Review: Clairefontaine DCP Digital Copy Paper

[biffybeans]

Click here to read the full review with pictures.

 

People looking for individual blank sheets of Clairefontaine paper (for art, writing or bookmaking, etc.) will be pleased to know that Exaclair will begin importing Clairfontaine's Digital Color Copy Paper into the US in the spring of 2010. Intended to be an alternative to expensive glossy paper for color prints, DCP is A4 in size, 8 1/4 by 11 3/4".

 

Specs are as follows:

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tdXx_W3kjBE/S0JDOsQm1pI/AAAAAAAAAcc/f_FSHI-PPgc/s400/DCP.gif

 

While I typically do not print photos from my computer printer, I was very interested how this paper might work for various art applications. I also know that there are people that have been looking for single blank sheets of Clairefontaine paper for making their own journals and I think people will be quite pleased with the results.

 

I first tested several different permanent markers on the DCP paper: Sharpie, Staedtler Lumocolor and Bic Mark-it. Each of the markers were quite vibrant on the paper.

 

There was some bleed through with the permanent markers - but truth be told, I've yet to find a paper less than watercolor weight that didn't bleed. Even my Borden & Riley marker paper bleeds through like this.

 

Each fountain pen ink I tested flowed smoothly & effortlessly on this paper. It's similar to the Clairefontaine Triomphe in that aspect. (Mandala drawn over top with a Pitt Brush Pen.)

 

Faber Castell Pitt Brush pens POPPED on this paper and I'm willing to guess it would be like that with most markers, solvent based or not.

 

I tested three different kinds of colored pencils on this paper. Regular Prismacolor, Derwent Inktense & Faber Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolor pencils. Whatever the Prismacolor pencils are made of, they did not go down smoothly on this paper. As the surface of this paper is super smooth, the pencils didn't have anything to grab onto and it was not a pleasant experience to work with them on this paper. I also tried one of the Rhodia pencils, (HD lead) and the results were similar.

 

The Derwent Inktense pencils went down on the paper a little better than the Prismacolor. In the above example, I colored in the design and then went over the pencil with a Niji Waterbrush. This paper does not love water - in fact - the less used, the better. (It gets a little crumbly when too much water is used)

 

The Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencils worked quite nicely when doodling on this ultra smooth paper - much better than the Prismacolor or the Inktense. In the above example, on one half I tried coloring in the design & then washing with the brush and on the other half, I touched the tip of the wet brush to the pencil & then painted with it. That method worked better than running the brush over the color on the paper.

 

My Caran d'Ache Neocolor II watersoluble crayons went down on this paper as smooth as silk. Two similar doodles but on the second, I washed over the doodle with a waterbrush.

 

Keeping in mind that this isn't specifically a paper to be used with water based media, (some resistance to water and buckling occurred) single strokes of a light wash seem to do fine. Artist grade watercolor paints were used in the example above.

 

Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks - same results as mentioned above. Colors are really vibrant.

 

Testing to see if both sides of the paper react the same when water is applied and the answer was yes.

 

I wanted to see of there was any liquid substance that this paper would really agree with and painting with J. Herbin China/India ink worked like a charm. Filled in with J. Herbin Rouge Opera fountain pen ink that I have in a Niji Waterbrush.

 

Of note, looking at a sheet of this paper next to the Triomphe, (which is a bright white) the DCP has a very slight bluish tinge to it. I'm guessing this has something to do with how the colors are able to pop on this paper. It is not a distraction to me and unless you hold it against another paper, it may not even be noticeable.

 

To the best of my knowledge, it appears as though 100 sheet packages of the DCP will sell for around $12.00. Once again, this product is not currently available, and is expected to arrive later this spring

 

DCP samples provided by Exaclair

[vlada]

Thanks for the review

[biffybeans]

Sure thing!

 

Thanks for the review

[dcwaites]

There are several papers I have tried that are deluxe copy papers with respect to fountain pen use. Clairefontaine's DCP is one of those, along with Stora Enso 4CC and OCE Topcolor.

 

I found it very hard to get any feathering, bleeding or show-through with any of these papers.

 

However, in Australia, these also come with deluxe pricing, typically in the price of $20~$25 / A4 ream of 100gsm.

[inkypete]

There are several papers I have tried that are deluxe copy papers with respect to fountain pen use. Clairefontaine's DCP is one of those, along with Stora Enso 4CC and OCE Topcolor.

 

I found it very hard to get any feathering, bleeding or show-through with any of these papers.

 

However, in Australia, these also come with deluxe pricing, typically in the price of $20~$25 / A4 ream of 100gsm.

 

 

Is the Clairefontaine DCP available here in Oz?

[biffybeans]

Hi Pete,

 

I never know how to answer international questions on the Clairefontaine brands. I only ever know about US availability because I work with Exaclair, the US distributor. Have you checked with Notemaker? http://notemaker.com.au/

 

 

There are several papers I have tried that are deluxe copy papers with respect to fountain pen use. Clairefontaine's DCP is one of those, along with Stora Enso 4CC and OCE Topcolor.

 

I found it very hard to get any feathering, bleeding or show-through with any of these papers.

 

However, in Australia, these also come with deluxe pricing, typically in the price of $20~$25 / A4 ream of 100gsm.

 

 

Is the Clairefontaine DCP available here in Oz?

[kushbaby]

Thank you so much for this review and info. I will look for it when it is available.

[Ghost Plane]

Looking forward to it.

[dcwaites]

There are several papers I have tried that are deluxe copy papers with respect to fountain pen use. Clairefontaine's DCP is one of those, along with Stora Enso 4CC and OCE Topcolor.

 

I found it very hard to get any feathering, bleeding or show-through with any of these papers.

 

However, in Australia, these also come with deluxe pricing, typically in the price of $20~$25 / A4 ream of 100gsm.

 

 

Is the Clairefontaine DCP available here in Oz?

 

I was visiting a client at the Norwest Business Park and found this little stationer in the same building --

 

Discount Office Express 117/ 20 Lexington Drv, Bella Vista NSW 2153

ph: (02) 8824 3361

When I first wandered in, he only had the 120gsm in A4, but I asked him, and he was able to get me a ream of the 100 gsm in a week or so, so there must be a distributor in Oz somewhere.

 

Mind you, looking at my original post on this paper, that was two years ago...

[smeden]

The keyword to look for when you want blank paper sheets for fp use is "Digital Printing" or "Colour Laser". All papers made for this purpose are also very good for fp use.

 

I have used Stora Enso 4CC and Canon High Grade in 100-120 gsm. Both are great but the 4CC is hard to beat. The differences, however, between the major manufacturers paper in the segment is quite small so you can use whatever is locally available.

 

Stay away from the cheapest copy paper, usually 75-80gsm, and paper for ink printers.

[Juicyjones]

Attractive paper for sure.

[nicholasyeo]

Wow, attractive, but definitely going to cost a considerable lot of money!

[GouletPens]

Great review! This is some nice paper, for sure. It's smooth like Triomphe, yet more economical (per sheet). It meets the needs of a lot of people looking for Clairefontaine paper in loose sheets.

[Aelfattrum]

 

On 3/17/2010 at 11:32 AM, biffybeans said:

People looking for individual blank sheets of Clairefontaine paper (for art, writing or bookmaking, etc.) will be pleased to know that Exaclair will begin importing Clairfontaine's Digital Color Copy Paper into the US in the spring of 2010. Intended to be an alternative to expensive glossy paper for color prints, DCP is A4 in size, 8 1/4 by 11 3/4".

 

(In the US, in 2021, apparently the place to get this is: https://www.paperbistro.com/4640c-clairefontaine-a4-extreme-white-velin-printing-paper - though it seems seems a bit price-y to me)

[Preserved_Killick]

The beast awakens -- after 11 years aslumber.

 

Anyway, I've used this 100gsm Clairefontaine Digital Copy Paper, and can report that it is perfect for fountain pens.  It is just as smooth as Clairefontaine's 90gsm paper.  The 100gms may feather slightly more easily than the 90gsm paper if one is using a flex nib, or something very gushy and broad.  But that's nit picking, since not even the 100gsm paper is particularly feather prone compared to 99.9% of paper.

 

FYI -- the A4 packs like Paper Bistro sells are long grain paper.