Paper Matters: A User's Perspective on Epson's Value Glossy and Photo Paper Glossy
When it comes to printing, the paper you choose can make a real difference. I recently found myself in a bit of a pickle trying to figure out the variances between two Epson papers – Value Glossy and Photo Paper Glossy. The internet didn't make it any easier, bombarding me with info that felt more like a sales pitch than useful details.
In this quick read, I'm sharing my down-to-earth journey of figuring out what sets these papers apart. No fancy jargon, just real talk. So, if you've been scratching your head over which Epson paper to pick, join me as we cut through the confusion surrounding Value Glossy and Photo Paper Glossy.
 |
 |
|---|---|
| Value Glossy Photo Paper | Photo Paper Glossy |
Prices
- Value Glossy — 8.5 euros for 100 sheets (0.085 per sheet)
- Photo Paper Glossy — 12.3 euros for 100 sheets (0.123 per sheet)
Although Photo Paper Glossy is 50% more expensive than Value Glossy, it's worth considering that Epson offers the former in a packaging of 500 sheets, providing a more favorable per-sheet price. Additionally, taking advantage of discounts (the last one in Europe was 33% off on all papers), you could potentially get a price of 0.075 euros per sheet.
Physical Differences
In terms of feel, Photo Paper Glossy is lighter and thinner (or it just more flexible) than Value Glossy, despite the manufacturer's specifications suggesting the opposite. The more expensive paper is supposed to be 200 g/m2 compared to 183 g/m2 for the cheaper option.
On the reverse side, Photo Paper Glossy features an Epson pattern, while Value Glossy has a simple white matte coating.
Testing
For an objective comparison, I've printed classic test image from Bill Atkinson (found here) on my Epson L8180 printer. Both papers utilized the same "Photo Paper Glossy" profile in the Epson drivers, with printing quality set to High Quality.
Results
To be honest, I was surprised. I didn't expect the cheaper paper to be so inferior.
In comparison, Photo Paper Glossy impresses with more vibrant dark color shades compared to Value Glossy. It also has much less grain in the shadows.
Just check how the Rose background looks on both papers.
No less important, the classic pizza-wheel marks on the glossy surface are almost imperceptible, making it more appealing for use.
Here is a shot of both prints side by side (left one is Value Glossy):
For your convenience, you can compare scanned prints of both papers using the widget below. Note that no processing has been applied, except for resizing and compression.
Conclusions
Both papers bear a quality label of 3 stars on their packaging, and it seems like Epson's marketers might be playing a bit clever here.
In my opinion, from Epson's perspective, it would be more honest to assign 2 or even 1 star to Value Glossy.