In the beginning, papyrus was pressed and dried to make paper. Slowly, it evolved to become the paper which is being used today. The earliest known process of making paper is credited to Ts’ai Lun, a Chinese courtier around 100 A.D. Plant fibers like hemp, old rags, and mulberry pulp were made into a sludge which was later strained onto a frame which was used to dry and make paper.

This papermaking process spread to Europe via the Arab nations after nearly 700 years. Around 1690, William Rittenhouse made paper in USA modeled after the paper mills in Europe. Charles Fenerty first introduced the process of making paper from wood pulp in 1838. Dard Hunter was known for his experiments with making handmade paper. He published few books on papermaking, namely, Old Papermaking, Literature of Papermaking, and Primitive Papermaking. Hunter crafted the paper for the entire book and made it entirely by hand. His greatest accomplishment is the Dard Hunter Paper museum in 1939 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Additives

Additives are used in the papermaking process to increase the retention of fibers. These additives can be added before sheet formation or to the finished sheet when it is half dry. This depends on the desired result. Additives can be functional relative to whether you require retention or enhancing of properties.

• Additives
• O-Carboxymethylstarch Amine Polyampholytes
• List of Additives & Ingredients
• Botanical & Sparkly Additives

Papermaking Moulds

Papermaking mould is one of the most important parts of the papermaking process. It is here that the paper takes its form and shape. These moulds can be classified largely into three types. One is the cloth screen attached to a wooden frame. Another is the flexible screen that can be removed from a wooden frame. Finally, there are the metal screens attached to the wooden frame.

• Mould & Deckle
• Papermaking moulds
• Mould Making
• Papermaking

Grain

The grains in a paper are a result of the fiber used to make the pulp for the paper. Paper is cut with grains parallel to the length of the sheet to give it a neat finish. This type of cutting is known as the long grain.

• Paper Grain & Smoothness
• Nature of Materials
• Beyond the Surface
• Grain

Methods of Beating Fiber

The pulp needs to be beaten to separate the fiber for making paper. Beating is the easiest and fastest way to do it. The traditional and early methods involved beating the material with a stick. With advancement in technology, a machine known as “stamper” is used to beat the material. This machine has separate fittings depending on the coarseness of the material.

• Central Burma & Northern Thailand Method
• Papermaking Process
• Making Pulp
• Traditional Papermaking

Methods of Drying Paper

Most methods of drying paper use pressure to remove the excess water and strengthen the paper. These presses can be hydraulic or heavy weight presses. The sheets are not completely dry as air circulation and other factors are taken into account. Sometimes the paper is dried just by laying them out on a flat surface.

• Making Paper At Home
• Making Paper
• Homemade Paper
• Theory & Techniques

Embossing

Creating a three dimensional image on paper is referred to as embossing. This is done with the application of a combination of heat and pressure on paper. A metal die and counter die are joined together to raise the image above the paper. Dry embossing can also be done with the help of a stylus and stencil.

• Casting/Embossing
• History of Paper
• Dard Hunter

Safety

As in any process, one needs to be careful and observe safety precaution while making paper. There are chemicals used to make paper and it is important to ensure that the place is well ventilated with lots of fresh air. Ensure that you are not allergic to any of the materials used in the process. Exercise caution while using the frames as the metal parts can be quite sharp.

• Ways of Making Paper
• Hand Papermaking
• Japanese Papermaking

Archival Paper

Archival paper is paper that has more alkaline content than normal paper to prevent yellowing. This is to cater to the need for long lasting paper and it is primarily used by scientists, artists, governments, and libraries. The process is more complicated and hence the paper is more expensive.

• Paper Terminology
• Archival Properties
• Non-wood Fiber

Sizing

Sizing involves the application of acrylic polymer (or hide glue) to paper to change the absorbency of paper. This is done to protect it from wear and tear. It is used mainly by artists to prepare the material for a type of painting because certain paints can cause the paper to rot.

• Papermaking Terms
• Starch
• Cationic Starch
• Papermaking Chemistry

Watermarks

Watermarks are images or patterns on paper that are done while the pulp is wet by making the layer thinner or thicker. These designs are visible when held up against the light. Watermarks are used by companies for identification. The main processes used for watermarks are dandy roll process and cylinder mould process.

• Paper Watermarks
• Papermaking with Watermarks
• Watermarks & Papermaking

Dyes & Pigments

The dyes used on paper are mostly sulphur based dyes and catatonic direct dyes. These have reduced alkaline content. Other popular dyes used are acid dyes and basic dyes. It’s important for the dye to show light fastness, bleed fastness, optimum depth, low metamerism, stability to humidity, and temperature so that the paper can be stable.

• Dyes & Pigments
• Mushrooms for Color
• Basic Instruction
• Paper