Gampi
paper means goose skin paper. In general, it refers to a paper made from
gampi fiber, a low growing bast fiber. It is a daphne plant. Gampi takes
longer to grow than mulberry and therefore is more revered. Gampi paper
is strong, translucent and thin, having a silky quality. It is available
in varying weights and colors.
Gampi paper has superlative beauty and dignity, so is called the king
of washi. Its short, thin fibers provides a finely trextured, high
density paper with a smooth surface of a natural reddish cream color.
Gampi Paper is classified into three groups depending on the
thickness:
- Atsu-yo - Gampi paper having a thick design.
- Chu-yo - Gampi paper having a medium size
design.
- Usu-yo - Gampi paper having a thin design
Making of Gampi Paper
- Soak the gampi for a couple of day in a bucket.
- Then cook it in soda ash for 2 hours and processed by beating it
for about half an hour.
- Blend it further for short bursts.
- Make a soft paste and layer the paste.
- Allow to dry.
- This makes gampi paper.
Applications of Gampi Paper
Gampi paper is said to be the dream surface for print making, wood
block prints and many other projects. Gampi fibers are added to other to
get a smoother texture. They are used for Japanese style paintings and
luxurious fusuma. Thin gampi papers are popular as stencil paper.
