Inkjet technology requires specially designed Inkjet papers. Inkjet paper is optimized for ink absorbency, color development water resistance, light resistance, gas resistance, and runnability on printers to provide excellent output. Printing professionals use proofing papers and commercial printers will show the output of the actual product to clients. Output used for this purpose is called the "Proof." Inkjet technology is widely used for this purpose today. For this application, paper must have an appearance quite similar to the paper used for the actual printing. In addition, the printed colour must be very stable. If an image printed on copy paper gets wet, it bleeds. Curiously, however, an image printed on inkjet photo paper does not bleed.

In addition, inkjet photo paper provides many functions for photos, such as color brightness, color strength, less color bleeding, and less color degradation.

A photo media printed on inkjet printer has a glass-like or pearl-like gloss. To obtain this delicate appearance a micron-size surface pattern and a thin layer less than 100 nm are utilized to control light interference.