Paper is pretty.
Ok, so maybe I’m just weird, but I love getting paper sample books in the mail. With all the digital processes today, it’s so nice to hold something and feel its texture and warmth.
The paper swatch books usually have a section in them for performance, where they have samples of how the paper performs under different conditions—foil stamping, metallic ink, embossing, etc. I’ve even seen samples printed with a letterpress! Can you imagine how fun it would be to design these books?
I wish I could better convey the texture of these beautiful papers. These are things that really inspire me and remind me why it’s so fun to be a designer. Do you have any favorite swatch books? Oh! Have you ever designed one??
The swatch books featured are Neenah Environment, Neenah Eames (my favorite!) and Fox River (now Neenah) Starwhite. All photos by me on my Canon Pro1 and G3 (camera, not mac).
This post was written to participate in the Design You Love group writing project on Designer Daily. You can participate, too! Deadline is October 31st for entries. There are even some nifty prizes!
We had our paper rep show up today.. always great flicking through the samples.. I’m not a massive fan of metalics and extra processes, but it’s nice seeing what certain papers can do well.. I also love it when they show us real world jobs using a paper they’re showing off..
I just wish where I worked gave us more options with stock, rather than the same old floor stock that our printer has, blargh
have you been looking at paper differently since you started learning about letterpress?
Alex Charchar´s last blog post: The Hallways of Adobe.com
I don’t think you’re weird at all with a love of paper. The sense of touch is a powerful one, and for a designer, it’s fantastic when your artwork is tangible — touching and seeing is more emotional than just seeing. For me anyway.
I’ve never designed a swatch book, but it’d be an interesting project.
Aaaaa, Lauren, I do this too… I also get all the outdated paper swatch books at my office. I have a whole box overflowing with this amazing goodness at home!!! I’ll tell you what some of my favorites are.
There was the series of Georgia Pacific papers with illustrations by Joel Nakamura (they’re probably 7 yo). Nothing special about the paper, but the covers, oh so cool! And there’s another one, that has an amazing texture, it feels like… skin! It’s soft and velvety… It’s called Curious Collection by Arjo Wiggins. The one that I really like is called Touch. And it has scans of original sketches for the illos on the inside
I also like French Paper Co., their books and papers are always neat.
RaShell´s last blog post: Landing Hand to Creativity
Alex,
Yes, indeed, I have been looking at paper differently since I’ve been printing myself! I really liked the Eames collection because they have letterpress printed samples. I would love to try printing on the Architecture paper (4th picture from the top). It feels fabulous! It’s a little thin, but I think it would be lovely for some kind of layered piece. I wish I could more often choose stock, too. Even though I work for a fairly large franchisor, they are still quite money-minded.
David,
You are so right, touching does add a different emotion to the experience. And it makes your designs seem more real, more permanent, like they have more substance.
RaShell,
I’ll have to check out French Paper Co and more Georgia Pacific papers.
I hope I get to keep some swatch books I collect here. The covers are really cool (that’s what the first picture is of… that blue fox thing). Ooo, Joel Nakamura’s work is really awesome! I’ve never seen his stuff before. Hey, Curious Collection! Sounds like something that would be right at home here
Hehe, even if you may not be able to use paper from a specific company, asking your printer to get you samples still gets you free books! And then you have ready inspiration for future projects when you have a bigger budget.
Yes, if at all possible one needs to actually touch the paper one is ordering; actually feel it. It’s also the only way to gauge the colour too. If I’m ordering paper, I’ll always demand some samples first, then I can print on it, play with it…. You have some great papers in your post—gorgeous.
johno´s last blog post: Sunday Type: mightier type
Johno,
Oh yes, if I’m ordering any kind of specialty paper, I always request samples. Often times they send way too much! When I ordered the Neenah Environment Tortilla paper, they sent me two 20 sheet packs of two different sizes! And, not only that one color, but the same number of samples of a different color from the collection.
We get swatch books from the paper distributors, I believe. Not that we use too much of their exciting wares, but they bring them anyways..
I actually happen to work in town that used to be a huge paper-producer here on the East Coast. The picture of paper mill that David Airey posted a few days ago is (or rather used to be) right across the canal from my building. Now most of it is gone, unfortunately. But there’s still plenty of exciting paper around 
I am actually working on a post with all kinds of fun notepads and journals for doodling
RaShell´s last blog post: Landing Hand to Creativity
RaShell,
And have you seen the French Paper Samples blog? Nice stuff!
I checked out the French Paper website (I wish they had a better domain). So cool!! I love the typography and the 50s feel of everything. The Speckletone collection looks particularly lovely. Thanks so much for sharing that
I’m looking forward to your post on journals for doodling. I just thought the other day when I read your hand doodles post that I would like to start a doodle journal and try to do at least one pagefull of doodles per day. I think it would be a good creative exercise!
Great post! The first job I ever had in the design industry was working as an intern for this in-house design department. The art director there was well-versed in the print side of graphic design. She taught me so much about the printing process as well as choosing the right kind of paper and even how to order paper from suppliers. I still have a few “really” nice paper sample books from when I worked there. Maybe I should take some pictures of them too.
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I have loads of swatch books, infact, an entire bookshelf! I love collecting them, with my favourite being some boxes of samples by Curtis: The Conservation range.
I only wish I had the chance to get clients’ work printed on some great paper, but unfortunately, the cheaper option (not supprisingly) is always taken for obvious reasons.
Andrew Kelsall´s last blog post: I’m not lost, really!
Kyle,
That sounds fabulous! I wish I had a mentor like that who could teach me more about design and print. I’m positive there’s still a lot that I don’t know! I would love to see pictures of your paper sample books
Andrew,
Wow, that’s so awesome! I only have about 4 or 5 books myself. I guess I need to request more from my printer! I know what you mean about always having to go with cheapest options, my work is like that, too. Every once in a while I can convince them to go with something really nice, though. Looks like Curtis isn’t around anymore… or maybe I searched for the wrong thing? Wikipedia said they shut down in 1997.
1997…has it been so long? Yeah, I started collecting paper samples around that time. Maybe that explains the dodges Bank Gothic typeface on the box
I used to go directly to the paper manufacturers’ websites and request them directly, as you never know when they come in handy…
Andrew Kelsall´s last blog post: I’m not lost, really!
Andrew,
Have you seen the French Paper Co. ones that RaShell mentioned? They look awesome!
But then you have to pay anywhere from $8-$14 per book! Better to request from the printer and get them for free
Hmm, I’ve never paid for one yet?!? Maybe their free here in the UK
Yeah, the French Paper Co books look great, pity they only post to the US and Canada.
Andrew Kelsall´s last blog post: How to get a Design Job using Tinned Meat!
Andrew,
They are usually free if you go through a printer. But you can also get them directly from the mill and they will charge you. They say it’s for shipping and handling (I think that’s the same as P&P to you, right?)
Wow these really do look great, especially love the colors used on the first one. Thanks for sharing!
liam´s last blog post: Free Theme: Color Paper Wordpress Theme now on Smashing Magazine
Liam,
You’re welcome! I just wish there was a better way to share the wonderful tactile experience of these papers; the pictures really don’t do justice!
mmm it would be fun to design those little booklets. .. and you are not weird in the slightest! my favorite part of the art supplies shop is the paper section. I can spend hours there drooling and dreaming up things to do with it all – eventually just having to get some of it …. even if I don’t get round to using it for ages. !
So keep loving the paper! it is too easy to forget about it in this digital world.
Janice´s last blog post: 2009 Calendars in the Round
Janice,
There is a discount art supply store near me and I go in every so often when I have time and just feel the paper and look at the interesting textures. They have awesome handmade paper with things like music score flecks and shiney tinsel woven into it. So many possibilities!
Oh yay! Another paper lover
What is your favorite paper, LaurenMarie?
I mean, the one you use most often.
I love this article, now I know I am not a freak. I love paper, all kinds, from 20lb to cover stock,and my all time favorite is silk laminated 15pt card – it’s beautiful and feels like baby soft leather. It’s also supremely writable. I grab samples when I can, buy paper I’ll never use – I have a closet devoted to paper. One day, I’ll get a small commercial printer I can print my own work on – one day. I fell in love with paper sometime after I got my first sample of my work on paper from my printer.
I also love plastic for business cards – I have thousands. Vive le Design Revolucion!
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