This article is sponsored by Canson. I did not receive any money to conduct this test, but I carried it out based on a sample received for free.

A historic brand

The captivating history of the Canson brand is deeply woven into the fabric of time, shimmering with the legacy of the Montgolfier family and their groundbreaking innovations in papermaking.

The company was founded in 1557 by the Montgolfier family and has been located in Annonay (Ardèche, France) for centuries. The Montgolfiers were master papermaking artisans. They played a vital role in modernizing the papermaking industry. Their inventions include, notably, the first French vellum paper in 1777 and, later, tracing paper in 1809.

Canson’s famous logo depicts a hot air balloon (a “Montgolfière” in French). This is not a coincidence: Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier designed and performed the first flight of a hot air balloon in 1782, the envelope of which was made from paper produced at their mills.

The name “Canson” appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1801, Barthélemy Barou de la Lombardière de Canson, Étienne de Montgolfier’s son-in-law, succeeded him at the head of the company, which became “Montgolfier et Canson,” and later “Canson-Montgolfier.”

Over the generations, Canson has become the global leader in the Fine Art market. The brand has supported great artists and creators, even going so far as to design custom supports for some (like Ingres and Maillol). Artists such as Delacroix, Van Gogh, Degas, Matisse, Picasso, Dali, and Warhol have used Canson papers.

Canson joined the Italian group F.I.L.A. (Fabbrica Italiana Lapis ed Affini) in 2016. The company continues to manufacture a wide range of premium quality papers in France.

It is therefore with great pleasure that I received this sample of inkjet paper.

The baryta inkjet paper is a significant development in Canson’s offering for digital Fine Art photography, continuing their tradition of innovation for artists.

Historically, baryta paper was the preferred medium in traditional film photography (especially for black and white). It is characterized by a paper base coated with a layer of barium sulfate (baryta), which gives the print its bright white color, deep black density (D-max), and excellent archival properties.

Baryta inkjet paper is the modern version of this classic substrate. It is specifically developed for pigment inkjet printers (used in Fine Art) while reproducing the aesthetic, feel, and archival qualities of traditional silver halide baryta paper.

Canson Infinity Baryta Products

Canson offers this type of paper within its premium Canson Infinity line, dedicated to digital art photography and art reproduction. The flagship products include:

• Baryta Photographique: This is a true baryta paper developed for inkjet technology. It is typically composed of an acid-free alpha-cellulose base and is highly valued for:
  • Its rendering of very deep blacks (high D-max).
  • Its extra-smooth surface, often with a satin finish.
  • Its compliance with ISO 9706 conservation standards (ensuring the longevity of prints, which is essential for museums and collections).
• Baryta Prestige II: An evolution of baryta paper, featuring a heavier weight (often 340 g/m2) for better flatness and a pronounced glossy finish, while maintaining the aesthetic and archival qualities.

The specimen I received is Canson Infinity Edition Etching Rag II (A4 310 g/m2)

I have downloaded the ICC profile corresponding to my printer (Epson P700). For Mac users, the profiles are installed in the Mac OS X directory: /Library/ColorSync/Profiles

Canson sent me 2 sheets. At first touch, the paper is thick, the texture rich with a good sense of material. Visually, the white leans slightly towards yellow; I will see what the result looks like once printed.

On Miss numérique (FR), this paper is sold for €39.90 for 25 A4 sheets, which is very competitive compared to the brands I usually use (Epson or Ilford).

I think I’ll try it with this picture because the contrasts is high between white and black.

I plan to test this paper next week and make a video to share my impressions with you. See you soon.