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Glossy paper can enhance image colour and sharpness
GLOSSY PAGES
Dear HIW, How is glossy paper made for photos and some book pages? Henry Irvine
The process involves applying a surface coating to standard paper, made from wood pulp that’s been cleaned and pressed into sheets. Paper is made shinier by going through a process called calendering. This involves running the paper through heated rollers under pressure. This reduces roughness and gives the paper a shine. Following this, a coating is added. This is generally made from polymers or resins such as polyethylene or polyvinyl alcohol, but some have clay-based materials mixed in too. The coating fills any pores in the paper before it’s placed in the rollers again for shine. Photographic paper uses carefully chosen chemicals to protect the image and light exposure as well as increasing the overall glossiness.