Canson Student A4+ 50 sheets

Canson Student A4+ is an acid-free art paper originally intended for painting techniques such as watercolour, gouache and acrylic. Because of its structure and resistance to wet working, it also performs well in many photographic processes that require hand-coating the paper with light-sensitive solutions.

We often use this paper for learning, testing, calibration and workshop practice. It is affordable and practical, making it a good choice for repeated tests without immediately moving to more expensive papers made specifically for historical photographic processes.

Properties useful in alternative photography

Canson Student tolerates processes in which the paper is repeatedly wetted and washed.

• Good resistance to water – the paper maintains its structure during washing and wet processing.

• Acid-free paper – suitable for artistic and photographic use.

• Good absorbency – allows light-sensitive solutions to be applied by hand without excessive penetration into the paper.

Two different surfaces

The paper has two sides with slightly different surface characteristics:

• lightly textured side – suitable for hand-coating with a brush or coating rod,

• smoother side – useful when finer detail and a more even print surface are preferred.

It is worth testing both sides, as their behaviour can vary depending on the process and the coating method used.

Applications

Canson Student can be used for processes including:

• cyanotype, including toning and multilayer work,

• Van Dyke brown,

• salt printing,

• albumen printing,

• gum bichromate printing.

For gum bichromate, the paper is best suited to a limited number of layers. For more complex work, pre-shrinking and gelatin sizing are recommended.

For learning and testing

Canson Student is particularly useful for:

• first experiments with historical photographic processes,

• workshop practice,

• testing new formulas and batches of chemistry,

• calibrating digital negatives,

• learning how to hand-coat paper.

Specifications

• Format: A4+

• Pack size: 50 sheets

• Type: acid-free cellulose art paper

• Surface: double-sided – one smoother, one lightly textured

• Original application: watercolour, ink, gouache, acrylic and mixed media