Below are listed a number of the premium papers and canvases which are my current favourites. These are all stocked, but we can print with any top quality inkjet papers which can be ordered when requested. If you would like help and recommendations in making a choice, do please ask. It's best if possible to see and touch the various papers - Very difficult to effectively describe their different surface textures and their 'look' when printed on. We have samples of most of the best papers.
When choosing a paper one of the main considerations is its archival longevity or 'print permanence rating'. The finest papers are often made from unbleached 100% cotton rag, are acid and lignin free and have a calcium carbonate buffer layer. Many papers contain optical brighteners (OBA's) (which make papers look very white). There is a debate about whether they will function well in the long term.
Protective coatings and varnishes can be added and are recommended on canvas prints. They may also be added for effect increasing the richness and contrast of colours, can add texture, protect from UV hence increase a prints longevity, and may protective from physical damage. Please ask to see samples.
Photo Papers
HP Professional Satin Photo Paper 300 gsm
"....... this professional photo paper is designed to deliver archival-quality fade resistance and exceptional durability using HP Vivera pigment inks.....precise detail, colour integrity and impressive image depth..... Primary material - Wood fiber and Polyethylene...."- HP.
A high quality durable professional-quality satin photo paper which looks and feels like traditional C-Type papers. Rich deep blacks and sharp details, high D-Max, bright white paper.
Canson Infinity Baryta Photographic 310 gsm
".......It consists of an alphacellulose, acid-free pure white paper with the same barium sulphate coating as for traditional silver halide and a premium inkjet colour receiver layer. Baryta Photographique offers the look and aesthetic of the original darkroom baryta print and complies with the ISO 9706 standard for maximum longevity. This museum grade photo paper shows excellent black density and great image sharpness, making it ideal for black and white photography......Respects the ISO 9706 standard to guarantee maximum conservation of your prints: - Internally buffered to resist gas fading and maximise theconservation of your prints.....-Acid-free paper to avoid paper degradation...... " Arguably the finest Baryta paper currently available.
Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag 310 gsm
"......Platine Fibre Rag is the combination of the premium 100% cotton Platinum paper that Canson has supplied for many years to the original Platinum and Platine photographic market, with the latest microporous coating, making the traditional darkroom paper now available for your digital printing. .....provides the aesthetic and feel of the original F-Type Baryta Fibre paper, having a true pure white tone without using optical brighteners that are known to affect the longevity of digitally produced images.
Platine Fibre Rag's extremely high Dmax and exceptional grey tones make it the product of choice for the more discerning black and white as well as colour photographic prints.
• 100% Cotton Rag Platine
• Pure white without optical brightening agents to ensure consistency of shades for generations
• Developed to meet gallery and museum longevity requirements and to respect the ISO 9706 standard :
- Internally buffered to resist gas fading and maximise the conservation of your prints
- Acid-free certified to avoid paper degradation......" Canson.
As good as it gets. Cotton fibre based rather than alphacellulose.
Fine Art Papers
Innova Smooth Cotton High White 315gsm
".........high white !00% cotton rag.......ultra smooth surface archival quality paper with excellent colour gamut......" - Innova
Contains OBA's. Produces the sharpest images of any quality mat paper I've come across.
Innova Soft Textured Natural White 315gsm
"......... a natural white finish with a slightly structured, soft-textured surface equivalent to a traditional etching paper ....Bleached Chemically treated Woodpulp....No OBA Content....Acid Free......" - Innova.
One of my favourites. Warm toned and soft-textured.
Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308 gsm
"..........A smooth bright white 100%rag based paper ....excellent image sharpness...not bleached.....optical brighteners......" - Hanhnemühle.
A very popular paper. Smoothish with good colour and very sharp detail reproduction. Some OBA's.
HP Hahnemühle Textured Fine Art Paper310 gsm
".........100% Cotton Rag .....textured, mat, mould-made, natural white.....acid free......" HP.
A paper made by Hanhnemühle in collaboration with HP specifically for the HP Z series of professional printers. An excellent rough textured paper.
Hahnemühle German Etching 310 gsm
"........100%alpha-Cellulose..white mould-made....acid free .....a surface similar to an etching paper.... natural white.....not bleached....optical brighteners......." - Hanhnemühle.
Slightly textured, warm toned paper, reproduces very good detail. "Low" OBA's. Deservedly very popular.
Hahnemühle William Turner310 gsm
"........a natural white, 100% cotton paper...." - Hanhnemühle.
Another excellent paper with some texture, and very good archival properties.
Hahnemühle Museum Etching 350 gsm
"........a natural white, 100% cotton paper....complying with highest archival standards...." - Hanhnemühle.
Very thick paper - 350gsm. Excellent archival properties. Similar in texture to German Etching.
Canson Arches Aquarelle Rag 310gsm
".......mould-made watercolour paper ...100%rag ....warm tone...no optical brighteners...internally buffered ... acid free... highest archival standards.....HP Vivara pigment inks >150 years....Epson UltraChrome K3 Pigment Inks >67 years......" - Canson Infinity.
A beautiful rough textured paper from the Canson Infinity range. Excellent archival properties.
Canson Montval Aquarelle 310gsm
".........cold-press watercolour paper....watercolour texture and warm tone ......no optical brighteners...internally buffered ... acid free... highest archival standards......" - Canson Infinity.
Another superb rough textured paper from the Canson Infinity range. Excellent archival properties.
Canvas
Hahnemuhle Monet Canvas 410gsm
".....Monet Canvas is a heavy cotton canvas with a woven pattern. Its natural white colour is perfect for art reproduction, but also works well for high quality photo printing.....a white, 100% cotton canvas....." Hahnemuhle
No OBA's, acid free. Top quality. Cotton. Matte. Warm whitepoint and organic texture ideal for images with more painterly feel.
HP Collector Satin Canvas 400gsm
".....Museum-quality colours and sharp detail on a natural-white canvas .....high quality medium with a distinctive satin finish....cotton........" HP.
I think this canvas has a considerable amount of 'OBA's'! Formulated for HP Z series printers. Produces excellent results.