Fine Art Printing: How To Choose The Right Paper For Fine Art Prints

Besides colour rendering and equipment calibration, the choice of paper for fine art printing is crucial on both artistic and technical level. The best
choice of paper is one that complements the artwork, allowing it to take it to a
higher level of artistic expression and improves its value to the collector. The
paper's technical aspect is a vital component of printing and determines if the
print is durable enough to last for many future. Fine printing is about picking
the best paper, regardless of whether it's a portrait of an elderly man or the
sprawling landscape of the English countryside.

What are the qualities of a great Fine Art Paper?

There are many factors that determine if a paper is suitable for producing precise, long-lasting prints. Some of the factors to be considered include:

- The material of the paper

Coating technology

- Colour of paper

Paper weight (or "gsm") (grammes per square meter).

- Surface texture or finish

Paper substance

A top quality base paper for Sunrise at Lake Louise printing should consist of at least two layers: the base paper and the coating that is applied to the base. The very best paper base is
composed of cotton (rag) fibre and wood cellulose, or a combination of both. Rag
paper that is the most costly constructed of 100% linen fibre or cotton. They
are also known to last hundreds and years without noticing fade, discoloration
or even weakening.

A third consideration is that acid-free paper must have a pH of at least 7.0. Any acid present in the paper will transfer to inks, which will cause it to fade
or to discolor. Paper manufacturers usually state the pH of their paper on their
packaging.
  

Brightness and whiteness

The rule of thumb is that the lighter the photo rag paper is, the greater the contrast between the printed colours. This means that the prints
will have a greater spectrum of colours and prints will benefit from richer
shades. The bright white paper is typically utilized by photographers looking to
produce vivid, vibrant images. The brightness of a paper is typically rated from
1 to 100. 100 being the most vibrant. For instance, the multipurpose bond paper
used in copiers and office printers have a paper brightness rating in the 80-100
range. Inkjet photo paper however, is between the middle and high 90 range. They
can reflect more light, making it appear more brighter.

To increase the brightness, paper makers or bleach the paper using chlorine or use Optical Brightening Agents (OBA). The paper might lose its brightness
with time and may show colour shifts. You want to make sure that the print lasts
for a long time. Choose a paper free of OBA or chlorine bleaching. To determine
whether a paper is optically brightened use a UV light onto the paper in a dark
room. If the paper appears to glow brightly it means that optical brightener was
used during production.

To find chlorine-free paper you need to be familiar with the terminology used by paper producers. For example, "Chlorine-free", which means no chlorine was
used, is not the same in the same way as "Elemental Chlorine Free" (ECF).
ECF-treated papers are created using chlorine derivatives. It is best to search
for pulp that is completely chlorine Free (TCF).

Paper weight

The paper's weight is calculated in grams per square meters (gsm) or g/m2. For moraine lake sunrise fine art printing, heavier papers are generally
preferred because it gives your print rigidity which prevents curling and
warping. A lot of photographers prefer using papers that weigh 230gsm or
heavier. It is also recommended to choose a heavier paper grammage when creating
larger prints to help with handling when mounting. Be aware that not all
printers are able to handle thick and heavy papers since the majority of
printers do not have rear paper loading capabilities.