Matt Paper Printer Paper Review

Verdict

In some cases we found considerable variation between how the paper performed with the printers we used. Many people may not realise just how much paper compatability can vary and how they may be able to greatly improve the standard of prints they can produce by simply switching papers.

For an example, we'll compare two similar papers. The Lyson Matt 170gsm (Around 18p a sheet) and the Jessops Matt 170gsm (Around 14p a sheet). For these examples the prints were made on the Canon S900.

Firstly, the line definition (click here to open image in new window). It is clear to see that the Lyson is superior to the Jessops paper in this respect, with much higher definition visible. The water tests also yielded great variation (click here to open image in new window). The Jessops paper has not only smudged at the edges but there is a very visible amount of the ink removed from the butterfly. The Lyson paper on the other hand is unmarked. Lastly lets look at the colour chart (click here to open image in new window). While there is minimal difference in colours there is a noticeable difference in paper texture and ink droplet visibility, with the Lyson producing a superior print.

By calculating the totals of the scores we produced on the previous page and performing more calculations we were able to rank each paper for each printer. The results follow below and you can click the links below to jump to a particular set of results. Please note also, that where two papers had the same total (E.g. 8.5) we re-examined both to check which was superior.

• Best papers for Canon S900/S9000
• Best papers for Epson 830
• Best papers for Epson 2100
• Best papers for HP 5550
• Best papers for HP 7550

Top 5 Canon S900 Matt Papers (Best first)

• Canon Matt MP-101 170gsm (Rating 9/10, Price 30p a sheet)
• Lyson Matt 170gsm (Rating 9/10, Price 18p a sheet)
• Permajet MattPlus 245gsm (Rating 9/10, Price 32p a sheet)
• MX2 Matt 220gsm (Rating 8.5/10, Price 9p a sheet)
• Kentmere K.Projet Matt 160gsm (Rating 8/10, Price 30p a sheet)

Top 5 Epson 830 Matt Papers (Best first)

• Canon Matt MP-101 170gsm (Rating 8.5/10, Price 30p a sheet)
• Lyson Matt 170gsm (Rating 9/10, Price 18p a sheet)
• Kentmere K.Projet Matt 160gsm (Rating 8.5/10, Price 30p a sheet)
• Permajet MattPlus 245gsm (Rating 8/10, Price 32p a sheet)
• MX2 Matt 220gsm (Rating 8/10, Price 9p a sheet)

Top 5 Epson 2100 Matt Papers (Best first)

• Lyson Matt 170gsm (Rating 9/10, Price 18p a sheet)
• MX2 Matt 220gsm (Rating 8.5/10, Price 9p a sheet)
• Kentmere K.Projet Matt 160gsm (Rating 8.5/10, Price 30p a sheet)
• Canon Matt MP-101 170gsm (Rating 8/10, Price 30p a sheet)
• ICI Matt 230gsm (Rating 7.5/10, Price 38p a sheet)

Top 5 HP 5550 Matt Papers (Best first)

• Canon Matt MP-101 170gsm (Rating 8/10, Price 30p a sheet)
• Lyson Matt 170gsm (Rating 7.5/10, Price 18p a sheet)
• Kentmere K.Projet Matt 160gsm (Rating 7/10, Price 30p a sheet)
• MX2 Matt 220gsm (Rating 7/10, Price 9p a sheet)
• HP Premium Matt 240gsm (Rating 7/10, Price 59p a sheet)

Top 5 HP 7550 Matt Papers (Best first)

• Lyson Matt 170gsm (Rating 8.5/10, Price 18p a sheet)
• Canon Matt MP-101 170gsm (Rating 8/10, Price 30p a sheet)
• Kentmere K.Projet Matt 160gsm (Rating 7.5/10, Price 30p a sheet)
• MX2 Matt 220gsm (Rating 7.5/10, Price 9p a sheet)
• Permajet MattPlus 245gsm (Rating 7/10, Price 32p a sheet)

Top 3 cheapest papers

• MX2 Matt 220gsm (9p a sheet)
• Jessops Matt 170gsm (14p a sheet)
• Lyson Matt 170gsm (18p a sheet)

Lyson Matt 170gsm - Not only does this paper offer some of the best compatability and print quality of all the papers we tested, it is also competitively priced. It is available in a good variety of sizes and also in roll form.

Canon Matt MP-101 170gsm - Unlike some other manufacturers papers, this Canon paper worked well on competing printers. It is also competitively priced and offers good print quality and compatablity.	Kentmere K.Projet Matt 160gsm - One of the lighter papers in this test the Kentmere performed well on all the printers and is available in both sheet and roll form.