Heavy by Light

Caring for Your Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic Print

This artwork is printed on 340 gsm Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic paper. Made from 100% cotton, it features a beautiful, silvery-shimmering finish that catches and reflects light dynamically, giving the piece a truly unique glow.

Here are a few simple suggestions to help you handle and frame your new piece:

Unpacking & Handling

• Handling the paper The special metallic finish can sometimes pick up natural oils from your hands or show fingerprints. To keep the image pristine, it's best to lift and hold the print by the unprinted white borders.
• Keep it clean If you have clean cotton gloves handy, feel free to use them! If not, just make sure your hands are clean and dry before unpacking.

Flattening the Print

Because this paper is quite thick and features a specialized metallic coating, it will naturally want to stay curled after traveling in its shipping tube. It just needs a little time to relax before framing.

• Unroll Gently unroll the print onto a clean, flat surface.
• Protect Keep the included tissue paper draped over the artwork to keep dust off.
• Weight it down Place clean, flat, heavy objects (like large books) on the corners to gently press the paper flat.
• Let it rest Leave it to settle for a day or two. Don't worry if the paper feels a bit stiff or stubborn at first—the metallic surface makes it more rigid, but it will flatten out beautifully once properly mounted by your framer.

Framing Suggestions

If you are working with a local framer, here are a few recommendations to achieve our atelier’s signature look:

• Use a spacer Ask your framer for a "spacer" mount. This creates a small physical gap between the glass and the artwork, preventing the metallic paper from sticking to or pressing flat against the glass.
• Frame style A simple wood profile (we love a 15 mm face and 30 mm depth) frames the work beautifully without overpowering the subtle shimmer of the paper.
• Glass Anti-reflective glass with UV protection (such as Artglas) is a fantastic choice. It cuts down on glare so you can truly appreciate the metallic effect, and it helps protect the pigments from fading in the sunlight.
• Materials Simply ask your framer to use acid-free backing boards and tapes to keep the paper healthy over the years.

General Care

• Keep it dry Avoid using liquids, damp cloths, or cleaning sprays near the unglassed print, as moisture and heavy friction can leave marks on the metallic finish.
• Dusting If the print needs a quick dusting before it goes into the frame, a very light sweep with a soft, clean brush will do the trick perfectly.