UK Papers for alt printing? - cyano & salt especially

[pdeeh]

This is aimed at UK-based alt-printing practitioners.

Threads on here, and other sites, about alt-process printing often refer to the use of US or French made specialist papers (e.g. Arches Platine, Bergger COT320, Ruscombe Buxton & Herschel papers and so on), and it seems clear that such papers hold out a higher chance of straightforward tuning of one's own "workflow" and making consistently satisfactory prints.

In the UK, so far as I can ascertain, one can only buy Platine from Silverprint, COT320 from LinhofStudio or Ruscombe direct from the mill in France.

But I also wondered whether any alt-process printers in the UK (especially those making cyanotypes and salt prints) have any particular preferences or recommendations for more readily available watercolour papers from which excellent results have been had.

I was thinking particularly about papers from smaller mills and craft makers - St Cuthbert's Mill and Two Rivers Paper for instance, but there are a handful of others.

This isn't about price (good paper for any purpose is not "cheap") but about choice, ease of availability and support for domestic manufacturers.

So ... any good UK-made papers? Or indeed, any to avoid?

 

[gone]

All quality, 100% rag watercolour papers are essentially the same, except for the texture and weight, which is an individual preference thing. The exception would be the Oriental papers which are made from wood fibers and not from rags. You probably won't be using those for printing as they are thin, fragile, and tend to cost a mint, but you could.

All you really need to know is whether you prefer a hot or cold press paper surface (smooth or rough). Experimenting will tell you which one you prefer. If you're coating the papers w/ something then it won't make a huge difference. The thicker papers are easier to deal with, but quite a bit more expensive.

 

[pdeeh]

Well, if every paper is basically the same, the suggestion that one needs to experiment is rather superfluous.

Its simply not true that if the paper
Is going to be coated then one is as good as another.

Even in my limited experience, it's absolutely clear that different papers can produce very different results, and this is precisely why I asked the question.

I was hoping that by being very specific with the question I would avoid answers that are very general.

 

[pschwart]

All quality, 100% rag watercolour papers are essentially the same, except for the texture and weight

I'll have to disagree with this.

- the sizing material and method are critical (internally sized? tub sized? both? gelatin? starch?
Aquapel?). Unfortunately, this info can be hard to come by.
- buffered papers will need an acid soak for some processes

 

[MDR]

pschwart +1

In the 19th century the difference between english and french paper was visible to everyone who practiced the salted paper process the french used starch sizing resulting in a cooler tone and british gelatin sizing resulting in a more reddish tone. Today the choice of sizing is even bigger.

As pschwart said buffered paper especially with carbonates and/or chalk are not ideal for the cyanotype process and need to be soaked in a mild acid solution. This is also good news as you don't have to buy the best archival mat and paper for this process a cheaper slightly acidic paper works best and is readily available.

Regarding the surface using watercolour paper for the salted paper process is a relatively new thing in the past the would use good stationary paper (writing paper) if you can find a UK paper that is close to Canson Crob'Art you have the perfect paper for the process.

 

[pdeeh]

Just a wee bump to see if we can attract the attention of some UK alt-process printers to contribute ...