíamos impresiones grandes de fotógrafos profesionales) y JAMÁS un profesional "en serio" nos ha pedido hacer sus fotos en acabado brillante, de hecho sólamente teníamos bobinas de papel para hacer pruebas de 6x9 cm en brillante, todos nos pedían acabado mate (obviamente todo era fotoquímico húmedo en esa época)... Saludos

[@tonygatos1]

Thanks!

[@craynotcreigh]

I retract my instagram comment, faith in Nick restored.

[@yuriythebest]

A bit offtopic, but you know what's rule? Some new paper+printer type where you can have variable glossiness. So in photoshop, you could make a black and while gossiness layer/mask, so for example you could have a photo where just the shiny car or sea or whatever is glossy. The first company to do that will earn the big bucks.

[@lakejindsay]

Nick have you tried Canson Arches 88? It produced deeper blacks than HFA Photo Rag Matt Baryta using both the Epson ABW and the Canon Black and White mode. There's some sorcery going on in this paper. Of course it's short of a glossy paper, but it's noticeably better than any other matte paper I've ever used. And yes, Glossy prints are exactly what they are. Well said.

[@seoulrydr]

tyvm!

[@GregoryDai]

another great video!!!!!!!!

[@bizpixvegas7651]

Excelent video Nick. Big fan of your photography and your channel. Quick question. What do you think of luster paper and how it fits in this comparison? Thanks

[@photobobo]

Glossy paper yields more saturated colors, so I compromise and print on Canon Pro Luster. This eliminates most reflections and give me nicer colors.

[@ClaytonDowling]

Give Red River Ultrapro Satin a try if you like the luster. I switched about a year ago and really like it.

[@chilecayenne]

VERY Interesting video. I seem to recall on an OLDER video, didn't you used to have your printer use glossy/pearl paper, and then you coated it with a more matte type coating? Spray on coating or something? Do you still do that for some prints, or just now only matte paper? Anyway...great to see you again, I learn something new every day!! I picked up a Mamiya C220 and am having a blast with it.... I'll be doing the $5 here soon, wanting to see the "extra" video. CC

[@christopherbuckley94]

Very interesting as always. The rooster reminds me of a much larger one in upstate NY; the Chestertown Chicken! LOL!

[@Murphy252000]

Absolutely love your videos here in Ireland! Just a questions, I take it before a large print you always test print for. Olour correction, light and shadows? Also, do you have a way of setting up your monitor, like one of those wee machines 😂? I have a dell monitor and have just set it to, I think, 5700k and reduced everything down and through trial and error it appears right. However, it's there an easier way, I'm a nurse so this is just a hobby but I just bought a pro 300 after ten years of never printing and now I'm addicted!

[@arcana1973]

The stache makes you sound even more wise. I prefer matte for prints as well. Bring back Behind the glass with a glass!

[@yellowcrescent]

I've been really interested in trying out Fuji Deep Matte Velvet RA4 paper, since it allegedly has a higher D-Max than other Matte papers (eg. ~1.8 vs 1.6 for normal Matte-- but not as good as Glossy which is close to 2.4), and people seem to rave about how good it looks. Although I haven't felt compelled enough to pay $700 for a roll of it yet :( I personally like matte inkjet papers specifically for the softer shadows. I really like using glossy card or Baryta-type papers for some smaller prints though (

[@zachb4047]

Another awesome video, Nick! So if you were to print a book, would you pick glossy because the person holding the book can angle it at any direction?

[@StephenWhitakerImages]

Glad to see a chicken getting the same aesthetic clout as its oft-displayed avian cousin. Truly, chicken is the new parakeet (albeit not the first).

[@chriscard6544]

I love Hanhemülhe paper but for platinium prints

[@HeathHolden]

Matte paper is much nicer for sure. There are some glossy's that hit the spot though, check out the Hahnemuhle Bamboo Gloss Baryta, just enough gloss, just enough texture.

[@ErikBrammer]

Thanks, Nick, for yet another super informative and fun video. If you want a pure matt finish without any reflections whatsoever but still aim for a bit more contrast and deeper shadows in your prints, give Hahnemühle Photo Rag Matt Baryta a try. This one has a smoother surface than Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308 but still dead matt. Photo Rag Matt Baryta, to me, is very similar to Canson Infinity Baryta Photographique II Matt (now that's a name!).

[@tonys3112]

Nick what is your process on pano prints with the pro 1000 printer to avoid head strike?

[@ConradSly]

I wonder what your thoughts on lightbox transparency prints might be and how they can have some amazing depth of values?

[@rossb48]

I just print 4x6 glossy for family snaps to put in albums with my DSLR and hobby pictures are with 4x5 B/W film and I am using Arista 8x10 RC Glossy in the darkroom. I tried Pearl but went back to glossy.

[@thedubc]

I get Lightjet (C-Prints) for almost all of my work, and don't use glass. This needs a matte UV layer for protection, as I don't use glass. I've tried gloss print w/ matte UV, and matte print w/ matte uv. The gloss print still looks like a gloss print, which I don't like. Matte prints all the way! PS: LOVE the Dress behind shattered glass photo btw : )

[@The_Truck_Photo_Agency]

Nick Carver: Doctor of Color Science / Professor of Photo Rag 308 gsm.

[@dadasese69]

Nice! I wonder if you play also any musical instruments?

[@andrewcanton3539]

Hey Nick, I just watched the contributor bonus video and I have a question. Why did you send it to Photoshop to print it? Couldn't you print it straight from Lightroom using the color management tab, and selecting the ICC profile from there? I've always done it that way. I'm hoping that both ways are the same.

[@lombardy3274]

How does glass in front of a matte print affect things? Does it make it richer?

[@MrMartin246]

What about luster/pearl/satin papers, much less reflexions than glossy but richer colours than matte ????? What do you think of those.

[@Ivan-xy3ws]

Love this!

[@MrHerrera805]

cool info dude

[@jan-martinulvag1962]

Compare a red car before and after polishing

[@elhp3818]

Now you have to use museum glass😊

[@yorgohoebeke]

How much does this whole set up cost? printer + paper + ink ? :)

[@andrea7693]

Lovely video Nick, but… matt makes sense only if it’s framed exposes (unprotected) as it is.. if you put it behind a glass it negates all the benefits since now it’s the glass who’s reflective and let you see the print well only from certain angles/lights environments!

[@zoftigbeatnik]

I like glossy for some of my prints,but sometimes go with metallic for some. To me it makes some but not all of my photos pop!

[@emanuelschimpfossl5919]

Hello Nick, what filmholder do you use for scanning on the epson v750? :)

[@orion7741]

you have to change your printer settings for matte paper. it really is that simple. it even says so in the instruction manual of the printer. lol.

[@tomwestbrook]

I've found the opposite. I want to like glossy better just from past darkroom history with Kodak Polymax paper. But with a recent photo of Canyonlands, the matte print had much better colors and detail. It's not very contrasty (cloudy day). I suspect it's that I'm just using manufacturer ICC profiles. I am thinking about getting profiling equipment to do it myself. Or maybe there's a service? Anyway, I'm still undecided about the matte vs glossy debate.

[@Dannnniel]

good video

[@charlesjjones]

A bees jimmy of saturation, the bell-end of said bees jimmy of stronger blacks and a hint of an USM… voila! Your matte print will sing

[@stevemuzak8526]

We stare at OLED screens all the time. That's why matte less contrasty photos looks weird for most people.