What do artist’s mean by saying Opaline paper?

I believe “opaline” is what we used to call “tracing paper,” i.e. translucent paper that permits you to see artwork underneath.

Opaline Paper

Opaline paper is any paper that will allow light to shine through but only diffuse light. Opaline means ‘like opal’ http://www.gemselect.com/other-info/graphics/opal-…

The quality is no so much the colorful spectrum but the way it almost seems to give of more light than can be expected from the source.

It is better known as tracing paper though it is a specific type of tracing paper. Tracing paper comes in a range of ‘see-through-ness’. Opaline is the least see-through.

You can print paint draw on it. Though it has low resistance against water so water color may ruin it’s flatness and smooth skin.

Bond paper is also a sturdy type of paper used to print …well bonds. http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4812438639086307&pi…

But The types of paper you describe are rather…exotic. Yes they would make for awesome color pencil drawings but “hot press water color paper” would do very well too. More readily available and in many different ‘teeth’. Most art shops have test blocks with different types of paper so you can find what paper suits you best.

An idea: There are artists that sand their paper before coloring to get that tooth just right.

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RE:

What do artist’s mean by saying Opaline paper?

That’s what I’m wondering, an artist referred me to using base bond paper and opaline but every search turned up next to nothing only overseas sites that have “opaline” sheets and nothing in bulk and from what I’ve read bond paper is a type of writing paper? From what I’ve…

Opaline “paper” is closer to parchment than paper. It’s usually made from sheep, but sometimes goats. The difference between opaline and parchment is that opaline is made from parts – much like chicken nuggets are made from the (worst, scrap) parts of a chicken, ground together, then reformed into a nugget. It’s lovely to write on; very smooth with no spreading of the ink. However it will smear so ink must thoroughly dry. It’s mostly available from England but some limner’s guilds (SCA) offer if.

we can supply opaline paper….from China,

if you need, PLS contact me..