Kia ora, I'm wondering if someone can help me identify a paper that meets as many of the following characteristics as possible. Does anyone have any suggestions :) ?

1. Strong surface--that is, the structure of the fibres and the characteristics of the surface remain the same in the face of repeated cycles of soaking, brushing and drying
2. Dimensionally stable--won't shrink (too much?) over multiple rounds of soaking and drying. Or if it does shrink, it shrinks once after the first soaking and then is stable thereafter
3. Not too absorbent
4. Ideally relatively heavy weight (250-300gsm)
5. Ideally unbuffered

Ngā mihi maioha,
Sharon

Hi Sharon

I can certainly help. What is the application for which you're using the paper?

Thank you :) . I'm using it for a multi-layered alternative photographic printing process.

Basically, for each layer, I need to brush a pigmented and sensitised layer of gelatine solution onto the paper, then smooth the coating with another brush; let it dry; expose under UV; harden it in a hydrogen peroxide solution; and then develop/clear it in a warm water bath. Then I let it dry, and do the next layer. It seems that too much brushing tends to damage the paper surface, which leads to speckling in the cleared areas. In addition, if the paper is too absorbent, then the highlights won't clear. This can be mitigated against by sizing the paper with a layer of unpigmented gelatine before brushing on the pigmented solution, but this adds more brushstrokes and damages the paper's surface even more (so I'd prefer to find a less absorbent paper that clears effectively without sizing between layers).

Because it's a multi-layered process that wets the paper with warm water, I'm looking for a paper that is either going to shrink once, predictably and consistently; or not at all. Some papers continue to shrink with each wetting-drying cycle; and often they don't seem to shrink consistently, so that different parts of my negative will register in different places on the image.

The sensitiser is somewhat pH-sensitive as well, so it would probably be better to avoid buffered papers...but there are probably ways around that if need be.

Do you have any ideas :) ?

Ngā mihi maioha,
Sharon

It sounds like your best bet is to experiment, but Arches Platine and Revere Platinum are both unbuffered and have many of the attributes you're looking for. Both were created for platinum palladium printing. They are both cotton and have excellent dimensional stability with good wet strength and controlled absorption.

Thanks. I've tried Arches Platine (not Revere Platinum) but it's too absorbent. Bergger COT320 is less absorbent, but the surface is not sufficiently robust. I'm currently using Canson Montval (snowy/rough press, back side) but its dimensional stability is not as good.

I was wondering about Legion Bamboo or Legion Lenox, but what do you think?

Ngā mihi,
Sharon

Lenox, Coventry Rag, Legion Bamboo and Stonehenge are all good options. We recommend each them for cyanotype. If you want to try a watercolor paper, Stonehenge Aqua may work as well.

And definitely try the Reveee Platinum!

Thanks. I'm also wondering about Rives de Lin, Rives Heavyweight, and the heavy Somerset Book (lighter weight than I was thinking, but if it's robust, it might work fine). How would you say any of these three papers sit against the criteria I'm after?