Glossy vs Hahnemuhle vs Acrylic: Choosing the Right Fine Art Print

Choosing a photograph is the fun part. Then comes the question that stops most people: which finish should I choose? Here is a plain-English guide to the three options offered on every Etem Visuals print, so you can choose with confidence.

Made to order by WhiteWall in Germany

Every print is produced individually by WhiteWall, a German lab voted "Best Photo Lab" at the TIPA World Awards nine times and certified as a Hahnemuhle Certified Studio Platinum partner. Nothing is mass-produced: your photograph is made the day you order it, finished by hand, and packed to arrive flawlessly. The result is the same quality galleries and professional photographers rely on.

Glossy Photo Paper (Fuji Crystal DP II)

A true photographic print on Fujicolour's leading gallery paper, exposed with laser light and developed the traditional photochemical way. It gives the punchiest colour and the crispest detail of the three, which makes it ideal for vivid scenes like sunsets and tulip fields. The colours stay true for up to 75 years. Choose glossy for maximum impact at the most accessible price.

Hahnemuhle William Turner (Fine Art Paper)

A museum-grade, 100% cotton art paper with a soft, deep-matte watercolour texture and the look and feel of handmade artist paper. It has no glare at all, so it reads beautifully in any light, and renders soft tones and shadow detail with a refined, collectible quality. Because of how it is cut, it always carries a small white border. Choose Hahnemuhle for a timeless, gallery feel, especially for calmer, atmospheric images.

Acrylic Glass

The premium choice. Your photograph is face-mounted under glossy acrylic on a solid aluminium backing and sealed by hand, giving extraordinary depth, gloss and colour, almost as if the image is lit from within. It arrives ready to hang with no separate frame required, and is guaranteed for 75 years of colour brilliance. Choose acrylic for a contemporary, high-end centrepiece where colour is the star.

Quick recommendation

For colourful cityscapes and tulip fields, glossy paper or acrylic glass both shine. For calmer, more artful images, Hahnemuhle is hard to beat. And if you want one print to be the centrepiece of a room, acrylic glass delivers the most dramatic result.

Have a favourite image in mind? Every photograph in the Golden Hour, Blue Hour and Tulips collections is available in all three finishes and four sizes, with free shipping on orders over €150.