[I tried printing] The charm of Hahnemuhle FineArt Pearl

Hahnemuhle Fine Art has a history of more than 400 years in Germany, an art powerhouse.

We cannot talk about European art without mentioning the traditional paper they produced.

Many works of art that still exist over the years, such as Renaissance paintings, Shakespeare's works, and Gudenburg's Bible, are made using cotton-based paper .

Additionally, with the changing times, paper is now made not only from cotton but also from a material called ``alpha cellulose,'' which supports many artists.

It is only because of the evolution of the times that historic paper made from cotton and alpha cellulose can be used in the fields of photography and illustration.

The Hahnemühle series is a popular paper that "PHOTOPRI" particularly recommends. There are many types of paper, but "PHOTOPRI" has carefully selected 6 types .

In this article, we will focus on FineArt Pearl .

"I've never printed on glossy paper."

“What are the characteristics of FineArt Pearl ?”

“What kind of photos and illustrations are suitable for?”

I am writing this for those who have similar problems.

<Handling paper>

• [Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] German Etching <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] Torchon <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] FineArt Pearl <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag Baryta <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag Metallic <Go to product page>

[Hahnemuhle] The choice of FineArt Pearl

Let's start with the conclusion of what kind of paper FineArt Pearl (hereinafter referred to as Fine Art Pearl) is.

Simply put, works printed on Fine Art Pearl give a ``lively impression'' .

This is just my personal opinion, but I would like to write down the possible reasons why I feel that way, along with the characteristics.

Unique luster

Why does it give a "lively impression"?

The first reason is the unique luster of fine art pearls .

(↑The surface of the paper is a fine-grained surface. Excellent compatibility with portrait photography.)

There are many glossy papers available in the world, but the luster of Fine Art Pearl is clearly different from other papers.

It's a little difficult to describe, but it has a "heavy" glow to it.

The reason why it has such an impression is because it has a "pearl-like" surface quality . ``Pearl tone'' refers to the change in the brightness of reflected light depending on the viewing angle.

I feel that the majority of people who want to print using this paper are portraits and landscape photos (of course, since it is a versatile paper, some people use it for Japanese-style illustrations and monochrome photos) .)

For example, in landscape photography, the expression of pale natural light such as crepuscular rays looks impressive due to the pearly surface quality.

This surface quality is so important that it is called fine art "pearl" in its name, and it can be said to be one of the essential features in giving a lively impression.

Attractiveness with high contrast

Why does it give a "lively impression"?

The second reason is that it feels like high contrast .

Contrast is often adjusted using camera settings or editing software. It may sound harsh, but with modern editing software technology, anything is possible.

What I would like to tell you here is also a story that is connected to the "pearl tone" mentioned above.

When printing on paper with a pearlescent surface texture, the colors appear brighter at times because the way the reflected light changes depending on the angle .

For example, let's say you display a photo printed on Fine Art Pearl indoors.

In indoor exhibitions, some people may place emphasis on lighting the work as a "final edit," but as in this case, depending on the viewer's viewing angle when the lighting is applied, the photo can look completely different. I think the strength of this paper is that you can show it off, and it's also what makes it interesting .

How it looks and feels changes depending on the viewer. At the same time, it is possible to create a space where organizers can also enjoy these changes.

It is rare to find paper that is so appealing, unique, and reassuring.

What kind of photos/illustrations are suitable?

This point is a bit difficult. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to ``suitability of photos and paper''. As mentioned above, there is also a matter of preference.

However, I believe that each paper has certain advantages and disadvantages, so please refer to it.

Almighty all-purpose paper.

Nothing confuses you more than being versatile.

To be honest, I think I have the ability to match any type of photo or illustration .

However, since this paper has a wide range of colors (color reproducibility) , it may create too much of an impact when combined with pale-colored photographs or illustrations that emphasize ephemerality.

This paper is perfect if you want to create an elegant and luxurious look , so it is especially recommended for those who want to print photos taken to commemorate something, or those who are looking for paper that can be stored for a long time. Masu.

It also works well with monochrome photos.

This is my personal favorite way to use fine art pearls, so please use it as a reference only.

Fine Art Pearl, like the Photo Rag from the Hahnemühle series, fully meets expectations in terms of the "tightness of the black color."

The black color has a depth that makes you nod your head, just like when you drink a cup of rich coffee.

The deep black expression raises the level of the work itself.

I think this is something that you won't understand unless you actually print it out and look at it up close, so I'm not sure what the content of the article is, but I'll post it anyway. lol

bonus

Fine Art Pearl is part of Hahnemühle's "Glossy Fine Art" paper series.

The material is not "cotton" but "100% alpha cellulose" paper .

As mentioned above about Fine Art Pearl, some of you might be wondering, "What exactly is Fine Art Paper?", so I would like to add some explanation about "Fine Art Paper." Please forgive me if my expressions may be a little harsh. lol

What is fine art paper?

Fine art paper is one type of paper whose ``quality as paper'' has dramatically improved due to improvements in inkjet printing technology.

As it became possible to reproduce digital images with the same high definition and quality as traditional silver halide photography, the possibilities of this technology were immediately considered in the photography and art industries.

A major feature of fine art paper is that it has both ``preservability'' and ``texture.''

Raw materials include cotton, wood, and bamboo, but PHOTOPRI uses cotton-based fine art paper.

Cotton-based fine art paper is made from lignin (a component that makes up 20 to 30% of wood. Paper derived from wood naturally contains lignin, so it deteriorates over time. By the way, books change color because of lignin. (Due to a chemical reaction between ultraviolet rays and lignin), it can be stored for a long time.

There are many fine art paper suppliers, such as Hahnemuhle (Germany), PICTORICO (Japan), and Canson (France), and there is a wide variety of paper types.

In terms of future possibilities, the fine art paper that has evolved in Europe is expected to further evolve, and at the same time, new fine art papers may be born from Asia.

It is believed that fine art paper will penetrate not only those in the art industry but also individual creators. Along with this, it is highly likely that the types of paper itself will increase and become more segmented.

<Handling paper>

• [Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] German Etching <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] Torchon <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] FineArt Pearl <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag Baryta <Go to product page>
• [Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag Metallic <Go to product page>

[Hahnemuhle] Would you like to try printing a trial version of FineArt Pearl?

Just like you take a test drive when you buy a car, we want you to use the trial print service and experience the paper for yourself before printing.

You can't really understand the texture, texture, color reproduction, etc. of a wide variety of papers, such as glossy paper, matte paper, fine art paper, and Japanese paper, until you actually hold the printed material in your hands.

Even if you try to choose the best one from a large number of papers, it may be difficult. There are many people who don't know which one to choose.

You can print a trial print using your own photo data .

We have a trial set that suits your preferences, so please take advantage of it!