This post is a follow up to a former post titled Inkjet Paper Grain: The Long and the Short
of It.
There is a lot of information about inkjet papers with
regard to their use for printing photographs, but there is relatively little
when it comes to digitally printing illustrations and art. The factors for
illustrations vary from photographic subjects when choosing a type of inkjet
paper for digital printing. Whether you created your illustration digitally
or are reproducing it from traditional media, the following considerations will
apply. There are practical concerns, such as: Is the paper affordable? Will it
work for the needs of the project? And is it the right type of paper for my
printer? There are also aesthetic considerations like: Is it the right paper
surface? Is the paper color the right base tone for my illustration? And is it the best texture for
my subject?
Aesthetic Considerations
The first thing to consider when it comes to the aesthetics
of a digitally printed illustration is the illustration itself. The style it
was rendered in, media, and subject matter play the most important roles when
determining the choice of paper. Choosing paper stocks can be quite easy when
you consider style and subject. Although it wasn’t always this way in the past,
there are literally hundreds of quality digital printing paper stocks to choose
from. Here are some general suggestions to help in making choices.
Media Factors
Consider the look of the media or technique that was used
predominantly in your illustration. If traditionally produced, what materials
were used, oils, acrylics, pastels, pencils, etc.? Was there varnishes or
fixatives applied to the illustration? What canvas or paper surface was used in
the original? If digitally produced what materials were simulated? Each
material used displays a different look to the surface finish. One suggestion
is to look for a type of paper that will present a similar look to its surface
when your illustration is printed. An example would be to choose a less
absorbent paper to reproduce a varnished oil painting on canvas, so the ink
will set up on the surface and display more sheen to compliment the sheen of
the original painting. Although an outright “gloss” surface paper may not be
appropriate because of its surface distractions, a less absorbent smoother
surface inkjet paper, will also allow the natural surface of the original to be
seen if the digital file, scan, or photo contains that information.
Something to watch out for is choosing a paper surface that
mimics the paper or canvas surface of an original. For instance, a watercolor
painted on a cold press paper, can produce a disquieting textural effect when
printed on a digital paper with a pseudo watercolor textured surface. Printing
on inkjet canvas stock can enrich digital illustrations that simulate thick
pigment oils or acrylics where thickly applied paint has completely covered the
original canvas texture. The inkjet canvas stock then replaces the original
canvas without conflicting with it texturally.
For pastels and other types of media that produce a matte
surface, more absorbent smooth or matte surface inkjet papers may be most appropriate.
Color pallet also comes into play as well. Illustrations
that use brighter more primary based color schemes generally work better on
inkjet paper surfaces that are classified as “brilliant white”. Illustrations
that have more earthy tones or naturally generally look superior when printed
on “neutral “ surface papers, also called “naturals”. Since wood and cotton fiber are off
white in their natural state, brilliant white or bright white papers contain a
high degree of “brighteners” to reveal their blue-white color. Neutrals
generally do not contain brighteners.
Subject Considerations
The subject of an illustration can provide the answer to
which inkjet paper to use. For instance natural landscapes with warm tones
appear to remain natural when printed on natural finish papers. Human subjects also
appear more natural on these off white or natural white paper stocks.
Conversely, aquatic subjects, depending on the settings, may look better
printed on a brilliant white paper with its blue cast.
Paper surface is also a factor. Subjects with a lot of
texture such as mountains, stones, trees, sand, soil, etc., may look better on
a granularly textured surface paper such as a satin, pearl, or luster. An
excellent example where the subject might overrule the media factor would be a
highly realistic digital, or a traditional acrylic painted illustration of an
automobile or motorcycle working best when printed on a glossy surface.
Cost Factors
Inkjet papers vary widely in price, specifications, and even
sometimes availability. For instance at the time of this post, Aurora Smooth
available from Red River Paper Company was available for $1.06 per 13” x 19”
sheet, while Canson BFK Rives was available for $4.28 per 13” x 19” sheet, and
Crane Museo Silver Rag was available for $5.28 per 13” x 19” sheet.
Usage Factor
The requirement of the project is another consideration that
goes into choosing an inkjet paper stock. The weight of the paper and whether
the sheet needs to be long grain or short grain will influence the paper
choice. For instance, not all inkjet papers are available in the short grain
format.
Printer Limitations
The limitations of the printer are also a consideration.
Some printers are limited to certain paperweights. Others are hampered by a
very limited number of print preparation commands. For example, most printers
do not have a paper surface option for printing on a velvet surface paper
programmed into the printer media selections.
Paper Finishes
Paper finishes are classified using the following terms, gloss,
semi-gloss, luster, satin, silk, pearl, velvet, canvas, watercolor, matte, and smooth, among others.
The important thing to remember regarding the classifications is there are no
industry set standards. One paper manufacturer's velvet might be much
more coarsely textured than another manufacturers. Rather than try to provide a
definition of the paper surfaces mentioned above, I recommend reading the
descriptions provided by the manufacturers for their paper stocks. Here are a
few links to some of the major inkjet paper companies.
Conclusion
In the end, as always, the aesthetic choice is a personal
one, and common suggestions and guidelines may not be all that useful. I can serve as my own example for going against the trend. Much of
my work is based on hard geometric shapes, however by pairing my images with the
unlikely choice of a watercolor textured inkjet paper, I achieved very
aesthetically pleasing results. If you have the resources and inclination, I
encourage you to try different paper stocks to find the ones that most please
you.
