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Inkjet Paper and Print Management Tips

Learn how to manage and store inkjet paper and prints

Here are some tips for managing and storing inkjet paper and prints to help you use this medium most efficiently and help prevent waste.

  • Store your paper sheets in a temperate, dry environment, flat, not upright to prevent warping and curling.
  • Download the ICC profiles from the paper manufacturer to produce the most reliable color.
  • If your printer requires you to use different black ink for matte vs. glossy or satin paper, swap cartridges if necessary.
  • If you are using matte or fine art papers with pigment-based inks, sandwich an interleaving tissue between the prints for storage. Black and darker pigment inks can sometimes rub off and scuff easily on matte and cotton papers.
  • Whenever possible, gang prints destined for the same type of paper to save time and reduce scrap size.
  • Use smaller sheets cut from larger rolls when there is excess. Your large-format printer can handle a multitude of sizes, so save your scraps if they are of reasonable size.
  • Mat your archival prints with archival, 100% cotton, acid-free mat board to prevent yellowing and deterioration over time.
  • Store prints in plastic bags or sleeves made from biaxially oriented polypropylene. Avoid using any materials that contain polyethylene or plasticizers that can yellow your paper.
Stephen Romaniello

Stephen Romaniello

Stephen Romaniello is an artist and educator teaching digital art at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, for over 20 years. He is a certified instructor in Adobe Photoshop and the author of several books on the creative use of digital graphics software. Steve is the founder of GlobalEye systems, a company that offers training and consulting in digital graphics software and creative imaging.

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