FAQs

Coated paper has a surface treatment applied to one or both sides that improves ink adhesion, resulting in sharper images, more vibrant colours and better dot gain control. Uncoated paper is more porous and absorbent, making it better suited to general office printing. For wide format applications such as technical drawings, posters and presentations, coated paper is strongly recommended for the best results.

Every product on our website shows a list of compatible HP printer models on the product page. You can also use the Compatible Printers filter on our collection pages to browse by your specific printer model. If you are still unsure, contact us at contact@wideformatmedia.com.au and our team will point you in the right direction.

GSM stands for grams per square metre and is the standard measure of paper and media weight. A higher GSM generally means a heavier, thicker and more premium feel. For example, standard office paper is typically 80 GSM, while professional presentation papers can range from 130 to 300 GSM or more. The right GSM for your job depends on the application, printer and desired result. Each product on our site lists its GSM so you can make an informed choice.

Yes, we offer wholesale pricing for qualifying businesses. To apply for a wholesale account, please contact us at contact@wideformatmedia.com.au or call us on 1300 038 214 and our team will assess your eligibility and set up your account.

We hold local stock in Australia for fast despatch. Standard delivery timeframes are typically 2 to 5 business days for most Australian metro areas, with regional and remote locations potentially taking longer.

Yes — we offer free HP media sample books for each of our three product categories: Graphics and Technical, Sign and Display, and Production. Sample books let you see and feel the media before committing to a purchase. Request your free sample book here.

Many HP wide format media products carry FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, meaning the paper fibres come from responsibly managed forests. Products with FSC certification are clearly noted in their product descriptions. HP is also committed to broader sustainability goals including take-back and recycling programs for used media.

The finish of a media affects how it looks and performs once printed. Gloss has a shiny, reflective surface that produces vivid, high-contrast images — ideal for photography and retail displays. Satin sits between gloss and matte, offering vibrant colour with a subtle sheen and reduced glare — popular for photography and presentations. Matte has a flat, non-reflective surface that reduces glare and gives a more understated, professional look — commonly used for technical drawings, fine art and documents. You can filter our products by finish on any collection page.

We want you to be happy with your purchase. If a product is faulty or not as described, please contact us within 14 days of receiving your order and we will arrange a return or replacement. We recommend requesting a sample book before purchasing if you are unsure about a product, so you can assess the quality and finish before committing to a full roll order. For our full returns policy please see our Shipping and Returns page.

Instant-dry media has a coating designed to absorb ink almost immediately, so prints come out of the printer ready to handle, stack, or laminate without waiting for the ink to fully cure. This matters most for high volume workflows or same-day jobs, where waiting for standard media to dry can slow everything down. Instant-dry papers, like our HP Everyday Instant-dry Satin and Gloss Photo Paper, also tend to resist smudging and offer sharper detail since the ink sets quickly on the surface rather than spreading.

You can, but it comes with some risk. HP printers and inks are engineered to work together with HP media, so using third-party media can lead to inconsistent colour reproduction, poor ink adhesion, or printhead issues over time, and may affect your printer's warranty in some cases. As the official HP Wide Format Distributor in Australia, in collaboration with BMG, we only stock genuine HP media that's been tested and certified to work reliably with HP printers, so you get consistent results without the guesswork.

Both are popular banner materials, but they suit slightly different jobs. Polypropylene is a lightweight, cost-effective film, well suited to short to medium term indoor or outdoor signage, temporary event banners, and point of sale displays. Vinyl (PVC) is heavier and more durable, better suited to long term outdoor use, vehicle graphics, and banners that need to withstand repeated handling or harsh weather. If your banner needs to last months outdoors, vinyl is generally the safer choice. For shorter runs or budget sensitive jobs, polypropylene often does the job just as well for less.

Curling is usually caused by humidity, temperature changes, or how a print is stored, keeping finished prints flat, away from direct sunlight, and in a stable, moderate climate will help prevent this. Fading is mostly caused by prolonged UV exposure, so for outdoor signage or anything displayed in direct sunlight, choosing a media rated for outdoor or UV resistant use makes a big difference. Using genuine HP media matched to your printer's ink type also helps, since the ink and coating are designed to work together for better long term stability. If you're printing something that needs to last outdoors for an extended period, check the product description or get in touch and we can point you to the right option.