Random Mathematics Of Printing Paper - With Promaster

I keep looking at the Promaster inkjet paper on the shelf and wondering why it hasn't sold. It is good quality paper and available in several types. I was looking at the Ultra Premium Pearl paper and mentally comparing it to Ilford Galerie Prestige Smooth Pearl in the same size pack.

The Ilford paper is $ 30 for 25 sheets...a final price of $1.20 a sheet.

The Promaster paper is $ 20 for 25 sheets...final price of 80¢ per sheet.

That's a considerable difference...I could use the extra 40¢ in my pocket at beer time.

But here's the catch. the Promaster paper is sized for US Letter rather than A4. It is a little shorter and a little wider:

A4.........................210mm x 297mm

US Letter............216mm x 279mm

The problem is these days we're so used to thinking in the A series papers and documents  that we sometimes forget that there are other dimensions. I was horrified to discover all of them on the printing section of the Photoshop Elements program...US Legal, Tabloid, B3, DL...Oh Dear. Which to choose?  Where exactly would the Promaster paper fit into the average photographers armamentarium?

I went to the new file section and made an experiment. Thinking of the old-fashioned 8" x 10" mantle photo, I tried it on the Promaster paper - perfect fit. It made a sad mess of A4, with overhangs on both ends.

So there's the answer if you are home printing in the 8 x 10 or 4 x 5  aspect ratio. Try a pack of the Promaster US Letter size in either Ultra Premium Pearl or the more expensive art papers. You can even get canvas.

See - there's a garment on the rack to fit everyone.