How to fray edges of rag paper?

[texshooter]

Does anybody fray, tatter the edges of matt sheets for that distressed look? How and with what tool?

[texshooter]

Bingo!

http://nathanselikoff.com/resources/how-to-deckle-edges-on-watercolor-paper-for-digital-fine-art-prints

And now I know what "deckling" means.

[neile]

You can buy rulers specifically made for this: http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Tearing-Rulers-Inch-Deckle/dp/B00161UFRU.

I have one from www.dualedgeripper.com that works like a charm the one time a year a client asks for this look.

Neil

[mstevensphoto]

you may find tha tone od the deckled edge rulers or tools is what you need. every time I try to DIY it I end up wasting a bunch of time and paper before landing on what I want. the tools are perfect and cheapish.

[Rob Reiter]

I have the DualEdge deckling tool, which is nice, but I actually prefer the look of a simple torn edge using a straight edge like a long ruler. Tearing from the back side seems to work better, but with either tool, trying both front and backside tearing-the looks lill be different. A "loose" tear, where I don't try to follow the straight edge perfectly, is also worth trying; sometimes the result can be more natural.

Different papers will give different results and since paper has a grain direction, tearing cross-grain may give different results than tearing with the grain.

[rxchaos]

Perhaps you're aware Hahnemühle makes a deckle edged paper in their PhotoRag, MuseumEtching and WilliamTurner textures. One pays about a 50% premium for the torn edges.

-c

[texshooter]

Apparently Epson Cold Press is also available with deckled edge.

http://digitalcolorimaging.net/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=59

[Paul2660]

Ditto to the dual edge ripper.  Works very well.

I have found that the best papers for this application are the heavy weight matte, like Epson Hot or Cold press,  BC Optica 1, or Canson Arches.

The problem with putting already ripped paper in a roll feed printer is the head tends to hit the deckles and I feel you get a lot more dust inside.  I was surprised to see the information that Epson is selling Cold press deckled, it appears it's only in smaller sheets not rolls.

Floating out a deckled print can make for a very nice presentation.

Paul Caldwell