Dataprint has been supplying the design industry with high quality supplies since 1965. Fields such as CAD, graphic design, imaging, and drafting rely on accuracy and precision, making it crucial that all materials are crafted to exacting standards, from drawing instruments to paper media such as parchment paper. When even seemingly minor details are critical to success, there’s no room for error.Tracing paper has long played an important role in the design industry.

Various forms of tracing paper have been used in drafting and architectural design for centuries. Early tracing paper was typicallycreated by impregnating paper with oils or resins, and was often crafted from makeshift materials, such as the paper used for bank notes. These transparent papers have been used by designers in countless ways, from copying designs from other materials to allowing the artist to test various ideas without affecting the original design. Impregnation, overbeating and acid gelatinization are the three main methods for creating translucent tracing paper. Each comes with its own set of pros and cons; which paper is best depends on the application and the requirements of the designer, and each method has evolved over time with advancements in technology and improved processes. Parchment tracing paper refers to paper created through acid treatment.

The pulp is slightly beaten, and the paper is dipped in acid. This causes the fibers in the paper to swell, and also removes some of the cellulose. The paper is rinsed in a neutralizing bath, and then dried. As it dries, a membrane forms around the fiber structure, which forces out air. This gives parchment paper strength and resilience, even when wet. There is also imitation parchment tracing paper available on the market, which is usually cheaper than genuine parchment paper.

In less critical applications, such as for artistic uses, it is often a sufficient choice. Consisting of a combination of pulp and materials such as glues and sulphates, the paper is ground and beaten before it is pressed and dried.

As fields such as architecture evolved beyond the artistic into the practical, the importance of high quality materials has grown. Specially designed tracing papers give designers a precision, blemish free surface to work on, ensuring the high accuracy that is so important. Whether genuine parchment paper is required or imitation parchment paper will suffice, finding high quality supplies is essential in ensuring the success of any project. Dataprint is committed to providing design professionals with the best supplies available on the market. With an inventory of over 3,000 items in stock, and over 50,000 items available, Dataprint specializes in offering media such as parchment paper in a wide variety of sizes and specifications. Dataprint has been serving the AEC market online for over a decade, and was one of the first companies to meet the demand for “half-size” media. For al your design media needs, visit www.dataprint.com or call 1-800-227-6191. 99.5% of in-stock orders are shipped the same day, and with 3 nationwide warehouses, Dataprint is able to ship quickly to anywhere in the country.