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Is rag paper different than cotton paper?
"Rag" and "cotton" have become somewhat generic terms that are often used interchangeably, but there are differences between true rag and cotton papers. At one time all "rag" paper was made from cotton rags. Rags were in fact clippings or waste from textile mills that produced cotton bedding, shirts etc. Rag fibers produce paper with remarkable strength, longevity and maintain stable optical properties, such as brightness. Today many papers are made with cotton linters. Cotton linters are the by-product of cotton processing. These fibers are shorter and less strong than rag but maintain the optical characteristics and longevity of cotton rag.
Our 500 Series Drawing, Bristol and Illustration Board Surfaces are manufactured using a combination of rag and linters. The ratio of approximately 3 parts rag to 1 part linters has been found to be the ideal make–up for the number of working properties required of these high end papers. This is the same fiber make–up that has been used since these grades were first manufactured in 1893.
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