Hahnemuhle Print Workshop

I printed my previous body of work on the Hahnemuhle Photo Rag and was really pleased with the outcome. I knew for certain that my images needed texture and wouldn't be as effective on gloss. When the guys from Hahnemuhle came in they gave us a range of different textured and gloss papers we can print on besides Photo Rag. I'm still pretty keen on Photo Rag however I have a few more in mind that I would like to try before I make my final decision.

Rice paper was extremely thin and delicate, but a student mentioned how the delicateness could fit with the concept of my work. I think I would prefer something thicker and heavier if I they are going to be handled. I was also looking at canvas but found that one too heavy. 

The ones that I am interested in at the minute are photo rag which is the one I have been using for my current projects, bamboo and photo rag satin. A bonus with the bamboo paper is that it is echo friendly! The photo rag satin is pretty much the same as the photo rag however it has a different coating. 

I’m looking for paper that will give me a lot of texture at the minute. From printing my portrait of my grandmother onto the photo rag the results were really interesting and brought it almost to life. That is the effect that I want across my next lot of work too but more if I can get it. However if I am working with more objects and landscapes then will it be as effective? I need to email the team and ask for some test papers so that I can see what works best before it gets too late! 

Another thing I need to consider is double sided prints. Do I want this? I feel I want spaces in between my images because they are of sentimental worth and I would want my viewers to give each image time to process the emotions that run through them. With no blank space it will not enable them to think about each image individually and may look too busy. During a crit someone mentioned that the spaces could work like a photo album or if I was to have a box break it up with thin pieces of paper like tracing paper for example to give that album effect. 

The gentlemen from Hahnemule told us that if we do purchase paper from them (or from anywhere else) that we need to remember to change the colour profile settings for the printer. There is a website that can help us do it. Whichever paper I choose which is different from what the university already provide I need to change the settings so that it is set to print onto a different type of paper. 

I asked whether or not I could have different papers for different prints so that I could get the best texture for each image but I was recommended that I keep it uniformed and it would make it cheaper for myself.