Large sized paper

[idawinterhaven]

Hi! I wonder if you have any suggestions on where to find paper for detailed graphite drawing in A1 size? (59,4 x 84,1 cm)

Kind regards,
Ida Winterhaven

[Mike Sibley]

Where are you based, Ida? My UK Conqueror supplier has CX22 120gsm and 400gsm in sizes up to B1:

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Conqueror CX22 Premium Paper Unwatermarked High White B1+ 120gsm Pack of 250 Sheets
4-Star Green Star System
#601337

Conqueror CX22, high white, 120g/m2, smooth, unwatermarked, woodfree ECF with 15% cotton, 137µm, 720mm x 1020mm, B1+, long grain, pack of 250 sheets, FSC
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And:

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Conqueror CX22 Premium Paper Unwatermarked Diamond White B1+ 400gsm Pack of 100 Sheets
4-Star Green Star System
#635251
Direct 2 you

Conqueror CX22, diamond white, 400g/m2, smooth, unwatermarked, woodfree ECF with 15% cotton, 420µm, 720mm x 1020mm, B1+, long grain, pack of 100 sheets
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For the 400gsm:
Price Inc. VAT = £11,465.70 Per 1,000 Sheet(s) (294 kg )
that's about $15,000 USD
and it comes in packs of 100 sheets (as does all CX22)
so the sheet price is about £12/$15 with a minimum purchase of 100 sheets (and that's why I stock SRA2, because most folk don't want to buy 100 sheets! )

[idawinterhaven]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your reply!

I’m in Sweden. But the price point you mention is a bit high for my budget
Oh well. Would there be any ”almost-as-good-as” brands that you’d suggest I check out?
I’ve tried satin watercoulour paper which I find too soft. Currently working on Bristol paper and Canson The Wall. But perhaps I should look into graphics print paper brands?

[Mike Sibley]

A long story short... The paper I originally drew on (Ivorex) was available in art stores. Then it became Mellotex and was limited to the offset-litho print industry. Then that went bankrupt, and I started to use another offset printing paper, CONQUEROR. But the problem is that they are for the printing industry too, so the pack sizes are LARGE. My supplier even quotes PALETTE prices!

Would it help if I put a couple of samples in the mail to you? Then - if you like what I sent - you could perhaps find a Swedish paper supplier who might have something similar. By buying direct from the wholesaler, there's always a chance they'd let you buy just a few sheets. Or maybe you could have a word with your local printer to see if they have sheets of whatever paper you decide to use.

My supplier only stocks A4, SRA2 (that's A2 with a bleed margin, and the one I stock), and B1. B1 would at least suit the size you need. Even if I could get small quantities for you, it's too large to ship from here without damage.

[idawinterhaven]

Thank you so much for elaborating on this. Paper is a complex topic
It’s a great idea to actually go speak to a local printer and compare papers and retail options. And very kind of you to offer to send samples - I noticed you had a great sample pack in your webshop so I just placed an order there. Looking forward to try this out!