A glossy finish does just what the name says – it glosses over the photo to give it a shine that makes the colors appear more vibrant. The coating is actually the same as what is used on a matte photo, except more of the final coating is used.
Matte finish options resist fingerprints and glare on your high quality photo prints. Matte photos don’t highlight the color as much as glossy photos and may appear a bit grainy because of the enhanced texture. A matte finish is a good choice for black and white photos and photos that will be framed.