1557

Birth of a saga

While François de Guise is arming troops to recapture the kingdom of Naples from the Spanish, and at a time when tensions prevail between Catholics and Protestants, Ambert papermaker Jacques Montgolfier leaves his native Auvergne to settle in the Bea
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1692

Vidalon, cradle of paper inventions

Michel and Raymond Montgolfier – the sons of the Beaujeu papermaker – arrived in Vidalon where the Chelles papermaking family of Auvergne was involved in paper sizing.
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1782

From paper to the conquest of the skies and space

On 17 December 1782, a strange paper bag inflates above a fire in the Montgolfier brothers' garden. It straightens up and lifts off into the sky. It crosses the river and gently lands on a hillside.
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1784

The Manufacture Royale of Vidalon

On 19 March, the Montgolfier paper mills were hoisted to the rank of Manufacture Royale, a highly coveted title by all of the kingdom's papermakers.
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1801

Birth of Canson® et Montgolfier

Etienne de Montgolfier has been dead for two years.
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1809

Transparency and colour, the papermaker's innovation

The Canson family continued to focus on innovation like the Montgolfier before them. In the greatest secrecy, they invented tracing paper, this transparent medium which avoided the need for architects to redraw the same plan again and again.
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1827

Internal sizing, a new step

With the paper machine, it became urgent to modernise sizing. How could such long sheets be manually be dipped in a gelatine bath? Barthélémy and Etienne de Canson develop a sticky wax-based product which is mixed into the paper pulp.
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1850

Canson®, a pioneer in photographic paper

Photography pioneers like Gustave Le Gray and Blanquart-Evrard...used Canson® et Frères paper. 
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1865

Canson® secured a patent for a photographic paper

In 1865 Canson® secured a patent on December 8th 1865 since the process was simpler and cost less than the ones used before then. This Canson® paper cut out the need to use the platinum or gold chloride that toning entailed.
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1892

Canson® earned a Diplôme d’Honneur, the top award, at the Exposition Internationale de Photographie.

Canson®'s linen-finished photo paper earned them acclaim at the 1892 Exposition Internationale de Photographie: “From a photographic standpoint, Papeteries de Vidalon have attracted every specialist’s attention with a variety of products&nb
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1947

The Canson® pack in all school bags

Art teachers weighed down by piles of notebooks to mark, drawings that cannot be exhibited… The Canson® paper mills find the solution: a paper pack to sell sheets by the dozen and preserve them.
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1985

Heritage and technical drawing

For Canson® , computer aided drawing and the conservation of archives are the subject of the same concern: developing and marketing products which meet current needs.
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2008

Canson® launched Canson® Infinity, a range for DFAP

Building on its experience in photograph paper, Canson® launched Canson® Infinity, a combination of the character of the most beautiful paper used by artists the world over, coating using high-end technology and high standards in terms of
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2010

Strong bond with artists

In its permanent quest to be close to artists, Canson® creates the Fonds Canson® pour l'Art et le Papier, aimed at promoting artists working with the paper.
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2010

Canson® Infinity Baryta Photographique wins 2010 TIPA Award!

The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) has announced the winners of the 20th round of the TIPA Awards. 
Canson® Infinity’s Baryta Photographique is the recipient for Best Fine Art Inkjet Paper.
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2015

Canson® Infinity Photo Lustre Premium wins the TIPA Awards

«The quality of an inkjet print is of course dependent on the skill of the printmaker and the content of the image, but having a paper that will deliver optimal results can be just as important. 
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2017

Canson® Infinity Baryta Prestige wins 2017 TIPA Awards!

The TIPA 2017 awards panel, voted the Canson Infinity Baryta Prestige 340gsm, the best inkjet paper.
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2021

Canson Infinity unveils the new logo, embracing the future while honouring the brand’s rich history

Canson Infinity is embracing a new level of growth, innovation and identity with a new, strong and recognizable logo, composed of easy-to-read capital letters.
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2021

Introducing Four New ‘Game Changing’ Papers

In February 2021, Canson® Infinity, add to the portfolio by introducing four new digital art papers from the iconic ARCHES® paper mill. The FILA Group, owner of the French Canson® paper mill and brand, acquired the ARCHES® business i
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2024

Somerset® Enhanced range

Canson® Infinity is delighted to announce the introduction of the latest range of digital fine art matt papers. The Somerset Enhanced range is designed to complement the existing fine art papers in the Canson Infinity range.
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