Achieve professional-quality prints with our satin and luster photo papers, designed to bring out vibrant colors and sharp details on virtually any inkjet printer. These papers provide the perfect balance between the high sheen of glossy paper and the subtle look of matte papers, offering versatility for a wide range of photographic and artistic prints.
Luster and satin papers are trusted for their ability to bring out the best in your prints. They deliver exceptional image quality, offer protection against wear, and provide a viewing experience that is both professional and practical. It's no wonder these are the top-selling photo papers at Red River Paper.
If you print, you have to have UltraPro Satin in your paper inventory. It produces professional quality results and works with virtually any image. The UltraPro Satin looks and feels just like photo lab satin - a lightly textured surface that breaks up reflections and minimizes fingerprints.
UltraPro Luster produces professional quality results and works with virtually any type of photographic subject. Because it is heavier and thicker than a typical photo lab paper, your prints will feel more substantial and will resist handling wear.
Arctic Polar Luster is, by far, the finest luster photo paper on the market today. It has a rich, lustrous bright white tone, extra weight, extra thickness, and a splendid "E-surface" photo texture will set your prints apart from the rest.
Polar Luster Metallic gives you the unique metallic look with a classic luster surface. (Combine our Arctic Polar Luster with Polar Gloss Metallic 255)
Warmer Tone Satin Paper
The warmer tone cousin of Arctic Polar Satin, Palo Duro is a wonderful choice for landscapes, portraits, and more.
PRODUCT NAME CHANGE - This paper was formerly UltraPro Satin Duo. Make UltraPro SemiGloss Duo 255 your go-to photo paper for books, portfolios, and high-end presentations. This paper is double-sided - You can print the professional photo quality on both sides.
Arctic Polar papers are the highest performance photo inkjet papers you can buy. 50lb. Arctic Polar Luster is a medium weight double-sided luster for photo books, portfolios, and binding projects.
Here's a snapshot comparison of our satin finish luster.
Each of our satin and luster papers offers a unique e-surface texture, varying in depth and feel. To help you better understand these differences, the images below showcase each paper's texture, converted to black and white to enhance the surface detail. The more pronounced the texture, the more noticeable it will be when viewed up close. However, at longer distances, the texture becomes nearly invisible.
In general, deeper textures help reduce reflection and glare, while papers with shallower textures, like Arctic Polar Satin, still offer a smoother surface compared to glossy papers but with significantly less glare and more contrast than matte finishes.
Paper Name | UltraPro Satin® | UltraPro Luster® | Palo Duro Satin® | Arctic Polar Luster® |
---|---|---|---|---|
Quality | Compare to retail brands | Compare to retail brands | Superior to retail brands | Superior to retail brands |
Weight | 270 gsm / 68lb | 300 gsm / 80lb | 255 gsm / 66lb | 290 gsm / 75lb |
Thickness | 10.4 mil | 11.6 mil | 10.4 mil | 11.8 mil |
Paper Shade | Bright white | Bright white | Warmer white | Bright white |
Printer Compatibility | Universal | Universal | Universal | Universal |
Markings on Back | No | No | No | No |
Water Resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Available in Rolls | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Print on the back? | No | No | No | No |
At Red River Paper, our satin and luster photo papers deliver premium quality that rivals—and often surpasses—major retail brands like Epson, Canon, and HP—but at a significantly lower price. We source our papers from the same leading manufacturers trusted by these big brands, but by eliminating the middlemen, we pass those savings directly to you. From the paper mill to our manufacturing facility in Dallas, Texas, there’s only one stop before these high-quality products are delivered to your door.
Our popular options like UltraPro Satin, Arctic Polar Satin, and Arctic Polar Luster allow you to save up to 40% off retail prices, while delivering the same exceptional performance you’ve come to expect from the top names in the industry.
At Red River Paper, every product is carefully selected and rigorously tested to meet our high standards—and yours. We print-test our satin and luster papers on the most popular printers from Epson, Canon, HP, and other leading brands, ensuring consistent, reliable results no matter what printer you use.
When you compare our quality, customer service, expert support, and fast shipping, we’re confident you’ll enjoy an unparalleled experience buying satin and luster photo paper from Red River Paper.
If you are using these papers Red River photo satin luster media will work for you.
Retail Brand | Red River Suggested Replacement |
---|---|
Epson Premium Luster Photo Paper™ Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster |
UltraPro Satin® - Most likely to replace Epson PLPP Palo Duro Satin® - Closest to Epson shade |
Epson Premium Semigloss™ | UltraPro Satin® |
Ilford Gallery Smooth Pearl™ | UltraPro Satin® |
Canon Photo Paper Plus Semi Gloss™ | UltraPro Satin® |
Canon Heavyweight Satin Photographic Paper™ - 300 gsm | Arctic Polar Luster® |
HP Premium Plus Photo Paper Soft Gloss™ | UltraPro Satin® |
Using another brand? Contact us and we will suggest a replacement. |
High-Quality Photo Prints
For your best, most vibrant images, satin luster paper is the perfect choice—especially when your photos feature rich contrast or bold saturation. Its lightly textured surface enhances color brilliance and produces deep, intense blacks, giving your images a professional, gallery-ready finish.
Snapshots
For everyday photo printing, satin photo paper is a go-to option. The surface mirrors what professional photo labs use, ensuring your snapshots look fantastic no matter the lighting or subject. Red River offers convenient sizes like 4x6 and 5x7 for easy, high-quality snapshot printing.
Photo Books
With the rise of photo books, satin luster paper is an excellent choice for single-sided pages. Durable and resistant to handling, papers like UltraPro Satin are built to last, ensuring your photo books stand up to years of enjoyment, no matter the project size.
Want to explore the versatility of satin paper? Start with a small batch and test a variety of images from your collection to see how beautifully it captures your work. If you have any questions, we’re here to help—just reach out!