How We Choose Paper for Our Giclée Art Prints - Epson Hot Press and Hahnemühle

Choosing the right paper is crucial when producing giclée art prints. Low-quality stock feels flimsy in the hand and can't match the weight or texture that signals fine-art quality. After years of trial and error (and absolutely endless amounts of testing!), we now rely on three museum-grade cotton papers that keep colours true, pair beautifully with archival pigment inks, and are robust enough to last.

What We Need From Paper

Our prints are produced using professional giclée printers with archival pigment inks, so the paper needs to be engineered for inkjet reproduction. That means an inkjet-optimized coating, a cotton fibre base for longevity, and a surface that holds fine detail without bleeding or feathering. Beyond the technical requirements, I care about how the print feels in your hands and how it looks on your wall.Why acid‑free matters

Archival longevity - Colours should hold for decades, not seasons. Accurate colour reproduction - Subtle shifts matter when fur, feathers, and shadows do the storytelling. Inviting surface feel - A print that reads as art, not poster stock. Pure cotton base - Naturally acid-free and bright.

Why acid-free matters

Most mass-market paper is made from wood pulp that contains acid. Over time that acid causes yellowing, brittleness, and colour shift - the same look you see in an old paperback. Cotton paper is naturally acid-free, so it stays bright and stable for decades. Museums insist on it, and so do we.

What does “gsm” mean?

GSM stands for grams per square metre. It's a quick way to describe paper weight and, by extension, how sturdy it feels in the hand. All three of our papers sit around 300-330 gsm, which has the heft of lightweight card stock - rigid enough to resist warping inside a frame, yet thin enough to sit under a mat without bulking.

Each of the papers below meets those standards. Which one you receive depends on the print itself and the production workflow at the time. Our Watercolour Animals collection always runs on German Etching for its texture, while other pieces are printed on Epson Hot Press or Photo Rag depending on which stock the closest studio partner has on hand. No matter the match-up, you get museum-grade cotton paper and archival pigment ink.

Epson Hot Press Bright White

Why it earns a spot in our roster

This is the brightest of our three papers, which makes it ideal for prints with saturated colours and strong contrast. The smooth, matte surface locks fine lines and small details in place, so nothing gets lost in the texture. Independent lab tests rate its fade resistance at 70+ years under UV-filtered glass. It's a workhorse giclée paper that delivers consistent, vivid results across every piece we run on it.

Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308

Why it earns a spot in our roster

Photo Rag is one of the most widely used giclée papers in the fine art print world, and for good reason. The gentle, velvety surface adds depth without distracting from the artwork. Its slightly warmer base tone keeps earth palettes rich and blacks deep. It holds Hahnemühle's FineArt certification, which many collectors know and trust. If you've bought fine art prints before, there's a good chance you've held Photo Rag in your hands.

Hahnemühle German Etching 310

Why it earns a spot in our roster

German Etching has the most noticeable texture of the three. That tactile, etching-style surface enhances soft gradients and loose edges, which is why we use it exclusively for our Watercolour Animals collection. The slightly warm white balances bright washes without muting contrast. It's one of the most respected papers in the giclée printing world, and collectors recognise the feel immediately.

What Decides Which Paper Ships?

Watercolour Animals → always printed on German Etching 310 for the texture it deserves.

All other collections → printed on Epson Hot Press Bright White or Photo Rag 308, depending on which stock the closest partner studio has on hand.

Keeping multiple top-tier giclée papers in rotation lets us print closer to you, trim shipping time, and avoid ever downgrading to lower-grade stock.

Caring for the Print

Use UV-blocking glazing if the piece hangs in direct daylight. Keep humidity moderate - no steamy bathrooms, please. Dust with a soft, dry cloth and avoid cleaning sprays. Treat the art gently and the paper will do the rest.

Final Note

Paper choice here isn't about better or worse - it's about matching surface to artwork while maintaining archival standards. Whichever sheet lands at your door, it's 100% cotton, acid-free, and printed with archival pigment inks rated to outlast passing trends - and probably us as well.

— Catherine