For nearly two
thousand years, the Chinese have made paper. That craft spread throughout the Far
East, first to Korea and then to Japan in 610 AD. Eventually the secrets of making paper were passed from China to Persia and then to Spain. By the 13th
century, Italians had learned these skills.
thousand years, the Chinese have made paper. That craft spread throughout the Far
East, first to Korea and then to Japan in 610 AD. Eventually the secrets of making paper were passed from China to Persia and then to Spain. By the 13th
century, Italians had learned these skills.
The Japanese not
only learned how to make paper or washi, they learned how to make it better. Their
skill in handmade mulberry papers improved through the centuries, until Commodore Perry
opened their markets as well as opening their eyes to the mass production of
paper done the Industrial Revolution way.
only learned how to make paper or washi, they learned how to make it better. Their
skill in handmade mulberry papers improved through the centuries, until Commodore Perry
opened their markets as well as opening their eyes to the mass production of
paper done the Industrial Revolution way.
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Unbleached
and unsized mulberry paper made from 100% kozo fiber is an excellent choice for woodblock and linocut printing. While it is thin compared to printmaking papers made in the West, its long fibers provide exceptional strength. The absorbent characteristic of the paper is compatible with traditional Japanese woodblock printing with water based inks. Pictured is the print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Japanese artist, Hokusai c. 1830 (Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, PD-1923). |
Once Japan embraced Western technology,
traditional papermaking declined. Making paper by hand is very time consuming, which
makes it expensive compared to machine made paper. The limited number of
producers of handmade papers has contributed greatly to its high cost. While
you may pay a premium for these papers, the quality is unmatched. Some of the prints
made with washi have lasted more than 1000 years.
traditional papermaking declined. Making paper by hand is very time consuming, which
makes it expensive compared to machine made paper. The limited number of
producers of handmade papers has contributed greatly to its high cost. While
you may pay a premium for these papers, the quality is unmatched. Some of the prints
made with washi have lasted more than 1000 years.
Today, high quality Japanese
papers for printmaking called washi are either handmade or machine made. One difference
between papers made in the Japan versus papers made in the West is the material
used. In Japan printmaking papers are made from the inner bark of three
different plants. In contrast, papers made in the West for printmaking are
made of cotton or linen fibers.
papers for printmaking called washi are either handmade or machine made. One difference
between papers made in the Japan versus papers made in the West is the material
used. In Japan printmaking papers are made from the inner bark of three
different plants. In contrast, papers made in the West for printmaking are
made of cotton or linen fibers.
Kozo Papers.
The three plants
used in Japanese papermaking are kozo, mitsumata and gampi. Kozo, which is a
type of mulberry plant, is widely used in making washi for woodblock printing. What
is unique about kozo is that the fibers are very long and very strong. These long
fibers provide the papers with exceptional wet strength, so they can be misted
and soaked for some art applications. This strength also makes it well suited
for printing with water based inks, as well as for applications, such as making
the translucent screens used for room dividers, and their cute and colorful
umbrellas. Other differences with handmade papers from the West are their thinness,
softness of hand and translucency.
used in Japanese papermaking are kozo, mitsumata and gampi. Kozo, which is a
type of mulberry plant, is widely used in making washi for woodblock printing. What
is unique about kozo is that the fibers are very long and very strong. These long
fibers provide the papers with exceptional wet strength, so they can be misted
and soaked for some art applications. This strength also makes it well suited
for printing with water based inks, as well as for applications, such as making
the translucent screens used for room dividers, and their cute and colorful
umbrellas. Other differences with handmade papers from the West are their thinness,
softness of hand and translucency.
Mitsumata Papers.
Mitsumata is a bush
similar to kozo. The fibers of mitsumata are not so long as those from the kozo
bush. Consequently mitsumata papers are not so strong as kozo papers. Mitsumata
papers are also more absorbent. Some artists desire this characteristic because
it produces a softer edge to the printed image.
similar to kozo. The fibers of mitsumata are not so long as those from the kozo
bush. Consequently mitsumata papers are not so strong as kozo papers. Mitsumata
papers are also more absorbent. Some artists desire this characteristic because
it produces a softer edge to the printed image.
Gampi Papers.
Made from the inner
bark of the gampi bush, which grows in the wild in Japan, gampi is a very thin
paper with a silky smooth and shiny finish. The fibers have a natural sizing,
which limits the absorbency of the ink, when the paper is used for printmaking.
For some projects, this is desirable because you can attain a crisper edge of
the printed line.
bark of the gampi bush, which grows in the wild in Japan, gampi is a very thin
paper with a silky smooth and shiny finish. The fibers have a natural sizing,
which limits the absorbency of the ink, when the paper is used for printmaking.
For some projects, this is desirable because you can attain a crisper edge of
the printed line.
Not all so called
Japanese paper is made in Japan. Much of it is now being made in Southeast
Asia, in countries such as Thailand, where the cost of labor is much lower than
it is in Japan. The best quality Japanese paper is made from 100% domestic fibers
and produced using only natural minerals and plant materials. Lower grades of papers are made from imported
fibers and synthetic materials and may include some wood fibers.
Japanese paper is made in Japan. Much of it is now being made in Southeast
Asia, in countries such as Thailand, where the cost of labor is much lower than
it is in Japan. The best quality Japanese paper is made from 100% domestic fibers
and produced using only natural minerals and plant materials. Lower grades of papers are made from imported
fibers and synthetic materials and may include some wood fibers.
In purchasing these
papers, some of the factors to consider are:
papers, some of the factors to consider are:
- What is the country
of origin? - Is the paper handmade or machine made?
- Is the paper sized
or not? - Is the paper chlorine
bleached? - What is the weight
of the paper? - What is the fiber content?
- Is the paper pH
neutral (acid free)?
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About Jim Hingst: After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.
Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer. Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.
Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for publications, such as Signs Canada, SignCraft, Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 400 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published. Vinyl Sign Techniques is available at sign supply distributors and at Amazon.