Ilford Hi Crystaljet Glossy/Luster RC A4 2x5V Sample Pack

Ilford Hi Crystaljet Glossy/Luster RC A4 2x5V Sample Pack | Compare finishes before choosing

Choosing photo paper from a product name alone can be a gamble: the finish that sounds right may not be the one you want for your own images. This Ilford Hi Crystaljet sample pack gives you a way to consider the Glossy and Luster options in A4 size before settling on a finish. It’s intended for photographers who want to make a hands-on paper choice, rather than decide from a screen or a description. The pack is identified as 2x5V, so you can use the samples to assess the options for the prints you have in mind. I’d treat that as the main reason to choose this product: it helps make a paper decision more tangible. The title doesn’t give further detail about the paper’s behaviour, so the useful test is your own image, viewed and handled in the way you expect to use it.

Making the comparison useful

For a fair comparison, use the same image and keep the print settings consistent when you try each finish. That way, the finish is the main difference you’re judging, rather than a change in the picture or the way it was prepared. Choose an image you know well; familiar colours and details make it easier to decide which option suits your work. A portrait, a landscape or a print intended for a particular display can each give you a different basis for choosing, so start with the kind of photograph you actually print. There’s no need to decide by the names alone. A sample pack is most useful when you make the comparison with a real print in mind.

Technical Specifications

• Product: Ilford Hi Crystaljet
• Paper type: RC
• Finishes: Glossy and Luster
• Paper size: A4
• Pack designation: 2x5V Sample Pack