British master papermaker James Cropper has launched the Paper Portal, a new paper sampling and specification experience housed within a distinctive presentation case that showcases the breadth of its paper portfolio, color expertise, specialist manufacturing capabilities and creative partnerships.
Created as a single destination for material discovery, the Paper Portal allows designers, printers and brands to explore James Cropper papers, from stock-supported ranges and established colors to specialist capabilities and completely bespoke developments.
At a time when much of the creative process takes place on screen, the Paper Portal puts material back into the hands of the people who specify it. Colors can be compared side by side, surfaces experienced and finishes examined, creating a physical starting point for both specification and inspiration.
The experience begins with the Portal itself. Its distinctive shape mirrors the outline of the James Cropper emblem, creating a symbolic window into the company’s historic Burneside Mill in the Lake District.
Manufactured by Showcase Creative, the outer case is available in three Vanguard colorways and features embossing and Foilco foil finishes, demonstrating the converting possibilities and attention to detail that can be achieved with James Cropper papers.
Inside, five carefully curated folders guide users through the breadth of the company’s paper offering. Black & White, Colours, Capabilities and Bespoke sit alongside a dedicated collaboration folder, featuring either James Cropper’s exclusive colorsource partnership with Winter & Company or a collection created with Foilco.Â
Together, the folders allow users to move from established materials and color choices, through specialist capabilities and creative collaborations, to papers developed to meet the requirements of an individual project.
The Portal also brings together resources including the Sometimes It Is Black & White myth-busting sheets and original Freedoms of Expression work, creating a resource designed to be explored, handled and returned to throughout the creative process.
Every paper within the Portal connects back to Burneside, where more than 180 years of papermaking heritage sits alongside contemporary expertise in color, performance and specialist material development. As the UK’s last remaining paper mill producing premium colored papers, James Cropper combines traditional craftsmanship with the technical expertise required to turn creative ambitions into materials made with purpose and precision.
Jordan Scott, head of marketing at James Cropper, said, “For all the advances in digital design, there are some decisions that simply cannot be made on a screen. You need to hold paper, compare colours, see how a surface responds to light and understand how it feels before you can really appreciate what it could bring to an idea.
 “The Paper Portal puts those possibilities in one place. You might open it looking for a particular colour or paper and find exactly what you need, but you might equally discover a capability, finish or collaboration that takes the original idea somewhere completely different.
 “That is what we want the Portal to be: a starting point for creativity. Browse it, compare materials and specify something that already exists, or use what you discover to begin a conversation with us about creating something entirely your own.”
 Whether specifying materials for production, seeking inspiration for a new project or developing something entirely bespoke, the Paper Portal offers a new way to discover where paper can take an idea.
The Paper Portal is available on request. Designers, brands and packaging professionals interested in receiving a copy can contact the James Cropper team for further information.
