What is FineArt paper?
Back then, when I wanted to enlarge my first photos, I went to the copy store. Black and white plotters were my tools, and I was fascinated by how my motifs suddenly lay before me in A0 format — simple, rich in contrast, but always a little rough and technical.
Many years later, I discovered FineArt paper. It was as if a new world had opened up. The colors, the depth, the soft transitions and the tactile texture — everything seemed alive, almost tangible. Suddenly my pictures were no longer just prints, but works of art. The variety of surfaces, whether matt or glossy, and the luxurious feel made my work shine in a new light.
But that was not all. The longevity, the acid-free materials and the idea that these prints would lose none of their radiance over decades convinced me once and for all. FineArt wasn’t just paper — it was a promise to preserve my visions in their most beautiful form.
I recommend every photographer to give it a try.
But remember, on a regular monitor that works well for weaving, prints may become too dark. Check your data on a calibrated monitor before you buy, otherwise you will burn money. Believe me, before I had this information, I burned a lot of money.
I would like to share my experiences with the different features.
My favorite FineArt paper at the moment is Hahnemühle FineArt Pearl.
At the beginning I had my problems with glossy paper, because I associated gloss with cheap.
I first had to understand the advantages, pictures with high contrast, high black content, the dark areas have more power. A starry sky, for example, worked because the black has depth and the stars shine through the gloss. A lantern at night also works better than on a matt material.
My all-time favorite FineArt paper is Hahnemühle Photo Rag. This is where my journey began.
The matt surface in combination with color density and sharpness, a light cardboard texture make this FineArt paper the ideal material for beginners.
I first had to learn that an ink print is much sharper compared to a photo paper. The device is called a “Fadenzähler” and it is exciting to see the difference between the two paper techniques with a magnifying glass.
