How interesting! Is there a natural alternative to retention aid product because I can’t find it here and would like coloring my paper pulp with natural pigment?
You're going to have to study up on this! Natural coloring agents are usually dyes, and they require mordants, which is different that pigments and retention aid. Something many people do with natural dyes is to paint it onto their dry sheets of paper - you get much darker/richer colors than when using it in the pulp.
@@smilingsunlight Don't know if it is still useful 3 years later but bentonite clay can be used as a retention aid, specifically for pigments, doesn't help with dyes.
It would be better to paint the beet juice onto dry paper - a lot of the color will be lost if you add it to wet pulp. Natural dyes do fade over time. But they’re lovely!
What is a retention aid
Where can you purchase the retention aid?
From papermaking suppliers: Carriage House Paper or Twinrocker Handmade Paper.
Can you notice which retention aid do you use?cationic or anionic? and are they have diffrent effect?
I use cationic; I'm not sure what anionic is...
@@HelenHiebert thanks 😍💙
How interesting! Is there a natural alternative to retention aid product because I can’t find it here and would like coloring my paper pulp with natural pigment?
You're going to have to study up on this! Natural coloring agents are usually dyes, and they require mordants, which is different that pigments and retention aid. Something many people do with natural dyes is to paint it onto their dry sheets of paper - you get much darker/richer colors than when using it in the pulp.
@@HelenHiebert thank you! Will look into that
@@smilingsunlight Don't know if it is still useful 3 years later but bentonite clay can be used as a retention aid, specifically for pigments, doesn't help with dyes.
How about using beetroot juice? Would it rot when the paper is done? Thanks!
It would be better to paint the beet juice onto dry paper - a lot of the color will be lost if you add it to wet pulp. Natural dyes do fade over time. But they’re lovely!
@@HelenHiebert Thanks! I guess same with coffee.
yes, I have seen people use it to color the pulp - but it is off white so very little color.