BFK Rives is a printmaking paper which is used widely around the world and is mainly suitable for lithography and copper plate printing. It is sometimes used as a back mounting paper when printing woodcuts on ganpishi paper.

This product was developed specially for printing use by the French company, Arjo Wiggins, and is an acid-free (mildly alkaline) paper made of 100% cotton pulp. This fine grain paper has a slightly rough surface with moderate thickness and pliability. It is soft sized and thus absorbs moisture and ink relatively easily. It is available in S, M, L, XL and XXL sizes and also in a wide range of thicknesses with a basis weight (mass of 1 sheet of paper per square meter) of 250g, 270g, 280g, and 300g. White paper, which is almost pure white, is the most commonly used color but grey and tan tones (M size, 280g only) are also available. The paper has deckle edges on three sides and a watermark along the lower edge. The side where the “BFK RIVES” watermark can be read normally is the front.

A cutter is not used when shearing the paper in two. Instead, turn the paper upside down, place a straight edge ruler on the line where it is to be cut and manually tear the paper along the ruler. This way, you can create a natural looking edge (artificial deckle edge).
BFK Rives can be purchased at art supply stores that handle printing supplies.

* The example (photo) is of a test sample to demonstrate the properties of the paper and the possible expressions. It is not a recommendation of any particular type of material. (Materials that are not generally suitable are also used to demonstrate.)