I wish paper manufacturers would use a different term to describe the feel of the paper. For example, I just bought a whole box of Ilford Prestige Fine Art Textured thinking it just might have a textured feel, but no. It might have visual texture compared to its "smooth" counterpart, but IMO it feels smooth, just like 99% of all the other matte "textured" papers on the market. What I've come to learn is if the paper is not 100% cotton, it's probably not rough to the touch. The word "textured" is vague and usually means the surface is not absolutely flat, not that it has a coarse tactility.
Ilford's Prestige range introduction showed flaws in documentation texts, sample books and packaging. I mentioned a texture confusion in another thread about the Monochrome paper.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=70745.0quote of my text: >>One sample of the Ilford sample book I brought back from the Photokina is a 190gsm textured, 100% cotton paper which has the following name printed on it: Smooth Fine Art. The texture is actually coarser than 220gsm Fine Art Textured. I made a mistake on the name in my first message but it is that sample I had in mind. There is also a 310gsm Smooth Fine Art Matt sample in that book that is really smooth. I think the first sample mentioned has a wrong imprint on it or the name is plain wrong.<<
In general it is almost impossible to describe all paper textures. Frequency, direction (Sugar Cane), depth, sharp tops, rounded tops, regularity in pattern or not, artificially pressed, embossed or natural formation etc and you still will not get the visual and tactile experience samples give. I was thinking about scans of paper textures to add to the SpectrumViz category or digital takes with light from aside but there must be a better way. RIT tried it but it could be improved in my opinion:
http://digitalsamplebook.comGerman Etching is an alpha cellulose paper with a nice texture. There are more examples. I do not see a direct relation to cotton or alpha cellulose for smooth or textured papers. The smoothest papers could be industrial made ECF qualities that fall in another category, usually with thinner inkjet coatings too.
--
Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst
http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htmDecember 2012, 500+ inkjet media white spectral plots.