Best Paper Choices for Canon Pixma MP190: Photo and Document Printing on a Budget

Question:
What type of paper should I use for both photo printing and document printing with the Canon Pixma MP190? I'm looking for good quality results, but also something budget-friendly.

Answer:

When it comes to your Canon Pixma MP190, the paper you choose will determine how well your photos and documents turn out:

1. For Photo Printing:

   • Canon's own Photo Paper Plus Glossy II or Photo Paper Pro Luster are excellent choices if you want vibrant, sharp images. They are optimized for Pixma printers and give professional-grade results.

   • If you're on a tighter budget, HP Everyday Photo Paper or third-party brands like KOALA or Office Depot photo paper can give decent results at a lower cost. Just make sure you pick paper marked as "inkjet compatible," as laser papers won't absorb ink properly.

   • For long-lasting photos, stick to glossy or semi-gloss finishes. Matte papers can work, but they tend to mute colors.

2. For Document Printing:

   • Standard 20 lb. multipurpose copy paper works fine for everyday black-and-white documents.

   • For more professional-looking documents (resumes, reports, presentations), choose a 24 lb. or 28 lb. premium inkjet paper. These are thicker, produce less ink bleed, and give sharper text. Brands like Hammermill or HP Bright White Inkjet Paper balance quality with affordability.

   • If you occasionally print color-heavy charts or brochures, bright white coated paper will improve clarity and saturation without the higher cost of photo paper.

3. Balancing Quality and Budget:

   • Use standard copy paper for drafts and everyday text printing to save money.

   • Reserve photo paper for actual photographs or special projects.

   • A good compromise for both documents and casual photos is a matte presentation paper, which handles images better than copy paper while still being more affordable than glossy photo sheets.

Addressing printer issues and setup decisions like paper selection can sometimes be more complicated than expected. That's why we aren't able to provide remote troubleshooting or one-on-one customization advice for every printing scenario. We do, however, offer an in-person evaluation and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Please note, due to high demand, this service runs on a first-come, first-served basis and may take several weeks before we can take in your printer. While our repair rates aren't the lowest, we encourage you to explore self-help resources online first. A great place to start is our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), where you can use the search feature (next to the "About" tab) to find videos tailored to your needs. With over nine years of uploads, it's often easier to let YouTube's search tool suggest relevant tutorials.

Thank you once again for your support and for being part of the BCH Technologies community. We wish you the best in achieving bright, crisp, and budget-friendly prints with your Canon Pixma MP190!