Part polished
Agate is a useful substance for applying frictional pressure ~ it is hard ~ does not wear out ~ can be shaped to a rounded surface ~ can be polished to slide rather than scrape. Paper burnishers can be purchased ~ I have seen rather beautiful ones for sale at several hundreds of pounds. For occasional and experimental use the straight edges of an agate folder serve well for polishing. The only disadvantage of an agate folder being the small size of handle when being gripped as a polisher.
Some papers respond well to being polished ~ burnished would be a better word, since mirror-type reflections are not expected. The extra smoothness can add attraction ~ as can the alteration to the absorbtive properties of the surface. Papers which have fillers applied ~ known as art papers in the printing trade ~ are not relevant to this topic.
Some papers are already smooth ~ calendered ~ as part of the manufacturing process. These are typically sold as ~ superfine ~ or extra smooth ~ or colour copy. Such papers are produced in wide and long lengths. After the paper is formed it is dried and passed over rollers to flatten the fibres. For calendered paper an extra set of very smooth rollers ~ possibly heated ~ give the paper a final squeeze whilst imparting their additional smoothness to the already compacted fibres. In some ways the process can be likened to that of ironing fabrics after laundering.
Some 'ordinary' papers - not the calendered ones ~ can be further smoothed. Some people advocate the application of a little wax polish. I have not tried it, buty do recall a recommendation to rub a cloth on the polish and then apply very sparingly to the paper. It can then act as a glue for any loose fibres ~ whilst being applied so thinly that the greasy effect is not noticeable. I have not yet had a reason for trying any of this ~ and so have no experience. I may well experiment with some of the lokta papers I have [122241]. They are not as smoothly surfaced as people might expect. Comments welcome!
