Papers are made from all sorts of different fibres. For printmaking, and for many other fine art papers, they are often made from cotton, wood cellulose, and a range of plant fibres such as Kozo (pictured above). Some papers, such as our Khadi range, are made from the fibres of discarded 100% cotton garments - making them beautifully absorbent, as well as being sociallyresponsible.

How and what you are printing will dictate this choice. A thicker plate, such as 1.2mm Copper, lino or wood relief blocks, and collograph plates, will generally require a heavier weight paper, such as 300gsm. Lighter weight papers, like those in our Japanese Paper Range, start as light as 36gsm, and are perfect for hand pressed (using a baren) relief prints, for delicate drypoints, and for chine collé. We also stock a range of Light to Mid-Weight Papers, such as the Hahnemuhle 150gsm Warm White, which makes an excellent choice for printmakers who are making books. 

In many ways, this one really comes down to personal preference, but when choosing a 'white' paper, it is useful to know that bright whites are often paired with cool black inks (tinted blue), and that warm whites are often paired with warmer black tones (perhaps with a tint of sepia). The Hahnemuhle Warm White is one of our most beloved papers - it's gentle warm white, soft toothy texture is infamous for printing detailed intaglio works. Stonehenge provides a range of smooth surfaces in either 250gsm and 320gsm, with a variety of different colour options such as White, Natural, Fawn, Grey and Black!