Black and White photographic paper is manufacture in various grades, and the grade distinguishes the amount of inherent contrast. Grade 1 is soft and grade 5 is hard or more contrasty.

Grades of Paper: In terms of these contrast grades, photographic papers like RC paper and fibre based paper comes in two types:

*graded, and

*multi-contrast, or multi-grade.

The term "grade" refers to the contrast of the paper, lower grades like 1 or 2, produce prints with a lower contrast while higher contrasts like 3 or 4 produce prints with a higher contrast. This allows the photographer to select a paper grade to suit the contrast of the negative, and or the way they intend the mood of the final print to look.

Corrective Printing: By selecting a suitable grade of paper a photographer can correct the contrast of the negative in the print. Generally, thin, under exposed or under developed negatives lack density and contrast and by selecting a higher grade of paper pints of acceptable quality may be produced. Also for denser negatives using a lower grade of paper can lower the contrast to produce an acceptable print.

Interpretative Printing: However, a photographer may want print the image in an interpretative manner where the image has a great contrast difference or a low contrast and select a suitable paper to achieve this. Higher grades of paper produce apparently sharper prints but are also more likely to show up any defects like dust, scratches and hair marks.