I use the navigator 120gsm paper but set the print setting to matte photo and you get the brighter colours without buying the more expensive paper. I also use an Epson deco tank printer
Yeah I tried that it is not the same . The matte paper gives much sharper image and the colours are way better as the ink does not absorb into the paper the same. There is a huge difference you would need to try it to see but trust me it’s not the same as just selecting a different setting x
I discovered Hammermill Premium Color Copy. It is a printer paper but heavier weight than regular copy paper. It is extremely smooth on both sides and the copies are bright and outstanding. I set my Epson ET 2850 at “plain paper”. It’s 32lb/120 gsm - 100 brightness - 8 1/2 x11 - 500 sheets. It’s $17.48 dollars on Amazon. Worth every penny. It’s double sided with no show thru.
Yeah I am still experimenting with it.. worked fab on the Alice but on my new collection it made the colours too dark.. So I will always say what I use when I share my collections.. some will look great on photo paper some may look better on the normal papaer x
Wow rhe difference is amazing! What a great find! Thank you to Lexie for doing the research and finding it! Thank you so much for sharing, take care and have a wonderful weekend x
OMGoodness…what a difference 😮. Yes I use the navigator paper….well you live and learn. I know I sometimes go over tags, butterflies etc with Matt medium & that definitely brightens the image. Thank you for this information ❤xx
HUGE difference. I was noticing that my prints often didn't look as vibrant and colorful as the TH-cam videos shown by the sellers, and I thought I was using great paper (HP bright white laser). But then I bought an Epson Matte Presentation box, and I hope to never run out. Instead of dull sorta red Christmas prints, they're now cherry red and RICH. I mistakenly had a piece of my HP paper mixed with my presentation paper the other day when printing some Halloween papers, and it printed out a dull brown grunge, and the Epson paper printed a beautiful purple print. I use a simple HP inkjet printer most of the time. I'm eternally grateful to the person on my FB group that praised the Epson matte presentation paper. SO good.
I’ve been doing the same here in Australia trying all sorts of different types we have and so far I’ve found very similar to what you’re showing and at budget prices. Two places I’ve found here is Hp from Officeworks in different gsm’s and Inkstation for matte photo paper that I did buy in bulk to get bang for my buck this is an online store both of these types print awesome on my Epson eco tank printer to which use bug..er all ink. So for any of my fellow Australian’s who are wanting to know this check them out I will add I did buy smaller packs to start with as I’m on a budget to see how it prints through my printer. Also another tip is only feed one paper through at a time if your printer won’t grab the mat photo paper I have to do this with actual glossy paper to print my photos, I use Agfa gloss paper from Officeworks hope this helps
Hello, fellow Aussie here. Is the Inkstation paper this one - Epson S041569 Genuine Double Sided Matte Paper 178gsm A4 - 50 sheets? I've been using HP Colorchoice 160gsm when I want something a bit heavier and really like it. I also use an Epson eco tank printer. Have you tried the Burrow's Premium Digital Paper from Officeworks.....I use the 120gsm for pages. It prints nicely and is economical. I haven't tried the 120gsm Colorchoice but might give that a go next time I need to buy.....the two are similarly priced. Thanks for sharing this info. It can be very frustrating trying to get products in Aus at times!
@@lyna5515 sorry for the delay in replying. The Matte photo paper from ink station is 180gsm TECOR it does say for inkjet printers but it works in the eco only gripe is it has curled up on edges which I’ve had to straighten it was on sale. Yes burrows is good too
With printing paper/card you really do get what you pay for. I've been digital crafting for over 10 years, mainly greeting cards and mini albums, I have learned an awful lot about what prints well and why. I can tell you, maybe surprisingly, that the proper photo paper actually uses LESS ink than copy/presentation paper. This is because the fibres in photo paper are cut shorter than cheaper papers and then rolled in a different way and smoothed. This means that the paper fibres soak up less ink and the ink that is applied on the paper actually sits on the surface, rather than soaks in - giving a more vibrant/richer look. The muddier look on prints is because the paper is soaking up a lot of ink into the paper fibres. Hope that helps your question about ink usage? xx
Yeah I did know that duller colour were due to saturation and my common sense told me what you said. I do have to watch what I say in here ha ha if I give out wrong info I can get slaughtered so if I am not sure I air in the side of caution. But yes that is really helpful thank you x
Great informative video Amanda 🥰 Fantastic difference. I always thought it was my ink 😅❤️ thanks for sharing your creativity Hugs xx Have a wonderful weekend
When you download them take note of where you save them.. then just open the file right click the page you want and print option will come up. There will be a video on TH-cam showing how I have shared how before on here and in my Facebook group x
Hi Amanda, I ordered the paper from Amazon yesterday, it arrived today. I work solely from my phone so can't change the type of Paper I use but tried it anyway. Omg, what a difference in image quality, and as it's double sided I'll add some coffee stain print to the other side. The difference in colour and detail of the image is amazing. Thank you for letting us know about your find. I'll only use the Koala paper when needed as it is a bit pricey but well worth it xx
When you mentioned Navagator, I automatically checked Amazon & was disappointed that you had to buy huge amounts. Then I kept watching and, surprise!, I use Koala!!!!!!!! I love it & feel it is worth the cost & it is one of the cheaper ones I found. I am cheap. I buy both the 32lb & the 48lb. When I don't need the real nice crisp colors I just use a very good extra white cardstock bought at WalMart or Hammermill.
Yes, I’ve been using the Koala paper for a while now and I’m really pleased with it. It doesn’t leave any room for mistakes though. I feel so guilty if I waste any. I’ve got an eco tank printer too x
Yeah I felt a bit wary like because it is more expensive. Silly really isn't it some folks spend money on shoes and handbags and we are being careful with a bit of paper x x
I changed over to presentation paper from regular copy paper and I love it. Some people have printers that make great images but my Epson Eco tank does not. I miss my HP printer. I have not tried photo paper. I will have to check it out.
Have you changed your setting to "presentation paper"? When I use presentation paper (Epson brand) I get excellent, vibrant prints, especially if I check "Best" instead of normal. Just be sure to change it back to the default when using regular cardstock or paper because the presentation paper setting adds too much ink & makes it look muddy because it is absorbed. This is on an Epson Eco Tank. Give it a try. You might be surprised.
@@dixieblasberg7405 my printer automatically reverts back to the normal settings. When I use presentation paper I have to select it each time I print. I love using the presentation paper. But when I print just with regular cardstock or copy paper, even when I select best, it's just not crisp color. I was disappointed when I got the printer because I noticed immediately that it didn't print as well as my HP printer. We switched over to eco because of how much ink I was using. I'm happy as long as I use presentation paper.
I just ordered some! I’ve tried a few papers and am pretty happy with the one I use currently, but this could be a game changer for certain colors and designs. I’ve heard other makers use Koala too. Thanx for the visual review!
Hi Amanda, I've used Koala for a while and won't use anything else. I tried to find something a little cheaper, I live in Australia and postage is a nightmare at times lol, but I found that the cheaper ones mess up your printers feed. It seems to coat the rollers and they just won't grab the paper after a while. I cleaned them numerous times, but nothing helped.. After having my printer fixed, I tried Koala, (with bated breath), and was so happy that all works well, i can load 10 sheets at a time instead of trying to feed one manually :) I haven't found that it uses more ink and i print on standard instead of high, there's no difference in the print quality.. PS I use a Cannon TS9665 Hope this helps anyone thinking of changing papers.. Cheers :)
Thank you Amanda x I love the more vibrant colours on the matte photo paper, but I also feel that the printing on the Navigator paper looks great as it seems more vintage looking when using certain collections such as the Alice collections. I hope it makes sense? X
I've used Koala matte photo paper for as long as I can remember and it never lets me down. I've also noticed that it uses less ink as the ink cannot soak into the paper like it does on inferior brands. I usually buy the A3 size and cut it all in half to get 200 A4 pages and it saves £5 just by cutting it myself! I also use the Navigator to tea dye as the paper is very smooth. Thank you for sharing your findings!
thank you Amanda for sharing, I sometimes use Carnation Pro Print as it gives amazing reults like the Koala you are talking about here, but its single sided and much more expensive, I will buy some of the Koala next month( bought too much this month 🙂) Thanks again
I use Navigator paper too, have done for ages. I wonder though about the photo paper. Is it more vibrant because it has a coating on it, whereas, the normal paper doesn't? Also, how does the photo paper fold? I think the photo paper would be good for a cover, I don't think I would use it for everything like the tags and ephemera. Thanks for this info Amanda, it's always good to learn something new 😊
I'm not sure on the technicalities of the surface of the paper it likely has something that enables the ink to sit on the surface rather than being absorbed into the fibres of the paper, thus giving a more vibrant print and also much much sharper images. That is what my common sense says. As I chose a lighter weight at 140gsm or 30lb it folds no different than any other paper.. thicker would be different I would guess x
@@Scrimpingmommy Thank you Amanda, I have to agree the difference is quite remarkable. Good to know about the folding too, as some crack. Thanks again 😊
Thank you for this info! Just doing similar comparisons here in Australia. I’ve been using 170gsm digi paper, which has been faded! I am now going to try Kodak presentation paper & hopefully that doesn’t use as much ink as my 170gsm photo paper does!
I was t sure as I’m new to using it myself but many many have said photo paper actually uses less or certainly no extra ink as it sits on the surface rather than being absorbed so shouldn’t use our ink faster x
Just got Kodak Presentation paper here in Aus. 100 sheet A4 Pkt of 130gsm. Print was better than my Canon photo paper @ AU$11.95 (about £6.20). May need to get a supply of that one!😊
I didn't mean to hijack your comments, but I know many are going to thank you for this video. I would have never known if I hadn't been shown by someone.
I use the Koala photo paper alongside the Navigator Papers. The vibrancy of the photo paper is huge compared to the Navigator, I also don’t think it uses more ink as it’s the coating on the photo paper that holds the ink differently. The main images I use the photo paper for is portraits.
Yeah I wasn't sure if it would use more ink or not. Not a worry to me but some might not have ink friendly printers so it is good to know it doesn't use more thank you x
It isn’t the same still as normal paper absorbs more ink into the fibres where as photo paper it sits in the surface not just better colour but far clearer images honest it really is different xx
I use the navigator 120gsm paper but set the print setting to matte photo and you get the brighter colours without buying the more expensive paper. I also use an Epson deco tank printer
Yeah I tried that it is not the same . The matte paper gives much sharper image and the colours are way better as the ink does not absorb into the paper the same. There is a huge difference you would need to try it to see but trust me it’s not the same as just selecting a different setting x
I discovered Hammermill Premium Color Copy. It is a printer paper but heavier weight than regular copy paper. It is extremely smooth on both sides and the copies are bright and outstanding. I set my Epson ET 2850 at “plain paper”. It’s 32lb/120 gsm - 100 brightness - 8 1/2 x11 - 500 sheets. It’s $17.48 dollars on Amazon. Worth every penny. It’s double sided with no show thru.
Thank you for taking time to leave this info for folks x
WOW!! That's a huge difference.
It really is x
Wow the difference is amazing!
Yeah I am still experimenting with it.. worked fab on the Alice but on my new collection it made the colours too dark.. So I will always say what I use when I share my collections.. some will look great on photo paper some may look better on the normal papaer x
Wow Amanda the difference is massive isn’t it. So much more vibrant, who knew! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us once again xxx
Yeah you have to try it as sometimes it can make the colours a tad too dark on some designs.. it is still trial an error for me at the moment x
Wow!! It's a shocking difference! Thanks for the information!❤❤
You are so welcome Sherry thanks for watching x
Thank you Amanda for this information it will be so useful.🥰😊
Glad it was helpful x
Wow thank you so much for showing. The difference is really big. Your Digital is also really beautiful. ❤
Yes big difference. Thanks so much for watching x
Wow rhe difference is amazing! What a great find! Thank you to Lexie for doing the research and finding it! Thank you so much for sharing, take care and have a wonderful weekend x
Thanks Ann and thank you for watching x
Thanks so much for this info Amanda. I shall certainly try it for occasionall pages as you suggest. Xx👍
Thanks for watching x
OMGoodness…what a difference 😮. Yes I use the navigator paper….well you live and learn. I know I sometimes go over tags, butterflies etc with Matt medium & that definitely brightens the image. Thank you for this information ❤xx
You are so welcome Michelle thanks for watching x
Thanks hun, just ordered this paper. 💐💕
Hope you like it x
HUGE difference. I was noticing that my prints often didn't look as vibrant and colorful as the TH-cam videos shown by the sellers, and I thought I was using great paper (HP bright white laser). But then I bought an Epson Matte Presentation box, and I hope to never run out. Instead of dull sorta red Christmas prints, they're now cherry red and RICH. I mistakenly had a piece of my HP paper mixed with my presentation paper the other day when printing some Halloween papers, and it printed out a dull brown grunge, and the Epson paper printed a beautiful purple print. I use a simple HP inkjet printer most of the time. I'm eternally grateful to the person on my FB group that praised the Epson matte presentation paper. SO good.
Yeah it does make a difference x
Fabulous work by the lovely Lexi, say a big thank, and of course to you also for bringing this to our notice xx
I was so busy designing I didn’t really think deep about the paper .. who knew x
Omg that is so different!.I always use navigatior paper. May now use photo paper for tags ect and my other for pages. Thank you
Glad it was helpful x
@@Scrimpingmommy already order it 😊x
I’ve been doing the same here in Australia trying all sorts of different types we have and so far I’ve found very similar to what you’re showing and at budget prices. Two places I’ve found here is Hp from Officeworks in different gsm’s and Inkstation for matte photo paper that I did buy in bulk to get bang for my buck this is an online store both of these types print awesome on my Epson eco tank printer to which use bug..er all ink. So for any of my fellow Australian’s who are wanting to know this check them out I will add I did buy smaller packs to start with as I’m on a budget to see how it prints through my printer. Also another tip is only feed one paper through at a time if your printer won’t grab the mat photo paper I have to do this with actual glossy paper to print my photos, I use Agfa gloss paper from Officeworks hope this helps
Brilliant info for the Australian viewers thank you Tonia x
Hello, fellow Aussie here. Is the Inkstation paper this one - Epson S041569 Genuine Double Sided Matte Paper 178gsm A4 - 50 sheets? I've been using HP Colorchoice 160gsm when I want something a bit heavier and really like it. I also use an Epson eco tank printer. Have you tried the Burrow's Premium Digital Paper from Officeworks.....I use the 120gsm for pages. It prints nicely and is economical. I haven't tried the 120gsm Colorchoice but might give that a go next time I need to buy.....the two are similarly priced. Thanks for sharing this info. It can be very frustrating trying to get products in Aus at times!
@@lyna5515 sorry for the delay in replying. The Matte photo paper from ink station is 180gsm TECOR it does say for inkjet printers but it works in the eco only gripe is it has curled up on edges which I’ve had to straighten it was on sale. Yes burrows is good too
With printing paper/card you really do get what you pay for. I've been digital crafting for over 10 years, mainly greeting cards and mini albums, I have learned an awful lot about what prints well and why. I can tell you, maybe surprisingly, that the proper photo paper actually uses LESS ink than copy/presentation paper. This is because the fibres in photo paper are cut shorter than cheaper papers and then rolled in a different way and smoothed. This means that the paper fibres soak up less ink and the ink that is applied on the paper actually sits on the surface, rather than soaks in - giving a more vibrant/richer look. The muddier look on prints is because the paper is soaking up a lot of ink into the paper fibres. Hope that helps your question about ink usage? xx
Yeah I did know that duller colour were due to saturation and my common sense told me what you said. I do have to watch what I say in here ha ha if I give out wrong info I can get slaughtered so if I am not sure I air in the side of caution. But yes that is really helpful thank you x
@@Scrimpingmommy omg yes, you have to be so careful with anything thats said on YT!
Wow what a difference! Thank you for sharing!
Big difference x
Wow!!! That's amazing!! Thanks for the tip!!!
Looks amazing doesn’t it !! Xx
Great informative video Amanda 🥰 Fantastic difference. I always thought it was my ink 😅❤️ thanks for sharing your creativity Hugs xx Have a wonderful weekend
@@JoanOrloffDK not your ink lovely some papers absorb it more that’s all xx
@@Scrimpingmommy Yes, I know that now, thanks to you 😊 xx
Fab information Amanda, thank you. Now I just need to learn how to print downloads 😩xx
When you download them take note of where you save them.. then just open the file right click the page you want and print option will come up. There will be a video on TH-cam showing how I have shared how before on here and in my Facebook group x
Hi Amanda, I ordered the paper from Amazon yesterday, it arrived today. I work solely from my phone so can't change the type of Paper I use but tried it anyway. Omg, what a difference in image quality, and as it's double sided I'll add some coffee stain print to the other side. The difference in colour and detail of the image is amazing. Thank you for letting us know about your find. I'll only use the Koala paper when needed as it is a bit pricey but well worth it xx
I know isn’t it awesome x
Good tip, thank you.👍
You are welcome thanks for watching x
Just wow!!! That is amazing!!!
Big difference isnt there !! Xx
When you mentioned Navagator, I automatically checked Amazon & was disappointed that you had to buy huge amounts. Then I kept watching and, surprise!, I use Koala!!!!!!!! I love it & feel it is worth the cost & it is one of the cheaper ones I found. I am cheap. I buy both the 32lb & the 48lb. When I don't need the real nice crisp colors I just use a very good extra white cardstock bought at WalMart or Hammermill.
Yeah I can get Navigator locally for like under six dollars so it is not too bad xx
Yes, I’ve been using the Koala paper for a while now and I’m really pleased with it. It doesn’t leave any room for mistakes though. I feel so guilty if I waste any. I’ve got an eco tank printer too x
Yeah I felt a bit wary like because it is more expensive. Silly really isn't it some folks spend money on shoes and handbags and we are being careful with a bit of paper x x
Yes. I copy my coloring books on the paper I prefer.
Good idea xx
Wow! I didn’t realize the difference in papers.
Nor did I been so focused on designing I didn’t think to try other papers .. well now we know we have options x
It’s the navigator I use too but I can’t believe the difference with the koala paper it’s so much more vibrant thanks for info 😮
Yeah sharper image too I couldn’t believe the difference x
This was a real eye opener.
for me too ha ha ha x
I changed over to presentation paper from regular copy paper and I love it. Some people have printers that make great images but my Epson Eco tank does not. I miss my HP printer. I have not tried photo paper. I will have to check it out.
The photo paper will give sharper images for sure but does make some colours a lot darker so I still need to experiment x
Have you changed your setting to "presentation paper"? When I use presentation paper (Epson brand) I get excellent, vibrant prints, especially if I check "Best" instead of normal. Just be sure to change it back to the default when using regular cardstock or paper because the presentation paper setting adds too much ink & makes it look muddy because it is absorbed. This is on an Epson Eco Tank. Give it a try. You might be surprised.
@@dixieblasberg7405 my printer automatically reverts back to the normal settings. When I use presentation paper I have to select it each time I print. I love using the presentation paper. But when I print just with regular cardstock or copy paper, even when I select best, it's just not crisp color. I was disappointed when I got the printer because I noticed immediately that it didn't print as well as my HP printer. We switched over to eco because of how much ink I was using. I'm happy as long as I use presentation paper.
I just ordered some! I’ve tried a few papers and am pretty happy with the one I use currently, but this could be a game changer for certain colors and designs. I’ve heard other makers use Koala too. Thanx for the visual review!
You are welcome glad it helped x
Hi Amanda, I've used Koala for a while and won't use anything else. I tried to find something a little cheaper, I live in Australia and postage is a nightmare at times lol, but I found that the cheaper ones mess up your printers feed. It seems to coat the rollers and they just won't grab the paper after a while. I cleaned them numerous times, but nothing helped.. After having my printer fixed, I tried Koala, (with bated breath), and was so happy that all works well, i can load 10 sheets at a time instead of trying to feed one manually :) I haven't found that it uses more ink and i print on standard instead of high, there's no difference in the print quality.. PS I use a Cannon TS9665 Hope this helps anyone thinking of changing papers.. Cheers :)
Awesome that really helps thank you x
Thank you Amanda x I love the more vibrant colours on the matte photo paper, but I also feel that the printing on the Navigator paper looks great as it seems more vintage looking when using certain collections such as the Alice collections. I hope it makes sense? X
I totally agree Karen.. my entire style is to look Vintage and faded out so I hear you x
Thank you it really makes a huge difference ❤❤😊
It does for sure x
I've used Koala matte photo paper for as long as I can remember and it never lets me down. I've also noticed that it uses less ink as the ink cannot soak into the paper like it does on inferior brands. I usually buy the A3 size and cut it all in half to get 200 A4 pages and it saves £5 just by cutting it myself! I also use the Navigator to tea dye as the paper is very smooth. Thank you for sharing your findings!
You are welcome thanks for your comment as it will help others xx Amanda
thank you Amanda for sharing, I sometimes use Carnation Pro Print as it gives amazing reults like the Koala you are talking about here, but its single sided and much more expensive, I will buy some of the Koala next month( bought too much this month 🙂) Thanks again
You are so welcome Nicky thanks so much for watching and commenting x
I use Navigator paper too, have done for ages. I wonder though about the photo paper. Is it more vibrant because it has a coating on it, whereas, the normal paper doesn't? Also, how does the photo paper fold? I think the photo paper would be good for a cover, I don't think I would use it for everything like the tags and ephemera. Thanks for this info Amanda, it's always good to learn something new 😊
I'm not sure on the technicalities of the surface of the paper it likely has something that enables the ink to sit on the surface rather than being absorbed into the fibres of the paper, thus giving a more vibrant print and also much much sharper images. That is what my common sense says. As I chose a lighter weight at 140gsm or 30lb it folds no different than any other paper.. thicker would be different I would guess x
@@Scrimpingmommy Thank you Amanda, I have to agree the difference is quite remarkable. Good to know about the folding too, as some crack. Thanks again 😊
Thank you for this info! Just doing similar comparisons here in Australia. I’ve been using 170gsm digi paper, which has been faded! I am now going to try Kodak presentation paper & hopefully that doesn’t use as much ink as my 170gsm photo paper does!
I was t sure as I’m new to using it myself but many many have said photo paper actually uses less or certainly no extra ink as it sits on the surface rather than being absorbed so shouldn’t use our ink faster x
Just got Kodak Presentation paper here in Aus. 100 sheet A4 Pkt of 130gsm. Print was better than my Canon photo paper @ AU$11.95 (about £6.20). May need to get a supply of that one!😊
Thank you!!❤
You're welcome 😊 x
I didn't mean to hijack your comments, but I know many are going to thank you for this video. I would have never known if I hadn't been shown by someone.
Glad it was helpful and you comment where you like lovely x
Great video
Thanks Lisa hope it helped x
I use the Koala photo paper alongside the Navigator Papers. The vibrancy of the photo paper is huge compared to the Navigator, I also don’t think it uses more ink as it’s the coating on the photo paper that holds the ink differently. The main images I use the photo paper for is portraits.
Yeah I wasn't sure if it would use more ink or not. Not a worry to me but some might not have ink friendly printers so it is good to know it doesn't use more thank you x
I print with the matte photo setting on plain paper . this makes even the plain paper print brighter
It isn’t the same still as normal paper absorbs more ink into the fibres where as photo paper it sits in the surface not just better colour but far clearer images honest it really is different xx
@@Scrimpingmommy I agree that it does make a difference. I was just offering another level of printing. Love your videos, keep up the good work
Thank you different views are great as it helps other people so I appreciate your help x
Thanks for sharing this. I am struggling with my new printer. The color just isn't as good as my previous ine that died.
aww that is a shame but the paper you use can make a big difference x
I love that Koala paper
I'm in love with it too. Thanks for watching x
The paper makes all the difference. If it's Matt photo paper, I don't think it has coating, I know silk/pearl etc do.
That’s correct it is Matt xxx