How paper is made
PHASE 1
Wood or cotton fibers are beaten until they break down into small particles, and the fibers are diluted with water to make pulp and placed in a reservoir.
PHASE 2
Pulp is then metered out in a continuous stream onto a moving wire screen. The moving wire is mechanically shaken side to side to distribute the pulp evenly across the screen and drain water.
PHASE 3
The pulp is then transferred to a woven felt blanket and carries paper through a press roll which removes even more water. By varying the woven texture and the location of felts, the finished texture of the paper can be varied.
PHASE 4
Next, the paper is run through a “sizing” bath to enhance the working properties of the sheet. Without sizing, the paper would act like a blotter. The amount of sizing is adjusted based on the grade and purpose of the paper.
PHASE 5
After the sizing bath, the paper is re-dried. At this point, it will go through different finishing processes depending on the type of paper. A calendaring stack, which is a large stack of rolls that the paper runs though, determines the final smoothness of the sheet.
PHASE 6
The paper is then rolled or sheeted. Finally the paper is cut and converted into pads, blocks, books, sheets or rolls. Ready to be used by artists around the world.
