Basic Knowledge About Papers - Fine Art - Canon South & Southeast Asia

    Types of fine art paper

    There are many types of fine art paper for inkjet printers. They are classified according to base paper and structure. The following explains the differences in the course of development and the characteristics.
    The papers produced by other manufacturers presented in this booklet are examples of the broad range available, and do not represent any specific endorsement by Canon. Some of the other manufacturers’ papers presented here may be difficult to purchase in certain countries, regions or stores ​

    Baryta paper

    Baryta refers to barium sulfate, a material used to coat a paper to make it whiter. Baryta paper has been the mainstream photographic paper and the one most commonly used for photographs exhibited as works of art.

    While Baryta-base paper has a beautiful texture, it is difficult to handle when washing and drying during the developing and fixing processes of silver halide photography. To make these processes easier, RC paper was developed. Papers made with methods that do not use barium sulfate but reproduce the texture of Baryta papers are separately categorized as “Baryta-style papers.”

    RC paper

    RC stands for "resin coated", where the surface of the base paper is coated with resin. RC paper was originally created by adding resin layers on both sides of Baryta paper to make it easier to develop and fix silver halide photographs. 

    Since glossiness can be controlled by changing the resin layer processing, there is a wide variety of RC-base papers, from high gloss to subdued semi-gloss. RC-base papers have a flatter surface and allow improvements in color reproduction, making them ideal for maximizing the potential of inkjet printers.

    Art material paper

    Media made from flax or cotton cloth for oil painting or acrylic painting is called a “canvas.” Luxurious photo canvases are made of woven cotton coated with polyester using the same method as that for printing papers using photographic paper as base paper. Flexible cloth-like papers can be stretched over wooden frames like a painting canvas.

    Photo canvas paper

    Media made from flax or cotton cloth for oil painting or acrylic painting is called a “canvas.” Luxurious photo canvases are made of woven cotton coated with polyester using the same method as that for printing papers using photographic paper as base paper. Flexible cloth-like papers can be stretched over wooden frames like a painting canvas.

    Washi paper

    “Washi” (Japanese paper) refers to papers made of materials with methods that originated in Japan. Their unique characteristics set Washi papers apart from other “western” types of papers. Washi is made from the barks of kouzo, a certain member of the mulberry family, mitsumata (also known as the Oriental paperbush), and other Japanese trees. It contains longer fibers than western paper.

    Paper Specifications

    Besides paper type, there is an array of information that helps in choosing paper.
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