When I started developing the Near & Dear Designs shop on Etsy, I did a lot of research on which papers I felt best showed off my work. Cost was a factor, but I also took into account print quality. I wanted my work to feel like art - not a photograph. I knew I wanted something with texture, a thick paper with a bright white optical appeal to better enhance the silhouettes I work with.
To narrow it down, these points were my criteria:
- not a standard cheap photo paper
- extra thickness
- texture
- bright white
After much research and comparison I found Red River Paper and the paper I chose from them is the 64lb. Aurora White. Made using fine 100% cotton rag content, Aurora White offers the look and feel of fine art paper. This Aurora features a brighter white shade for crisp color tones, semi-smooth surface, an acid-free base stock and coating.
Here are the specs:
- 100% Cotton rag content
- Photo print both sides
- Bright white shade
- Acid free - Lignin Free
- Minimal optical brighteners
- 13.5mil - card thickness
They also offer a nice little informational video about the Aurora line of products:
Here's a close up view of a corner of my own work printed on this paper using my in studio printers:
I must say that I absolutely love this paper. It has a nice, soft texture and a substantial weight to give my printed artwork a look (and feel) of real quality. The thickness is perfect and it feels luxurious to hold. Colors print beautifully and line art looks fantastic!
Has anyone used this paper? Or can you recommend an art paper you love to print on? I'd love to hear your suggestions!
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The PaperLove Blog Hop is a celebration of all things paper! Follow the links to discover more bloggers who love paper and use it to inspire and delight. And if you want to explore a whole world of paper, and stretch your paper passion further with a host of creative projects, why not join the innovative new online course PaperLove (startsMarch 31). Led by book artist Rachel Hazell, PaperLove is a five week creative adventure for paper lovers. Find out more here.
Happy bloghopping!
Participant list
Majo Bautista / Tona Bell / Louise Best / Cathy Bluteau / Jennifer Bomgardner / Giova Brusa / Lindsay Buck / Beka Buckley / Joanna Caskie / Jonathan Chapman (Mr Yen) / Halle Cisco / Sarah Clare / Cathryn Clarge / Dawn Clarkson / Rhiannon Connelly / Jenny D'Fuego / Molly Dhiman / Ian Dudley / Ayisatu Emore / Akmal Farid / Monika Forsberg / Claire Fritz-Domeney / Louise Gale / Chrissy Gaskell / Julie Hamilton / Emma Hawman / Rachel Hazell / Holly Helgeson / Claudine Hellmuth / Kim Henkel / Sarah Hoffman / Joanne Hus / Paula Joerling / Beth Kempton / Julie Kirk / Eos Koch / Katie LaClair / Kristy Lankford / Michelle Manolov / Doreen Marts / Rosie Martinez-Dekker / Tori Mears / Maria Mederios / Lise Meijer / Debbie Miller / MaryJane Mitchell / Suzy Naidoo / Grace Noel / Hannah Nunn / Camilla Olsson / Jo Packham / Rachelle Panagarry / Monette Pangan / Melanie Paul / Nicole Piar / Jen Pitta / Liz Plummer / Julie Reed / Michelle Reynolds / Lisa Rivas / Angee Robertson / Natalie Ryan / Aisling Ryan / Elisabet Sapena / Kyrrha Sevco / Jamie Sprague / Elizabeth Steele / Terri Stephens / Juniper Stokes / Mary Tanana / Maike Thoma / Linda Tieu / Gabrielle Treanor / Tammy Tutterow / Deborah Velasquez / Jordan Vinograd Kim / Cat Whipple / Brooke Witt / Katie Wood / Amelia Woodbridge
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All designs, illustrations and intellectual concepts are © 2014 - Brooke Witt Art & Design, LLC
Wish I could have something to share, but I dont have any printer yet. Just ordered mine. I so love doing this blog hop. So nice to read about every once love for paper. Thank you for sharing yours.
ReplyDelete/Camilla Olsson - also in the blog hop www.camillaolssonart.wordpress.com
I'm embarrassed to say I have never given much thought to printing my work on such fancy paper. Your advice (and point!) is well taken! I'm going to check it out... I usually work with vintage paper to collage and do mixed media, but when I do photographs of my work, which is common, it would be so wonderful to print it on such high quality paper. I'm going to check it out and kick my frugal habit when making a beautiful print of my work that will last and look beautiful for a long, long time. THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteLovely post and so full of info, thank you!
ReplyDeletehttp://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com/2014/03/scissors-paper-and-placemats.html
Thanks for the paper recommendation - I will have to try it sometime as I have other friends who like it too. I have been using Epson Premium Presentation - Matte paper for prints ~ I like the way my printer works on it. I also use Speckletone now and then as I like the way the texture shows through the ink. Enjoyed your post ~ thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis PaperLove blog hop has been fun! :) Julie from http://bricolage-julier.blogspot.com/2014/03/paper-love-ephemera.html
Great looking paper! Thanks for sharing this information. Now just to find a supplier in Canada - or just be ok with paying the shipping costs.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a few people recommend Red River but its not a make I've come across in the UK. I use a paper from Hahnemuhle which sounds a similare spec. Am enjoying doing the rounds of the Blog Hop :)
ReplyDelete( Don't know why my comment looks like it will show as anonymous - I'm from http://www.starrybluesky.wordpress.com )
I'm hoping to get some of my work printed this year - so it's good to read your experience. I'm in the UK so might just look up the brand recommended by the commenter above me! How useful to have so much expertise in one post/comments section!
ReplyDeleteSaying 'hi' to a fellow blog hopper.
Julie :-) http://notesonpaper.blogspot.co.uk
Really beautiful! Lovely!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving all the new inspiration via this bloghop! I'll have to try some of this new paper :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.juniperstokes.com/making-art/paper-love-blog-hop-%E2%99%A5-paper/
This is a really informative post. It's good to read what materials people recommend for high quality work. This paper looks fabulous but sadly isn't available to me in the UK. I have used this Somerset paper a lot http://www.londongraphics.co.uk/products/Graphic-Supplies/Printer-Paper-Cartridges/Somerset-Inkjet-Art-Paper/RKSIJA4T_Somerset-Enhanced-Inkjet-Paper-Textured-A4?gclid=COPw3YjBi70CFQUIwwod250AHA and I really like it. Hopefully that will be useful to the UK readers. I like your blog and I really like your office chair in one of the pictures. Is it a Charles Eame's chair. I am green with jealousy!! It looks beautiful.
ReplyDelete