
Re: The paper is buckling
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The paper is called "mura udaban": I bought it from the Japanese Paper Place in Toronto and was told that it was done by a former baseball player. Do you know him/that paper?
I'm sorry but I've never heard of it ... (but I don't really know anything about other types of paper, as I always just use the same one!)
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Does it mean, that a paper like this cannot used at its full length for woodblock printing?
Well, I can't say 'cannot', but there is no question that it is very difficult.
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What would you recommend me, if I want to work with this paper or in this size?
There are a number of things to try:
1) before you moisten the paper, make some small marks with a pencil at each end of the sheet, and measure the distance between them. Then, after the paper is wet, make a note of the new size. Keep checking this again and again during the course of the printing ... it will help you to decide more/less water to control things.
2) Avoid making strong side-to-side baren strokes, as this will definitely stretch the paper. Short strokes, circular patterns, etc. are the way to go.
3) When peeling the paper off the block, don't lift at one end and pull it up. This too, will stretch the paper. Tease it off the block bit by bit ...
4) Use the most stable paper you can find. I have no knowledge of the one you mention, but for example, torinoko expands much more than hosho. Do some experiments with measuring and moistening, and choose a paper that doesn't expand so much.
5) Think of the possible registration problems when planning the design, and avoid critical registration in the
horizontal direction.
6) Rather than use a kento mark at one corner, use a registration 'notch' at the center of the sheet (or located to be close to an area of critical registration - as I did with my scroll print). This keeps the distance between the mark and the end of the paper to a minimum ...
7) As mentioned, use a high quality - and very smoothly cooked - paste. And not too much of it. This will minimize shrinking and buckling
8) Dry the paper after printing quite slowly and carefully. Don't let the edges dry out first, as this will almost certainly cause more buckling.
That's all I can think of at the moment!