In today’s blog, we would like to introduce a group of ultra-realistic papers that are part of the latest Rebelle 3 release called WASHI. The word ‘washi’ comes from ‘wa’ meaning ‘Japanese’ and shi meaning 'paper’. The principle of its production is very old. It was brought to Japan by Buddhist monks in the 6th century AD and since then the Japanese craftsmen have been honing its production to perfection.
Washi is made from the inner bark of three unique plants: kozo bush, mitsumata shrub and gampi tree. Kozo has long, solid fibers, paper resembles a cloth with its toughness and represents the male principle. Mitsumata has a shorter, finer fiber. Its growth is slower and the fiber represents the female principle. Gampi is an ancient fine fiber that produces a smooth shiny surface. In addition to the bark, also neri is used - a mucilaginous material made from the roots of the hibiscus which causes uniform dispersion of the fibers in the water in order to form a sheet.
Washi is not just a material for writing or painting. It embodies a deep respect for pure nature, formed into a paper surface. A sheet of paper is formed by a unique cessation of the natural movement of water and scattered fibers on a special bamboo mat called suketa. When a craftsman picks up the fibers scattered in the water on a mat, they move in the form of waves, they stratify and intertwine. Stopping the movement of fibers is always unique. No paper is the same. Each has a unique edge of wrinkling fibers. When hand movement and water form the sheets, the craftsman puts one on to the other, then presses and comb sheets with a special brush, then finally dries them.
We take the creation of Rebelle papers with the same level of seriousness. When creating papers, we look for a suitable light to capture the uniqueness of the fibers, then merge them in the compositing software, creating a unique shape every time. Papers are not a mechanical copy of reality. They are new images created with respect to the original pattern and that’s why they behave like real papers while painting in the Rebelle - incredibly realistically.
Real paper always has a specific size, structure, typical characteristic. Paper in Rebelle is more flexible, you can have more variations - it can have different texture scale, different colors and can react rather differently to watercolor and ink. Each new document is divergent. Rebelle alters the paper edges, also the paper structure is not always exactly the same. Users can choose whether they want paper with natural, deckle-edges or not.
Rebelle papers from the Washi series are diverse:
• The first set of Washi papers are papers with roughly processed Kozo fibers and coarse hemp fibers.
• The second set of Washi Fine papers includes finer processed Mitsumata, Gampi, and Kozo fibers.
• The third set of Washi Heavy combines coarse bundles and single fine fibers. This wonderful mix offers a lot of visual possibilities.
• The fourth set of Washi Long has been prepared to preserve as many long fibers as possible in order to enhance their natural beauty.
Your paintings on Washi papers will come to life. After you apply the color inconspicuous paper reveals its hidden beauty.
In Rebelle 3, you can also set the papers as needed:
Visual Settings
• Different canvas texture visibility
• Different influence of the paper on the painting
• Different paper absorbency
Canvas Settings
• Various DPI, various size of canvas texture and paper edges
• Paper with or without deckled edges
• Set original (default) paper color or use custom color
Washi papers in Rebelle are labeled according to the material used:
WK – Washi Kozo
WM – Washi Mitsumata
WG – Washi Gampi
We are continuously preparing for you different exclusive papers and canvases. Get the latest Washi and other paper packages from our shop: https://www.escapemotions.com/products/rebelle/papers.php
We wish you a lot of joy during your paintings with Washi papers.
Your Escape Motions Team
Papers and canvases exclusively for Rebelle software are created by Ľubomír Zabadal, expert for traditional art media at university UKF, Slovakia.
