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Printing, Display & Output

Gloss Differential

A visible difference in surface sheen between inked and uninked areas of a glossy print.

In depth

Where ink covers the paper the surface reflects differently from where it does not, so an unprinted white border or a bright highlight can appear as a distinct patch of different sheen. Printers address it with a clear gloss optimiser laid over the whole sheet, and the problem does not arise on matte media.

Examples in practice

A high-key portrait on glossy paper shows the white background as a visibly different sheen from the inked areas.