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The production of rice paper


The production of rice paper
Photo Information
Copyright: Hans Spruijt (GreenBaron) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3083 W: 778 N: 9427] (37689)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-11
Categories: Daily Life, Decisive Moment, Mood
Camera: Nikon D70s, Sigma 18-50 3.5-5.6 DC, Hitachi4GBMicrodrive, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/3.3, 1/45 seconds
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: My Trip Through south east Asia
Theme(s): Green Baron's most recent pictures on TL, Round trip through Indochina [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-11-27 7:09
Viewed: 733
Points: 88
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The production of Rice paper

During my stay in Vietnam I visited a small town Xóm Giong Gia near Cai Be in the Mekong Delta. Here they have still a lot of hand craft business like this handmade rice paper production. The very thin edible paper is made by scooping a small amount of rice water which contains still a lot of rice fibers. The liquid rice mass is poured on a heated cloth, smeared with the can-on-a-stick and after a minute removed with a long thin knife like in the picture of the WS and put the large round damp paper on a round basket cover for initial drying. The whole process takes about one-and-a-half minute. This rice paper is used for food wrapping like egg rolls...yummy!

Hope you like the light in this picture. On purpose I didn’t use the flash to spoil the soft lighting of the woman. In the WS you find a second image of this woman, now in a different production process. Did I posted the right one?

PP-work:
Shot in RAW. Slight adjustment of brightness and contrast. Converted to JPEG. Resized and sharpened. Add frame and text.

Camera settings:
ISO: 200ASA
White balance: auto
Meetering: matrix
Shutter speed: 1/45
Aperture: f/3.3
Exposure compensation: -0.5
Focal length: 28mm


Rice paper
Rice paper usually refers to paper made from parts of the rice plant, like rice straw or rice flour. However, the term is also loosely used for paper made from or containing other plants, like hemp, bamboo or mulberry.

In Europe, around the 1900s, a paperlike substance was originally known as rice paper, due to the mistaken notion that it is made from rice. In fact, it consists of the pith of a small tree, Tetrapanax papyrifer, the rice paper plant.

The plant grows in the swampy forests of Taiwan, and is also cultivated as ornamental plant. In order to produce the paper, the boughs are boiled and freed from bark. The cylindrical core of pith is rolled on a hard flat surface against a knife, by which it is cut into thin sheets of a fine ivory-like texture.
Dyed in various colors, this rice paper is extensively used for the preparation of artificial flowers, while the white sheets are employed for watercolor drawings. Due to its texture this paper is not suited for writing.

The sort of paper that many people think of when hearing the term “rice paper” (smooth, thin, crackly, strong) is not actually made from rice at all. The paper is made from fibers from the bark of the mulberry tree. It got the name “rice paper” because it was used to make packets for rice. This sort of paper is used for origami, calligraphy, paper screens and clothing, etc. It is much stronger than commercially made wood-pulp paper. Although paper can be made from rice straw, this is not the “rice paper” that people usually think of.

The correct name for this type of paper is, depending on the type of mulberry used, kozo (Broussonetia papyrifera, the paper mulberry), gampi (Wikstroemia diplomorpha), or mitsumata (Edgeworthia chrysantha). The fiber comes from the bark of the mulberry, not the inner wood or pith, and traditionally the paper is made entirely by hand.

The branches of the mulberry shrubs are harvested in the fall, so the fiber can be processed and the paper formed during the cold winter months, because the fiber spoils easily in the heat. The branches are cut into sections two-three feet long and steamed in a large kettle, which makes the bark shrink back from the inner wood, allowing it to be pulled off like a banana peel. The bark can then be dried and stored, or used immediately. There are three layers to the bark at this stage: black bark, the outermost layer; green bark, the middle layer; and white bark, the innermost layer. All three layers can be made into paper, but the finest paper is made of white bark only.
If the bark strips have been dried, they’re soaked in water overnight before being processed further. To clean the black and green bark from the white bark, the bark strip is spread on a board and scraped with a flat knife. Any knots or tough spots in the fiber are cut out and discarded at this stage.

The scraped bark strips are then cooked for two or three hours in a mixture of water and soda ash. The fiber is cooked enough when it can easily be pulled apart lengthwise. The strips are then rinsed several times in clean water to rinse off the soda ash. Rinsing also makes the fiber brighter and whiter—fine kozo paper is not bleached, it’s naturally pure white.
Each bark strip is then individually inspected, by hand, against a white background or lit from behind by a lightbox. Any tiny pieces of black bark and other debris are removed with tweezers, and any knots or tough patches of fiber missed during scraping are cut out of the strips. The ultimate goal is to have completely pure white bark.

The scraped, cooked, and cleaned strips are then laid out on a table and beaten by hand. The beating tool is a wooden bat that looks like a thicker version of a cricket bat. The fibers are beaten for about half an hour, or until all the fibers have been separated and no longer resemble strips of bark.

The prepared fiber can now be made into sheets of paper. A viscous substance called formation aid is added to the vat with the fiber and water. Formation aid is polyethylene oxide, and it helps slow the flow of water, which gives the papermaker more time to form sheets. Sheets are formed with multiple thin layers of fiber, one on top of another.

Edible paper

Edible rice paper is used for making fresh summer rolls (also called spring rolls) or fried spring rolls, in Vietnamese cuisine, where the rice paper is called bánh tráng. Ingredients of the food rice paper include white rice flour, tapioca flour, salt, and water. The tapioca powder makes the rice paper glutinous and smooth.
[edit] Rice straw paper
Rice straw can be processed into simple paper, which is used as cigarette paper, for lamp shades or partition walls. Finer paper also can be made from it, especially together with other sorts of cellulose, like hemp. (Source: Wikipedia.com)
shelbeesmom, milas, thegraduate, Adri, machinelove, riverfriends, norenastramus, joopschotsman, Hendrika, thor68, dareco, Janice, MLINES, Ejtaan, WMcK, chrisJ, Photograph2u, mvdisco, Jens, Dpbours, TheMystic, vsinopoulos, gnada, deains, janneman has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To limba3: TripodGreenBaron 2 11-27 14:30
To MLINES: NGGreenBaron 1 11-27 14:01
To Janice: SteamGreenBaron 1 11-27 13:34
To Jan9376: Thanks!GreenBaron 1 11-27 07:51
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Critiques [Translate]

Just beautiful Hans! Excellent use of ambient light here, a great natural UNPOSED shot (my favorite) and the colors are nice! ...speaking of Hemp...I put it in my eggs every morning. It's a good source of lowering cholesterol. That along with Oat Bran, Flaxseed and Olive oil....my cholesterol is now 112. hee hee!
heart disease in reversal!
HAHA! I'm first!!
Linda

Awesome work - I love the use of light from the windows.. great contrast and colours.

  • Great 
  • milas Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2102 W: 379 N: 2059] (22132)
  • [2007-11-27 7:52]

Merhaba myfriend Dear HANS ;
verynice comp... and shot..superb colors and focus...bravo..selamlar

Beautiful light, great study of daily life.
Regards
Gil

  • Great 
  • Adri Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 268 W: 18 N: 814] (5030)
  • [2007-11-27 8:13]

Heel mooie foto Hans! Ik hou van zulke sfeerplaten met dit licht en kleuren.
Groet,
Adri

Superb capture of this moment Hans!
Great light management, A truly special image,
perfectly composed.
Well done!
- Vincent.

Hans

muy interesante gracias por compartir un poco de esta historia


Nat

Hi hans:
A very intresting capture in every way...
besides great notes and education...
your lighting using the existing window light is simply OUTSTANDING...well done my friend!!!
david

Hi dear Hans,
Great shot of daily life from vietnam.Very nice presentation.TFS.
Regards.

hAyAti

Hello Hans,
great idea and shot.Very beautiful composition and colours.well done My friend.TFS
Greetings
H.Ayhan

Pict 2 is more interesting for me, showing the rice paper in detail. I had a chance to visit a home that was making paper just outside of Hanoi/Doh Hang last year, and it was amazing. Thanks for the detail notes..

Hi Hans

Sometimes OE works in a photo's favour and I think this is a good example. The ambient light cast on your subject and the rich mood it creates more than justifies the brightness on the right.

This is well composed, beautifully delivered, and interesting too!

Thanks for sharing it
Rew

Hi Hans.
Funny, we tried to make rice paper last weekend, and ended up with Nasi Special with kroepoek ... sambal bij .... ;-)
Great photo with technically everything oke, and an interesting subject. Good job.
greetings,
Joop!

Wonderful shot dear Hans!I like it.Great work.
Regards.
A.

  • Great 
  • korbee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 893 W: 0 N: 663] (7831)
  • [2007-11-27 12:18]

Sfeer ,compo,licht en frame allemaal top Hans.
jan

Holy cow!!!8123 fotoos,had je nog tijd over voor wat anders?????

  • Great 
  • Hitbit Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 549 W: 174 N: 476] (5527)
  • [2007-11-27 12:35]

Mooi lichtspel in de plaat Hans, Misschien moet je de dame nog iets oplichten, Verder een prima comp en mooie kleuren.

Grtz form L town.

Pim

  • Great 
  • thor68 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 372 W: 85 N: 690] (4289)
  • [2007-11-27 12:50]

interesting subject and terrific low-light shot! :-) it is good you did not flash this
great scene with its amazing details. well done & best wishes, thor.

  • Great 
  • ttreen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1569 W: 118 N: 3553] (14223)
  • [2007-11-27 12:57]

Hello Hans
I think you posted the right photo... as you can see more of her face in this post!
Your notes complement you photo perfect! Nice sharp detail and colors!

Tricia

  • Great 
  • dareco Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 14 N: 563] (9216)
  • [2007-11-27 13:12]

This looks like a very hard life!! A very interesting and informative note. An excellent picture! TFS

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3164 W: 213 N: 6672] (26358)
  • [2007-11-27 13:23]
  • [+]

Very, very interesting notes and photos Hans.
And the light from the window gives us enough light to see what she is doing - I like it - it looks like steam too. Well done - all natural
TFS
Janice

  • Great 
  • sela Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 347 W: 1 N: 197] (2164)
  • [2007-11-27 13:45]

Hallo Hans, eine sehr gute detailreiche und auch charakteristische Dokumentation, bestens von dir umgesetzt.
Lieben Gruß Rose

Hi Hans, This looks suitable for National Geographic magazine! Good uncluttered view of this form of useful art. Excellent note. TFS. Murray.

  • Great 
  • limba3 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1107 W: 428 N: 391] (10635)
  • [2007-11-27 14:26]
  • [+]

Hi Hans
Interesting presentation. Nicely shown and described.
Did you do taking with the tripod?
Anna
P.S.
I already read, the photograph is done with the lamp. Just choice, because left sharply.

Hi Hans. Handmade. Een prachtige opname van mensen die met hun handen werken. Sfeervol en goed gezien.
Gr Frans

  • Great 
  • Beger Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2984 W: 553 N: 3292] (14628)
  • [2007-11-27 21:29]

Hi Hans,
Sorry, I missed your last posts. This photo is very beautiful. Interesting subject well exploited. The contrast with highlight and shadows are well rendered and gives all importance of the daily life of this woman and at this traditionnal activity. A good documentary photo with a human touch! Bravo! Annie

  • Great 
  • Ejtaan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1087 W: 120 N: 1848] (9228)
  • [2007-11-27 21:38]

Must be a steamy, hot job!!!

A great look you give us here Hans. The light indoors is great, that in almost automatically means the light we see outdoors is very bright...
Good colors and I particularly like the "dark" and almost "mysterious" corners of this lady's workshop.

Cheers,
Anneke

Het is duidelijk, ik zou de verleiding niet kunnen weerstaan om ze allebei in een frame te proppen omdat alletwee de foto's mooi zijn. Deze is trouwens een betere als posting en als illustratie bij het verhaal.
Hansie, heel mooi beeld - lekker om door je lens mee te kijken.
TFS
Henkie
:)follow

  • Great 
  • WMcK Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 747 W: 11 N: 1599] (6214)
  • [2007-11-28 2:50]

Hans
I could not choose which is better. Both images have great appeal. I like the way you have used the light on this one, but I love the light on the rice paper on the other one. So I am sorry, of no help at all. I just really like them both.
Wanda

  • Great 
  • chrisJ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4097 W: 213 N: 3582] (27029)
  • [2007-11-28 2:54]

Hi Hans

A very informative note, & superb daily life scene from Viet Nam. A bit hot in the highlights, but a sacrifice worth making, for the superb shadow detail at left. Tfs!

Hi Hans,
Very nice composition,nice lght,congratulation.
Best regards,
Ralf

Hi Hans, superb documentary shot with great light control and colour depth.

Very well done with the smoke captured.
It's good to see the lady paying attention to what she is doing.

Take care, Yan :)

Hello Hansie

Wonderful capture here, superb ambient lighting and clear detail. This image really gives the viewer a feeling of being there. Nice neat framing and overall a really excellent shot. Great notes as usual too :-)

TFS kind regards Smurfie

Bonjour Hans,
A well taken picture with beautiful colors and sharpnes, Excellent prise de vue well taken with no flash, a great naturel colors and details, very well done.
Michel

  • Great 
  • Jens Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 674 W: 56 N: 1216] (4623)
  • [2007-11-28 6:36]

Hi Hans
Great capture, the light in this photo are excellent, good focus, interesting shot, and very well presented. Compliments.
Hope you are OK - and please take care.
Regards
Jens.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1388 W: 122 N: 1975] (16695)
  • [2007-11-28 12:58]

Very good light on this one Hans. Nicely composed and executed. Well done !

Mario

  • Great 
  • AJ786 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 778 W: 59 N: 1046] (6669)
  • [2007-11-28 19:05]

Hi my friend,

What a great moment/action captured. This is a very good documentary photo with great details and excellent composition coupled together with a useful note.

TFS

Cheers
AJ786
:-)

Hello Hans,

Good shot of daily life and what we call "Cottage Industry".
Good light and informatiove note. TFS

Vandana
later

Hi Hans,

Ohw, egg rolls... that sounds great! I had my share when I lived and worked in Indonesia. Have to say that I do miss the food sometimes! The Dutch food is quite flat in taste compared to Asia. Well, I still cook Asian myself ;-)
Nice explanation with a good picture! Not so easy under low light circumstances, but well balanced and low noise. Nice!

Greetings,
Dennis

Very well done, Hans. Love the note and the extra research. Good photo of the woman who is a great representative of this culture. Actually, I liked the coolie hat in the window as much as anything, it added an interesting touch. TFS

....could also be used for edible artwork! Interesting journalistic picture and note.

Cheers
Otto

Hi HAns,

Great shot my friend, this type of everyday life scenes always appeal to me. You did a great job capturing the woman on the job, with very good lighting, sharpness and composition.
Excellent informative note!
TFS,
Vassilis

  • Great 
  • jawa Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1660 W: 0 N: 1] (10681)
  • [2007-11-30 5:35]

Hallo Hans
Erg mooi weergegeven. Mooi duidelijk tot in alle details.
Gr Jos

  • Great 
  • gnada Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2070 W: 59 N: 2124] (12765)
  • [2007-12-01 5:59]

Hi Hans...
Excellent catch!
I love the composition, good details the framing and colors.
Well done, well presented...
Rgd. George

:( tu...

Beautiful and very interesting photo, compliments !
Light is great...
Cheers,
Cath.

Hans, jij met je moeilijke vragen ... ;-)
Vind het 2 verschillende foto's.

Deze vind ik prachtig !
Heb maar één " maar " : het witte licht onderaan zou voor mij een tikkeltje minder intens mogen zijn. Nu straalt het echt hard.

Tot later !
Jan

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