The Moab Paper Story
as part of our Online Fototage
Express your individuality in gallery quality with the award-winning Moab photo papers. Choose from a wide variety of paper types and formats for your inkjet printer: from standard DIN sizes to photo postcards and photo paper rolls for large format printing. Natural contrasts, vivid colors and the finest textures ensure a professional print image and turn your photos into gems for any wall.
About Moab:
With product names like Entrada, Colorado and Lasal , it's easy to recognize the city of Moab as a source of inspiration for the brand. Surrounded by the endless red rock wonders of the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, the Colorado River and the LaSal Mountains, Moab is home to unique fine art photographic papers.
Moab is part of the Legion Paper family of products, North America's leading distributor of fine art papers and museum boards made in mills around the world. Since the company's founding in 1994, its employees have traveled the world in search of the best papers and the best manufacturers. To date, Moab offers more than three thousand items from 16 countries, but the search continues. By collaborating with great artists, Moab has become known worldwide as an innovator in the art of papermaking.
The beginning
The Legion Paper story began in New York in March 1994 when art paper salesmen Michael Ginsburg and Len Levine joined forces. By combining their unique expertise, their goal was to pioneer the world of art paper. In the words of Joshua Levine, current CEO and son of co-founder Len Levine, "They had a vision. They were at a point in their lives where they could have chosen to make a living selling paper. Instead, they chose to create something new, impactful and timeless."
Traveling the globe
Such a vision involves constant travel. In the 1990s, Michael and Len traveled to centuries-old German mills, visited Italian manufacturers, Nepalese villages at the foot of the Himalayas, paper manufacturers in the northern regions of Thailand and mills on distant Japanese islands. They did not travel just to bring paper home and did not limit themselves to selling what the mills had to offer. Instead, they wanted to know what these mills were capable of. The question was, could the paper craftsmen and their machines produce what the art market wanted?
Listening to the artists
Since the early seventies, Ginsburg has invested a lot of time in conversations with artists. He asked them: "What would be the perfect paper for you? What does this paper look like? How does it feel? What color palette is desirable? With this knowledge, Michael traveled to mills that he knew could produce the best substrates. Through trial and error and traveling back and forth between mills and artists, Ginsburg developed a wide variety of high-quality paper samples for his clientele. Len, Ginsburg's competitor at the time, was experimenting with new 100% cotton papers made in the USA for high quality art reproductions. Together they set about checking exactly which mill could produce the desired papers. This is still the method used by Legion Paper today. Half a century later, the company is listening more than ever to the wishes of artists and looking for ways to realize them.
Historic fine art paper mills
Joshua Levine is convinced that there isn't an art paper mill in the world that doesn't know Legion. He says: "Legion represents more than 60 paper mills in 16 countries. Some of the European mills have centuries of experience in papermaking. The German Zerkall mill, for example, dates back to the seventeenth century and produces some of the best quality paper. This mill also developed the letter invitations for Napoleon's wedding to Marie-Louise of Austria. The 600-year-old Italian Magnani mill is said to have supplied the paper on which Da Vinci made his famous sketches and paintings. The mills that Moab works with not only have a fascinating history, but also impressive capabilities and countless possibilities for papermaking."
Unique bridging function
"Legion doesn't just source and sell paper. We are at the intersection of paper mills, printers, artists, photographers, graphic designers and many other creatives," says Joshua. "We act as a bridge between them all. We are deeply rooted in the art world and don't just represent paper mills," says Ginsburg. "We want to specifically enhance the artwork of creative people, such as photographers, painters, designers or graphic artists. We are proud to have designed papers that enable artists to create what was previously only possible to a limited extent.
Slickrock Metallic Paper
Slickrock Metallic Pearl 260 and the new Slickrock Metallic Silver 300 have been developed for photographers who want to enhance their images with a metallic look. Slickrock Metallic Silver 300 is a high-gloss, true metallic inkjet paper with a unique, instant-dry finish for stunning image reproduction. Slickrock Metallic Silver 300 adds unprecedented depth to an image with an exceptional reflective sheen. This metal-like finish creates quick-drying images that literally jump off the paper and can be used immediately after printing. Harold Davis, renowned photographer, educator, author (and Moab Master), says, "The prints are truly unique. The best I can think of is a high quality print on aluminum, but the Slickrock Silver prints are more subtle and have greater tonal separation."
Black and white images glow on the Slickrock Metallic Pearl, creating deep dark blacks and ultra-bright highlights. The paper's high gloss and unique shimmer make it ideal for everyday prints with a special look. Reminiscent of the ultra-smooth and even sandstone surface of the famous bike trail that winds through the desert plains of Moab, Slickrock papers capture the pristine beauty of an image with a metallic enhancement.
Moenkopi Washi Paper
Moenkopi is a Native American name used to identify a mudstone layer common in the Moab area. The world-famous Fisher Towers, featured in many John Wayne movies, were formed in this layer. These unique towers appear to flow out of the earth. This is why the name has a natural connection to the family of environmentally friendly Japanese papers. Moenkopi papers are a unique partnership with the Awagami mill in Tokushima, Japan. Moenkopi Kozo and Unryu are made from natural mulberry and hemp fibers using traditional Japanese washi techniques and then coated to accept inkjet ink. Unryu - literally meaning "cloud kite paper", is a highly decorative paper due to its long fibers, perfect for adding depth to an image. No other paper has received so many awards and accolades. This is an exceptional product aimed at discerning artists with advanced printing skills.
Test now
Would you like to test a selection of Moab papers? Our Sample Box is perfect for finding exactly the paper that harmonizes perfectly with your photos.
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