Among Scottish paper artists
January 10, 2022
No, paper isn't dead! As digital enthusiasts, we're going to tell you that making paper is a true art form. And we're even going to make you love it.
In August, we were fortunate enough to be invited by Antalis and Arjowiggins to the lovely city of Aberdeen, Scotland. On the agenda: a tour of the Stoneywood Paper Mill and a look at how watermark rolls are made. Plus, a visit to a distillery, a whiskey tasting, and other Scottish specialties. Let’s go!
Departure for Scotland with a dozen privileged individuals, printers and graphic designers from all over Switzerland, accompanied by the directors of Antalis Print. After a few hours of travel, we arrive in Aberdeen and discover our little pied-à-terre for the stay: a gigantic manor house built in 1700.
After a hearty lunch, we took a taxi to Woollard and Henry Ltd. One of the last factories specializing in the manufacture of watermark rollers. These rollers are used to texture paper during its manufacture and to incorporate watermark patterns. This technique is often used as part of a brand identity, or simply to add a distinctive visual element to letterhead.
How does it work? The first step is to manufacture the basic structure. Each roller, which is designed for a single machine, is made of bronze and stainless steel.
The second step is to create a watermark layer that will cover the base structure. There are two types:
Line filigree: copper wires hand-soldered onto fine canvas (the wires create gaps)
Shaded watermark: obtained by embossing the paper, similar to a waffle pattern. This method is preferred when the design is complex or contains several shades of gray.
We would have shown you what it looks like, but due to confidentiality agreements, we were unfortunately not allowed to take photos of the watermark rolls in the workshops.
Back at the Manor, Sabrina and Serge (Antalis managers in French-speaking Switzerland) improvise a short walk along the Don, the river that has always supplied the Arjowiggins paper mill. We are lucky enough to encounter deer and other small animals, as well as thistles, small purple flowers typical of Scotland.
It's already the end of the day. A bagpipe player joins us at the Manor to liven up the cocktail hour. He invites us to try out the instrument. We hesitate. Then we go for it! Embarrassed by our sudden success, we quickly move on to dinner.
And here, to be completely honest, we don't really know what to expect in terms of cuisine. However, all the dishes are absolutely delicious, such as traditional salmon, haggis (stuffed sheep's stomach), fish and chips, and so on. Other discoveries are a little less pleasant, such as Marmite on toast, a kind of Cenovis that is much too salty. Best forgotten...
After the meal, the paper mill manager introduces us to Scotland through its eight best whiskeys. The atmosphere, which is more than festive, allows us to get to know our fellow travelers better.
We set off on foot for the long-awaited tour of the Arjowiggins factory. It has been producing fine paper for over two hundred years! Every year, hundreds of different types of paper are created there. We feel like kids.
Once at the factory, the tour begins in the color creation workshop. Using diluted paper pulp and dyes, different combinations are tested to find the right coloring formula and achieve the perfect shade. Specialists mostly use references (Pantone, CMYK, RAL, etc.), but sometimes they also have to match the exact colors of fabric swatches or objects, for example. It's a long and meticulous process. We love it.
Now let's head to the production lines! We start by watching the cellulose pulp being refined. A gentle mixture of long fibers (for strength) and short fibers (for opacity) is combined with river water in a large vat called a pulper. Before draining, dyes are added. This is also when the watermark rollers come into play. During our visit, we were able to follow the production of Keaykolour black.
Then, the journey continues. The refined paper pulp is sent to a press to be spread out and dried. It is then smoothed to even out its surface and rolled into reels. It can then be cut into sheets.
One of the unique features of this factory is that it offers a dual machine that can assemble two layers of paper with a weight ranging from 80 to 450 g/m2!
After a few hours of sightseeing, we returned to the manor for a traditional fish and chips dinner. With our bellies full, we set off for a tour of the Glen Garioch Distillery, a whisky distillery founded in 1797 by Thomas Simpson, located in the village of Old Meldrum in Aberdeenshire. Whisky now holds no secrets for us.
Last night. It's a surprise. We leave the Manor and head for the center of Aberdeen. The taxis drop us off in front of a large church to... eat there! (Yes, really!). Churches are not sacred monuments in Scotland, so they are often converted into restaurants, bars, guesthouses, etc. In fact, after a hearty meal, we go partying in... another church! Then, it's our last night in our little manor house.
Introducing Antalis' new paper collection. And now it's Christmas! We discover a host of new papers, each one as beautiful as the next. New shades such as Chili Pepper, Kiwi and Carmine are joining the KeayKolour range we all know and love. There are also new glitter papers, with varying amounts of glitter, which sparkle when exposed to light. But the highlight is the brand new range of metallic papers. It includes a bronze paper that is simply sublime. In short, it's a feast for the eyes!
Then, one by one, everyone presents a few projects they have completed using Antalis paper. We discuss, we look, we exchange ideas. It's a wonderful morning.
It's now time to leave. The Antalis team takes us to see the Aberdeen fishing area, a small, colorful paved area that stands out from the rest of the city. We stroll around for a while, admire the sea, take a quick souvenir photo, then head back to town for lunch. A little shopping, a drink or two, and then it's off to the airport.
And so ends this adventure full of surprises and encounters. We will remember it for a long time! Thank you, Arjowiggins. Thank you, Antalis.
