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Help me with a paper question... (Patreon)

Published:
2018-02-13 19:43:00
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Poll

Help me with a paper question...

  • Epson - softer prints, but smooth paper 22
  • Hahnemühle - feels like watercolour paper, but doesn't look like the original 7
  • I don't care. 3
  • 2018-02-13
  • 32 votes
{'title': 'Help me with a paper question... ', 'choices': [{'text': 'Epson - softer prints, but smooth paper', 'votes': 22}, {'text': "Hahnemühle - feels like watercolour paper, but doesn't look like the original", 'votes': 7}, {'text': "I don't care. ", 'votes': 3}], 'closes_at': None, 'created_at': datetime.datetime(2018, 2, 13, 19, 43, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc), 'description': None, 'allow_multiple': False, 'total_votes': 32}

Content

I've known for a long time that the Hahnemühle paper I always use for my prints deepens the darks in a way that can't be adjusted. That makes my prints a bit more contrast-y than in the originals. 

Now I've started using a heavy but smooth Epson paper for my preliminary proof prints - and find that they *always* look better than the finished prints! D=

It's a difficult decision - most of you have seen (and touched) my prints, and know that the feel of them plays a huge part in why many people love them so much. That's the huge point in favour of the old Hahnemühle. 

The new Epson paper has all the other points in its favour - it's easier to buy, comes in larger packs, is cheaper, and the art looks just exactly the way it should.

I can't decide! What do you say? Would you prefer the art to feel real (Hahnemühle) or look real (Epson)? 

Comments

ianflyhi アイアン

Could you describe what Epson paper would feel like? Thinner? Smoother?

Jenny Dolfen
>>10125430

Both - it's less heavy (195 gsm to Hahnemühle's 290 gsm, which is about as thick as my watercolour paper). And the surface is matte and smooth, unlike the Hahnemühle paper, which has a rough watercolour paper surface.

Brit Kreher

I would prefer Hahnemühle, but in the end it is a personal choice for myself and that's not helping you. So ... maybe instead of choosing between the two use both? So you can as well sell on Hahnemühle for the Hahnemühle lovers as for the Epson lovers.

Gwendolyn

I'm torn. Although everyone else is making an excellent point - that texture doesn't matter once framed - I have to admit that I really like the texture of your current prints.

Corine Hefting

Personally, much as I like quite a few of Epsons papers, I'm a huge fan of the thick and textured Hahnemühle, it's really a thing that attracks me about the prints.

Teddi Deppner

Although the "feel" might be a factor in the moment you first open an envelope and pull out the art, the rest of the art's life cycle is generally "on display" for viewing not for touching. Seems like having it look right is better than feeling right. Then again, it depends whether anybody besides you (as the artist) can tell that the colors/contrasts are different, and whether they find it less appealing than what they saw online. If a print is beautiful in its own right, I don't care whether it exactly matches the original.

M.C.A. Hogarth

I vote for "whichever you enjoy working with most" because the more you enjoy working, the more you'll want to paint, and the more that pleasure comes out in the work. Watching you battle frustration with something isn't enjoyable for anyone. Less friction = good. :)

Anjuschka

How smooth is this Epson paper? As long as it won't make the prints look like (cheap) posters, it should be fine. Although, I must admit that I love the rough surface of your current prints a lot as they give your prints a very high quality look.

Anna R Dunster

Do you happen to have angled shots comparing them?

Jenny Dolfen
>>10128850

I tried to make some; the problem was that my camera made the beautiful soft Epson print look bland and uninteresting while adding a lot of punch to the Hahnemühle one, so the photo was very much working against me. ;)

Jenny Dolfen
>>10127752

It's heavier than cheap poster paper, and it being non-glossy avoids any poster connotations. :)

Lisa Gerard

Personally, if you say it looks better on Epson paper, I would probably go for Epson. But I also think Brit Kreher was onto something up above. Is it possible to offer both, and whoever is buying the print picks the paper as an option?

Jenny Dolfen
>>10131189

I can do that for a sort of inbetween time, but in the long run, I need one paper to stock - I have so little space to stock artsy stuff! ;)

Josie

I prefer the Hahnemühle paper. When I opened my first print of yours I immediately thought "Wait is that an original?!", because it felt and looked so realistic, mostly due to the paper. And I would argue that I can still see it although it is framed, but that might be my imagination. ;) Also I doubt most people would notice if their print has a little more contrast, I expect the physical product to be slightly different than on my screen anyway. But in the end, you should do what works best for you and what you are most happy with as an artist. ;)

Jenny Dolfen
>>10138399

I know - your experience is what makes it so hard for me! ;) I've heard this from a lot of people, and have had several actually write to me and ask whether I'd accidentally sent them an original, haha. I love this and this has made me hold on to the paper for so long!