It is not just about the printer

 

MY ROAD TO PERMAJET

 "this is not advertising" 

As important as choosing the correct printer for your needs is to choose the correct paper for each photograph you are about to print. I have never thought it is important to choose the paper as having been printing at home for about 14 years i have always used the cheapest photo-papers available . And i mean it. You know when you walk into the shop where everything is £1 and you get yourself 25 sheets of Glossy photo paper just because it is only £1. Could not be more happier. It all seem so good to me just because i did not know no better. Of course you could have your photos printed on Fine Art media but when i was printing at home why would i took and pay to have them printed somewhere else. 

One day i was in search for some 120mm rolls of film  for my Mamiya camera and i walked into our local Camera Store. To be specific it was Harrison Cameras in Sheffield.

I walked past the shelf with some photo papers never paying attention. did my round in the shop looked at everything i wanted and got some Rolls of ILFORD film for my camera. Walking out i have Stop next to the shelf with all the papers for some unknown reason and picked up a sample book of Photo Papers and start looking at the sample photos. Unknown brand to me as i have never heard of PermaJet before. My eyes could not believe that this was something i could be possibly doing at home.

MY FIRST EVER MATT PAPER

So browsing this Sample book my eyes have stop on the page with Black and white photo printed on Beautifully smooth paper. it was the FB MATT 285 and i had to have a box of it to try it at home. Went on internet and checked the maximum Weight of the paper my printer can accept and confident this will be ok i have took a box and headed to the till. Do not forget to know your printer as not always you can use any paper and any weight and thickness.

Approaching the till for the second time i have popped the question in front of the lady serving that day. "so how much for the box of this paper please"

And She Slapped me with the  answer !!!  Lets put it this way i did not had a clue that just a bit of paper could possibly cost the amount of money she have just told me. I mean do not get scared it has only seem expensive to me because i do not think i have ever paid more than £5 for box of photo paper.

Well shaken by the reality of the price for quality paper and also the vision what could i print with it i have gone ahead with the purchase and took home my very first box of my very first truly matt and smooth paper.

THAT PAPER CHANGED MY LIFE

It has not took me 20 minutes and i was at home in front of my computer feeding my printer with a single sheet of my new photo paper. Going through my photographs i have found the one i wanted to test as a first print set the printer and hit print . . .

I could not believe what i have seen when the paper started to come out from my printer. I WAS SOLD at that very moment. The very first sheet of my new MATT paper has changed the way i was looking at home printing. Permajet paper i have never even heard of made me actually feel the paper. The smooth finish had me literally touching and feeling the paper and for me this was the revolution in home printing.

I NEEDED MORE

After printing few more Photos on my new MATT paper i started to understand that it is not just about the printer. Doing little bit of reading and researching i have started my paper obsession. and started ordering different papers. The best thing about PermaJet is that they do Test boxes of paper for you to try so you can see you prints on different types of papers. 

JUST TRY IT

Never thought that a simple peace of paper would completely change my view on home printing but  it did. Do not forget there is there is more to printing then fitting paper and hitting the print button. To get the best out of your printer  there is so much more you should do from getting your monitor calibrated or creating or using the correct ICC profiles for types of media you are printing on. If you want to know more about printing do visit the PermaJet Blog for tips and hints. This Company is here to help you unleash the best out of your printer and they will certainly provide you with some great papers to print at home no matter the size you need. 

Hope you enjoyed another short read on my photography and printing adventures and hope to write some more soon.