What paper works best for printmaking?
The choice of paper depends on the printing process and whether a press will be used or prints are to be hand burnished. Relief printing with a press works well on papers with hard surfaces that can bear the tack of the ink; thin sheets like Asian mulberry paper works better for hand-pulled prints, but thicker sheets produce an attractive indentation when put through a press. Intaglio requires soft papers with less sizing for sensitivity and absorbency to produce soft, delicate tones and shades. Silkscreen papers should have hard, smooth surfaces for flat application with crisp edges. Lithography will accommodate a wide variety of papers, but the extreme pressure involved in printing will crush flat most textured papers. Utrecht 100% rag American Masters Print Paper (Item No: 19150) is a multi-purpose surface for all processes; it’s inexpensive enough for proofing with archival permanence suitable for final editions. Back to Top.
