Watercolor is one of the most popular mediums for artists, but it can be a nightmare for fine art printers. The medium of watercolor is known for its delicate (some would even say fickle) nature. Transparent washes, very subtle gradations of color, eye poppingly bright pigments, and a particular “look” all very clearly differentiate watercolors (and other water media, like gouache) from oils or acrylics. When reproducing a watercolor painting, the type of paper you choose to print on can dramatically affect the look of the print. Proper texture, paper weight, and brightness of the paper are critical ingredients for accurately reproducing watercolors. By choosing the right paper, your customers will be able to get a print that can be almost indistinguishable from the “real” thing.
I use a textured paper when reproducing watercolor paintings. The textured paper adds lots of visual interest and helps to accurately capture the variations and irregularities in the surface of the paper that give original watercolor paintings their unique look. It also helps to minimize any ridges, paint puddling or shadows that may pop up in a digital file created from a heavily textured watercolor piece. Best of all, you can deckle the edges of the print (after the print is dry and sealed, of course) so customers can “float” the print in the frame, just as they can choose to do with an original watercolor.
Here are a few wonderful papers to help approximate the look of an original watercolor painting.
Epson: Cold Press – Bright or Natural
Hahnemuhle: William Turner, Albrect Durer, German Etching, Sugar Cane
Tecco: Aquarelle Matte
Epson: Somerset Velvet, Somerset Textured
Moab: Somerset Enhanced Velvet, Somerset Textured
Inkpress: Watercolor Rag
Harman: Matte Cotton Textured
If you have any questions about watercolor papers or general questions about inkjet printing or large format inkjet printers, please don’t hesitate to call us at 800-342-9294 or email the inkjet team directly inkjet@imagingspectrum.com
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