Magnani 1404 Paper: Buyer’s Guide

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If you are interested in using top-quality Italian made papers used by great masters or you are shopping for someone else, your workshop, class etc., but you are not sure where to start, then this is the breakdown for you.

We are going to explain the different types of Magnani 1404 papers available for all media as well as each of their attributes.

What Is Magnani 1404?

Imagine yourself using the same high-quality papers as the great masters of history!

Magnani 1404 paper has a long and accomplished history. The mill that is used to create their paper has been in operation for over 600 years, since 1404 AD. It has created paper for notable artists and historical figures such as Picasso, Giorgio de Chirico, and even Napoleon Bonaparte’s wedding announcements.

Magnani tries to stay true to their history by creating mould made paper. This is a historical way to create paper. They start by straining 100% cotton paper pulp into a mould and deckle and then pressing them with their proprietary felts to achieve the ideal surface. This allows for the consistency of machine made papers with the quality and crafted feeling of hand-made papers. 

Magnani creates a wide variety of papers for artists, including watercolor, mix-media, sketch, print-making, and even paper for acrylic paint. 

Watercolor Paper

Rather than distinguish their different watercolor papers by press and weight alone, Magnani wanted to call back to the history and soul of the paper by giving each type its own name. 

Italia is their cold pressed watercolor paper. It is created with a slight toothy texture. Cold Pressed paper is the most popular type among watercolor artists. 

Portofino is hot pressed watercolor paper which typically has a smoother surface than cold pressed or rough. Magnani’s hot pressed paper is distinct from others because it is exceptionally smooth with a very slight tooth that is unique to other hot pressed papers on the market. Hot pressed paper is great for illustrators or any one doing art for reproduction purposes that would not want any texture showing through. 

Toscana is their rough paper. This paper has a bit more texture than cold pressed paper and is especially good for granulating watercolors and any piece that needs a more distinct character.   

All of these papers come in both a 140lb and 300lb weight, with 140lb being the thinner of the two. Magnani’s Watercolor papers come in a wide range of diverse sizes, including unique circular blocks.

Acrylic Paper

Magnani’s paper for Acrylic paint is known as Firenze. The Firenze paper is 188 lb and has a rough texture that is perfect for acrylic paint to adhere to. It is durable enough to withstand harsh acrylics that can cause other papers to pill and warp.  

Drawing Paper

A Truly Unique Paper Developed By A Maestro

Annigoni is the name of Magnani’s drawing paper. This paper was named after the artist Pietro Annigoni who worked directly with Magnani to design the paper using its own unique marking felts. This soft, toothy paper has a creamy beige color and small black fibers embedded from the felts that created it.

For over 70 years, Annigoni Drawing Paper has been made to the specifications of the famous portrait artist Pietro Annigoni.

Printmaking

Pescia: The Magnani Pescia printmaking paper stands out from other brands because it is offered in a variety of colors including white, light blue, cream, and grey. This paper is sold exclusively in sheets that show off the deckled edge created naturally by the mould in the paper making process. It has a smooth surface and delicate sizing that make it ideal for a variety of printmaking techniques.

Mixed-Media

Arte Moderna is the name of Magnani’s mixed-media paper. The papermakers used great attention to detail when crafting this paper. It is created with the same processes and materials as their watercolor paper, but with the marking felt used on their drawing paper.

This creates a paper able to withstand a wide variety of wet media while still having a surface that is perfect for dry media and capturing fine details. 

Symbology On Every Cover!

On the cover of all Magnani 1404 papers you will find a series of badges representing the attributes of each paper. Here are some of the badges you might encounter and what they mean:

Mould Made: This is in reference to Magnani’s mould making process, denoting each pad as Mould made, rather than machine or hand made.

100% Cotton: Magnani’s papers are made with 100% cotton. This is noteworthy for a few reasons. Cotton has the longest fiber of any material used to create paper. This allows for a durable, absorbent surface. Cotton is also naturally lignin free. Lignin is an acidic substance found in wood pulp that will cause paper to yellow and degrade faster over time. While papers that contain lignin are given buffers to counteract the acidity, cotton paper that is naturally lignin free is more archival over time. 

Acid free: Acid-free is an important quality for archival paper. High acid content in paper can cause it to degrade and yellow faster overtime.

Long life: This is an attribute given by the International Organization of Standardization to papers that meet certain strength and ingredient qualities necessary to be highly archivable. Most of these papers are predicted to last over a century with no noticeable change, if cared for properly.  

OBA free: This badge certifies that the paper is free of optical brighteners. Optical brighteners are additives included in paper to make it appear brighter and are fluorescent by nature. Unfortunately, OBAs are not archival and will fade over time, making paper appear more yellow as it ages. Since Magnani’s papers are OBA free, their color will stay consistent over time. 

On top of these attributes, Magnani’s paint papers are also both internally and externally sized using a vegan sizing, giving them the ideal absorbency and durability necessary to hold up to large amounts of paint.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Magnani 1404? 

A: Magnani 1404 is an Italian paper company founded in 1404 that specializes in mould made fine art papers for many media, artists and masters.

What types of paper does Magnani make? 

A: Magnani is well known for making a variety of art papers including paper for watercolor, drawing, printmaking, mixed-media, and acrylic. 

What is mould-made paper? 

A: Mould made papers are created in a traditional mould and deckle used in hand-made papers, but with the streamlined processes of machine manufacturing. This creates consistent results in quality while still keeping the hand-crafted appeal. 

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More Resources

1. Watercolor Tubes or Pans? The Pros and Cons
2. Different Types of Watercolor Paper and Their Unique Qualities
3. The Best Watercolor Brushes
4. The Best Professional Watercolor Paint Brands