About Our Fine Art Papers
We’re not casual about the paper we use—not by a long shot. Paper has a venerable history; for centuries, it’s served as a means to record events, spread knowledge, and preserve culture. Paper has also served the individual well. At one time or another, nearly everyone, from the forlorn soldier to the disgruntled consumer, has used paper to express a vast range of emotions. Although it has yielded to computer screens and mobile phones as a means of communication, its declining use only enhances its stature.
The finest papers are made from cotton rags and have the ability to preserve artwork for centuries, often becoming part of the work itself. And if that’s not enough, rag paper also good for the environment. What could be eco-friendlier that using castoff cotton rags? Choosing 100% cotton paper was the obvious choice for us.
Choosing the right rag paper to enhance a particular image isn’t as obvious. We test each artwork on a variety of papers from top mills before deciding on the perfect paper(s) to complement the work. After all that work, we’re pleased to offer one or more of the following papers, depending on the image selected.
Handmade Paper
We use handmade St. Armand paper from their Montreal mill. The St. Armand Paper Mill produces high-quality papers that re-create an ancient craft in a modern context and are in demand around the world. Handmade paper is traditionally made using a wooden frame with a mesh screen, a deckle. Rag pulp drains through the screen, leaving behind a mat of interwoven fibers. The mat is pressed to remove excess water and hung to dry—the result is paper.
The process is about as eco-friendly as it gets. It begins with beating cotton rags, recycled from clothing manufacturers, into pulp without the use of chemicals or bleaching agents. Just water and rags. Mechanical pulping keeps the cotton fibers long and pliable, making the paper strong and crack resistant. The resulting paper is as beautifully textured as it is strong.
Mouldmade Paper
We use Somerset® Velvet from the historic St. Cuthbert’s Mill in Somerset, England. The paper is made using one of the few remaining Cylinder Mould Machines in the world, which was built in 1907, making it more than 100 years old.
The paper is soft, supple, and, as the name suggests, has a velvety surface with a museum-quality look and feel. Somerset Velvet was the first fine art paper specifically designed for digital giclée printing and continues to lead the field.
The mill is located in the Somerset countryside and takes pride in protecting the surrounding environment. No hazardous chemicals are released into the waterways, and all materials are screened in the mill to minimize environmental effects. The cotton is sourced from textile industry by-products and is mixed with pure water from nearby streams.
Somerset is a registered trademark of Inveresk PLC.
Machine-made Paper
We use the award-winning Entrada Rag by Moab. It’s a 100% cotton rag fine art paper that creates a sharp image and comes in a smooth or textured matte surface. Entrada paper is archival, acid and lignin free, and it will last for generations. The paper was created in Moab, Utah, amid the canyons and rivers and mountains of the region, and is made in the USA.