Which Side of Hahnemühle Paper Do You Print On?

Reviewed November 2026 by the RGB UK technical team.

It sounds like a beginner’s question, but it is one of the most common reasons a professional printer ends up with a dull, flat print on expensive cotton paper. Smooth papers like Photo Rag 308 and Photo Rag Ultra Smooth look very similar on both faces, and once a sheet has been out of the box it is easy to lose track.

How to find the coated side

Textured papers such as German Etching, Museum Etching, Torchon and the William Turner watercolour papers are easier. The printable side carries the deliberate surface texture and coating, while the back is usually flatter.

Rolls

The roll label and box show how the roll is wound. Load it following your printer’s roll loading diagram, and if you are unsure, use the fingertip test on the leading edge before you feed it. Hahnemühle says many of its roll sizes use a 3 inch core as standard, so check your spindle or roll holder first. We stock most papers in 17, 24, 36 and 44 inch widths, and several in 60 and 64 inch.

Before you print: dust and handling

Hahnemühle’s own printing guidance gives three simple rules:

1. Print on the coated side.
2. Blow any coating residue off the surface before printing to avoid white marks later. A soft, clean brush or a blower works well, especially along the cut edge of a roll.
3. Handle the paper by the edges and touch the printing surface as little as possible.

For desktop printers, Hahnemühle also recommends feeding one sheet at a time, notes that heavier sheets may need guiding into the feed by hand, and says printers feeding from a bottom tray will generally take papers up to about 210gsm. For heavier papers use the rear or manual feed.

After printing

• Let prints dry fully before stacking or framing. Lay them flat, face up, with nothing touching the surface. Overnight is a sensible default, longer for dense prints on gloss baryta.
• Interleave stacked prints with acid free tissue and store them in an archive box.
• If the print will not go behind glass, Hahnemühle recommends sealing it with a protective spray. Our Hahnemühle Protective Spray adds UV, abrasion and water resistance without changing the surface.
• For canvas, use Hahnemühle Varnish, available in gloss, satin and matt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which side of Hahnemühle Photo Rag do you print on?

Print on the coated side. On Photo Rag it is the slightly smoother, brighter face with a faint sheen and a soft, slightly tacky feel under a dry fingertip. Photo Rag Duo and Photo Rag Book and Album are the exceptions, as they are coated on both sides.

How do I tell the printable side of a Hahnemühle sheet?

Hahnemühle says you can usually feel the coating on the surface. Hold the sheet to the light at a low angle: the coated side looks more even and slightly brighter. If you are still unsure, touch a corner with a barely damp fingertip, as the coated side feels a little sticky.

What happens if I print on the wrong side of fine art paper?

The ink soaks into the uncoated paper fibres. Colours look dull and flat, blacks turn grey, detail blurs and the print can take far longer to dry.

Why are there white specks on my Hahnemühle print?

Usually loose coating residue or paper dust that was on the surface when it printed. Hahnemühle recommends blowing the surface clean before printing. A soft, clean brush or a blower works well, especially at the cut edges of rolls.

Should I wear gloves to handle fine art paper?

Hahnemühle advises handling paper by the edges and touching the surface as little as possible. Clean, lint free cotton or nitrile gloves stop fingerprints and skin oils marking the coating.

What core size are Hahnemühle rolls?

Hahnemühle states that many of its roll sizes use a 3 inch core as standard. Check your printer’s roll holder or spindle adapter before ordering.

Related Hahnemühle guides

• Hahnemühle paper questions answered
• Hahnemühle ICC profiles: download, install and print settings
• Photo black or matte black for Hahnemühle paper?
• Complete guide to Hahnemühle fine art papers
• Shop Hahnemühle paper

Sources

• Hahnemühle, GuideLine to Digital FineArt Printing
• Hahnemühle, Digital FineArt Collection brochure (2023, English)